Hike From Moraine Lake Through Paradise Valley, Canada

Moraine Lake to Paradise Valley: One of Canada’s Great Day Hikes

This loop route is 20 kilometres, gains around 400 metres of elevation, and passes through two separate valleys with different characters. Most visitors to Banff see Moraine Lake from the Rockpile viewpoint, take photographs, and leave. The people who hike into Paradise Valley behind it have a fundamentally different experience of the same landscape.

Getting to Moraine Lake

Moraine Lake Road branches off Lake Louise Drive about 13 kilometres from the Trans-Canada Highway. Since 2023, private vehicle access to Moraine Lake has been restricted in the peak season (late May through mid-October). Parks Canada operates a shuttle system: the Parks Canada shuttle departs from Lake Louise Ski Area parking lot, with tickets purchased in advance at reservation.pc.gc.ca. Prices are CAD 8 return per adult. Tickets sell out days to weeks ahead; book as soon as possible after they become available, typically in late winter for the upcoming season.

Alternatively, bicycle access is unrestricted: it is 12 kilometres from Lake Louise village to Moraine Lake on a paved road, and bike racks at the trailhead are provided. The ride takes 30 to 50 minutes. Rental bikes are available in Banff and Lake Louise.

The shuttle restriction exists because the Moraine Lake parking lot was so overwhelmed in peak season that the road was effectively non-functional. The system works; arrive at the shuttle lot early as the first departures around 8am are the least crowded.

The Route

Moraine Lake Shoreline to Paradise Valley trailhead: From the lakeshore, follow the signage for Paradise Valley (Trail 19 on Parks Canada maps). The trail climbs into the valley east of the lake, gaining elevation steadily through forest before opening into the valley floor. The views behind you as you gain height show the full extent of Moraine Lake and the ten peaks behind it.

Paradise Valley floor: The valley is flat and wide once you reach the bottom, with the creek running through meadows of wildflowers in July and August. The surrounding peaks are the Wenkchemna massif, Pinnacle Mountain, and Temple Mountain. The trail is straightforward on the valley floor; the creek crossings are on footbridges.

The Giant Steps: A 2-kilometre side trail branches to the Giant Steps waterfall, where the creek cascades down a series of flat rock shelves in wide, smooth steps. This detour adds 4 kilometres and is worth doing; the falls are one of the most unusual waterfall formations in the Rockies.

Return via Larch Valley: The loop back to Moraine Lake climbs out of Paradise Valley through Larch Valley, passing the Minnestimma Lakes at about 2,100 metres. This section has the most dramatic views on the route and has good larch tree coverage. Larch trees in the Canadian Rockies are deciduous conifers that turn gold in late September and early October; the timing is unpredictable year to year but the last week of September in a normal year is often the peak. Hiking this loop in late September for the larches is one of the best single-day experiences in Banff, though you need a shuttle or bicycle as private cars are still restricted.

The descent from Larch Valley back to the Moraine Lake lakeshore is steep and rocky, about 4 kilometres of careful footwork.

Practical Details

  • Total distance: about 20 kilometres for the full loop including Giant Steps detour. Allow 6 to 8 hours.
  • Elevation gain: approximately 380 metres to the high point at Larch Valley.
  • Trail condition: well-maintained and clearly signed. Some sections of the Paradise Valley floor can be boggy in early season (June) as snowmelt drains.
  • Bear activity: both black bears and grizzlies are active in this area. Parks Canada sometimes closes sections of Paradise Valley for bear activity; check trail reports at pc.gc.ca/banff before setting out. Carry bear spray; it is required by Parks Canada for backcountry travel and strongly recommended on this trail.
  • The trail has no water filtration stations. Carry at least 2 litres; there is water in the creek but it requires filtration or purification tablets.

Where to Eat Near Moraine Lake

The Moraine Lake Lodge dining room is open to day visitors for lunch (approximately 11am to 3pm) with a limited menu of sandwiches and soups in the CAD 18 to 25 range. Reservations are not usually required for the lunch service but availability can be tight on peak days.

For a post-hike meal, Lake Louise Station Restaurant in the old CP Rail station building in Lake Louise village is the best option: the building is an attractive heritage structure, the food is good for the area, mains around CAD 30 to 40. Bill Peyto’s Café in the Hostel at Lake Louise does cheaper food in a less formal setting.

Where to Stay

Moraine Lake Lodge is the only accommodation on Moraine Lake itself: 33 cabins and lodge rooms with direct views of the lake, no phone or television in rooms (deliberately), and outstanding access to early morning light before the day visitors arrive. Rates run CAD 600 to 1,200 per night in peak season; it books out many months in advance and is one of the hardest reservations to secure in western Canada.

Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise at the adjacent Lake Louise is more accessible to book, with rooms from about CAD 350 to 700 per night, and serves as the main lodge base for hiking in the area.

The town of Banff, 55 kilometres east, has a much larger range of accommodation at lower prices, including several hostels. Driving from Banff to the shuttle connection at Lake Louise adds about 45 minutes each way.

Timing

The trail is accessible from mid-June through mid-October, depending on snowpack. Conditions in June often mean snow in Larch Valley; late July through September is the reliable window. The larches in late September are the peak reason to do this specific loop rather than any other hike in the area.