Hike From Moraine Lake Through Paradise Valley, Canada

Private vehicles have not been permitted at Moraine Lake in peak season since 2023. The parking lot was so overwhelmed in prior years that the access road was essentially non-functional, and Parks Canada replaced it with a shuttle system from the Lake Louise Ski Area parking lot. Tickets are CAD 8 return per adult, purchased at reservation.pc.gc.ca, and sell out days to weeks ahead. Book as soon as tickets become available (typically late winter for the upcoming season). Cycling to the lake on the 12-kilometre paved road from Lake Louise village is unrestricted; bike rentals are available in Banff and Lake Louise.

The Route

The Moraine Lake to Paradise Valley loop is 20 kilometres with about 380 metres of elevation gain. Allow 6 to 8 hours.

From the Moraine Lake shoreline, the trail climbs into Paradise Valley east of the lake. Views behind you as you gain height show the full extent of the lake and the ten peaks above it. The valley floor is flat and wide, with the creek running through wildflower meadows in July and August. Trail 19 on Parks Canada maps.

The Giant Steps side trail (2 kilometres, adds 4 km total) branches off and reaches a waterfall where the creek cascades down a series of flat horizontal rock shelves in unusually wide smooth steps. Worth the detour; the falls are one of the more unusual waterfall formations in the Rockies.

The loop back climbs through Larch Valley past the Minnestimma Lakes at around 2,100 metres, with the most dramatic views on the route. Larch trees in the Canadian Rockies are deciduous conifers that turn gold in late September and early October; hiking this loop in the last week of September for the larches is one of the best single days possible in Banff. The descent from Larch Valley back to Moraine Lake is steep and rocky.

Practical Notes

Bear activity is real in this area. Both black bears and grizzlies are active; Parks Canada occasionally closes sections of Paradise Valley for bear management. Check trail reports at pc.gc.ca/banff before setting out. Carry bear spray; it is required for backcountry travel and strongly recommended here.

Carry at least 2 litres of water; there is no filtration equipment on the route and creek water requires treatment. The valley floor in June can be boggy as snowmelt drains.

Staying Near Moraine Lake

Moraine Lake Lodge is the only accommodation at the lake itself: 33 cabins and rooms with no phones or television, direct lake views, and early morning access before day visitors arrive. CAD 600 to 1,200 per night in peak season; books out many months ahead and is one of the hardest reservations to secure in western Canada. The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise adjacent is more accessible from a booking standpoint.