FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Personal vehichles are not allowed to drive to Moraine Lake. The only access is through shuttles or tours.
The best way to access the lake is through shuttles and tours. Shuttles will drop you off at the lake and pick you up later. Tours, like ours, stay at the lake with you and have a guide to teach you local history! You can book a spot on one of our tours here.
Other options include:
Hiking (28km round trip)
Biking (regular or e-bike)
Shuttles (Parks Canada)
Public Transit (Roam Bus)
Banff Alpenglow Adventures provides tours. This means we pick you up and drop you off at your specified location in either Canmore or Banff, provide refreshments and spend the day with you. Your guide will be the same person for the entire day, providing local interpretation, as well as reassurance along the way. There is still lots of opportunity for free time at the lakes.
Shuttles operate as your ride to and from the lakes, often meaning you will have to drive yourself to Lake Louise, and you will not have guide access while at the lakes.
Watching both sunrise and sunset at Moraine Lake will offer breathtaking views and unforgettable experiences. Any time of day you choose to visit is sure to leave you speechless. We find sunrise offers more colourful photos but sunset has less crowds. Click here to learn more about our individual tours and what you can expect!
You can with our Sunrise or Sunset Tours! Enjoy up to two hours at each of these stunning lakes.
Our Sunrise Tour runs for 7 hours from Canmore or 6 hours from Banff with 4 hours total spent at Moraine Lake and Lake Louise.
Our Sunset Tour runs for 6 hours from Canmore and 5 hours from Banff with 1.5 hours spent at Moraine Lake and 1 hour at Lake Louise, followed by a scenic wildlife drive.
In Banff, we joke that you can expect to experience all four seasons in one day. This means that while you may be wearing shorts in the afternoon, chances are you will start the day in a jacket. Our recommendation - layers! Sweaters, jackets, hats, and mitts will all help keep you warm. Feel free to pack extra layers or shorts in a backpack that you can store in the van. We will also have blankets and hot drinks to help warm you up!
We recommend bringing your camera, a reusable water bottle and some light snacks to get you through the day. We will provide water to fill your bottles and other snacks throughout the tour.
Note: our Sunset Tour often happens over dinner-time. We suggest eating before the tour departs, or bringing some heartier snacks to eat along the way.
We do! We make homemade banana bread which some of our guests claim to be the best banana bread they've ever had! (and here's a secret -- it's vegan!). We have granola bars that are gluten free.
We also offer coffee, tea, and dairy-free hot chocolate!
As we are travelling during less busy times, there is always a chance that the cafes will be closed. However, we will provide light snacks during every tour for your convenience.
Sunrise Tour: At Moraine Lake, there will be no food service available. At Lake Louise, there will likely be access to a cafe in the hotel.
Sunset Tour: There is a chance of the cafe at Moraine Lake being open, however if the tour crosses over dinner, we recommend eating beforehand or bringing a bigger snack with you.
Not at all! While one of the best views of Moraine Lake is up a short 15-minute hike, there are plenty of accessible viewpoints for everyone. Lake Louise offers even more easy to access viewpoints! Your guide will be sure to help you find the best option!
We do not have child safety seats. Children under 40lbs or under age 6 will not be able to join our tours. If your child aged 7-12 can ride in a car with a regular seatbelt, they are welcome to come on tour. Exceptions can be made for private tours or if you have your own child seat to bring along - please contact us before booking.
While we would LOVE to hang out with your furry friend, pets are not currently allowed on our tours. Stay tuned for some dog-friendly specific days we hope to plan in the future!
*Exceptions are made for certified service dogs - please contact us if you have a service dog you need to bring with you on tour.
The cool thing at Banff Alpenglow Adventures is that we are owner operated. This means that the three of us who started this company are the three faces you may see on tour! Talk about a small business. If you want to learn more about us, check out our story.
Our small group tours are focused on exploring Moraine Lake and Lake Louise during the least busy times. However, we have spent years exploring all areas of these mountains and will happily build a custom itinerary for you on a private adventure!
We offer cancellation up to 48 hours in advance, just call or email us!
If group minimums are not met, we will contact you 48 hours in advance to reschedule or refund.
More information can be found in our terms & conditions.