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A Taste of Banff, Including Lake Louise and Moraine Lake

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Last week, my husband and I got away for a childless vacation to Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada. See my review of our 3-night stay at Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise.

We tried to squeeze as much sight-seeing as we could into our 2 1/2 days in the park while trying to allow time for relaxation.

Getting to Banff National Park

While we didn’t use hotel points for our stay, we did save money by using AA miles to fly nonstop from DFW to Calgary. The flight was about 3 1/2 hours, so not too bad. We decided to rent a car, although we could have used shuttles and buses to get to the area (and we may do that next time). As luck would have it, we booked a standard rental car but got upgraded to this Mercedes Benz:

A person is standing next to a white Mercedes-Benz car in a parking area. The background features a scenic view of mountains and trees under a clear sky.

The drive from the airport to Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise normally takes about 2 hours and 10 minutes, but due to construction, it took us about 3 hours. The highway emptied right into toll booths to pay the admission to Banff National Park. But this summer, Canada is waiving all park admission fees.

As we got closer to the park border, the Rocky Mountains captured our attention.

A scenic highway view with a black SUV driving on a road surrounded by lush green trees on both sides. In the background, there are majestic, rugged mountains under a partly cloudy sky with patches of blue.

The clouds hung low in unusual patterns:

A scenic view of a mountain range partially covered by clouds. The rocky peaks are visible above a dense forest of evergreen trees. The sky is mostly clear with some clouds, creating a dramatic and picturesque landscape.

The highway has many wild animal overpasses:

The image shows a highway with two wildlife overpasses, designed to allow animals to safely cross over the road. The overpasses are covered with vegetation and trees, blending into the surrounding forested landscape. In the background, there are mountains with snow-capped peaks under a cloudy sky. Cars are visible on the highway, traveling in both directions.

The great thing about the drive from Calgary to Banff is that it’s not too hilly or treacherous. In my opinion, the drive from Denver to the mountains is steeper.The altitude in Banff is also a few thousand feet lower than the popular mountain towns in Colorado, making it easier to breathe.

Lake Louise

Since we were hotel guests at Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, we could park in the parking garage next to the hotel and lake. However, other than a few cars with handicap permits, personal cars are not allowed to park at Lake Louise. You must park a few miles away in various lots and take a shuttle or tour bus.

A scenic view of a mountainous landscape with a lake in the background. The foreground features vibrant red and pink flowers in a garden. Two flags are visible near a pathway, and people are gathered near the lake. The sky is partly cloudy, with sunlight illuminating the scene.

The lake shore can seem crowded in the main area. However, if you keep walking around to either side, you can find some seclusion.

A couple is sitting on rocks by a turquoise lake, surrounded by mountains. The sky is partly cloudy, and the scene is serene and picturesque.

On our visit, we decided to hike the Fairview Lookout trail. I love how the difficulty rating says “easy”. I would definitely not call it easy. The majority of the way to the lookout was a steep uphill climb. A family that was hiking behind us had a few members turn around due to the incline. We stopped to take some breaths along the way and made it to the lookout in 45 minutes.

A person is standing on a forest trail, looking towards the path. The trail is surrounded by tall trees and greenery, with rocks and roots visible on the ground. The person is wearing a dark blue shirt and sunglasses on their head. The scene is peaceful and natural.

Finally, the lookout:

A group of people stands on a wooden viewing platform overlooking a scenic landscape. The background features a turquoise lake surrounded by dense evergreen forests and mountains under a cloudy sky. The people are casually dressed, and one person is holding a water bottle.

The view was totally worth it!

A scenic view of a turquoise lake surrounded by dense evergreen forests and mountains in the background. A large hotel complex is situated on the shore of the lake. The sky is overcast with clouds, adding a dramatic effect to the landscape.

In total, we spent about 90 minutes on this hike. Next, we hiked on the flat trail that goes around one side of the lake, the Lakeshore Trail. This trail lived up to its “easy” rating, as it was truly flat. I loved how toddlers, elderly people and parents pushing strollers could participate in this hike.

A scenic view of a lakeside path with lush greenery on both sides. The path runs alongside a calm, turquoise lake, with tall evergreen trees lining the left side. In the background, there are mountains under a cloudy sky, creating a serene and picturesque landscape.

This trail provided a great view of the mountains on the opposite side of the lake and some forest waterfalls:

A scenic view of a large mountain with rocky cliffs and patches of greenery, rising above a turquoise lake. The sky is partly cloudy, with sunlight illuminating parts of the mountain. A small boat is visible on the lake.

Canoeing on Lake Louise is popular, and I loved seeing everyone enjoying the tranquil water.

A scenic view of a turquoise lake surrounded by forested mountains and snow-capped peaks. Several canoes are on the water, with people paddling. One canoe prominently displays a Canadian flag. The sky is overcast, adding a serene atmosphere to the landscape.

After our hikes, we spent some time just sitting at the side of Lake Louise and soaking it in.

A serene lake with clear turquoise water reflecting the cloudy sky. In the background, there are snow-capped mountains and dense forests lining the shore. Small boats are visible on the lake, adding a sense of scale to the expansive natural landscape.

While day trippers aren’t permitted to enter certain parts of the adjacent hotel, you can make a lunch or dinner reservation at one of the 6 restaurants with lake views. The hotel also has some cute shops to the right of the lobby.

If we had more time at Lake Louise, we would try more hiking paths and spend more time relaxing by the shore.

Lake Louise Summer Gondola

A few miles away from Lake Louise, the Lake Louise Ski Resort offers a summer gondola ride. When we pulled up to the parking lot, we thought the gondola was packed because the parking lot was full. It turns out that most cars were parked there to take shuttles to Lake Louise and Moraine Lake. The gondola was nearly deserted.

The ski lodge area:

A scenic view of a large wooden lodge with multiple peaked roofs, set against a backdrop of a snow-capped mountain and a blue sky with fluffy clouds. The foreground features a well-maintained lawn with winding pathways.

For the summer gondola, we could choose to ride either the standard open-air ski lift or an enclosed gondola. Due to my fear of heights, we chose the enclosed gondola:

The image shows two people sitting inside a stationary gondola cabin display labeled "Lake Louise Gondola." The gondola is red and blue, with the Lake Louise logo on it. Behind them is a wooden building with a sign that reads "Corona Powder Keg Lounge." There are flower arrangements on either side of the gondola, and the sky is partly cloudy.

The view going up:

A scenic view from a ski lift overlooking a resort area with wooden lodges and buildings surrounded by green grass. In the background, there are tall, snow-capped mountains under a clear blue sky.

On our way up and on the way down, we spotted this huge Grizzly bear feeding on berries:

A bear is standing in a grassy field surrounded by dense greenery and trees. The sunlight casts a soft glow over the scene, highlighting the bear's fur and the vibrant green of the grass.

Once at the top, we headed to the viewing platform:

A group of people is standing on a wooden observation deck with a metal railing, overlooking a scenic view of snow-capped mountains and a forested valley. The sky is clear and blue, with a few clouds scattered above the mountains.

From there, we saw the bird’s eye view of Lake Louise and our hotel:

A scenic view of a mountainous landscape featuring snow-capped peaks under a clear blue sky. In the foreground, there are dense green forests, and a turquoise lake is visible at the base of the mountains. The lake is surrounded by trees, and a building can be seen near its shore.
View of Lake Louise from Summer Gondola

Zoomed in:

A scenic view of a mountainous landscape with a turquoise lake nestled between forested hills. In the foreground, there are dense green trees, and in the distance, a large building is visible near the lake's edge. The background features rugged mountain peaks with patches of snow.

Next, we walked a short path to the restaurant. It wasn’t open for lunch yet:

The image shows a scenic outdoor area with wooden picnic tables and chairs on a gravel surface. Each table has a planter with colorful flowers. In the background, there are tall evergreen trees and a stunning view of snow-capped mountains under a blue sky with scattered clouds.

If we had more time, we could have hiked on top before heading back down the gondola.

On our way back to our hotel, we decided to try an off-property restaurant for lunch, The Station Restaurant.

A wooden sign reading "The Station Restaurant" is displayed in a landscaped area with lush green plants and purple flowers. The background features a forest of tall pine trees under a partly cloudy sky.

It’s in an old train station building with indoor and outdoor seating:

A rustic log cabin with a large wooden sign reading "Lake Louise" is shown. The cabin has a wooden deck with several tables and chairs. Hanging baskets of purple flowers decorate the entrance. The background features trees and a partly cloudy sky.

You can even eat dinner in an old train car:

The image shows a vintage red train car labeled "Canadian Pacific" and "Dining Car" on a railway track. There is a wooden platform with stairs leading up to the train car. Another train car is visible in the background. The scene is set outdoors with a clear blue sky and some clouds, surrounded by trees.

We sat on the patio and had a lovely lunch. I recommend this place if you’re nearby.

A wooden deck with a table and two chairs is shown, featuring a large red patio umbrella. The deck overlooks a lush green garden with trees and shrubs. The sky is partly cloudy, creating a serene outdoor setting.

Moraine Lake

We booked an 8:30 a.m. hotel shuttle to Moraine Lake on our second day (no personal cars are permitted to drive to Moraine Lake). As luck would have it, we saw a mama Grizzly with two cubs on the side of the road (but we went by too quickly for me to snap a photo). After we arrived at Moraine Lake, we headed to the Rockpile Trail for a better view.

A scenic view of a mountainous landscape under a clear blue sky. The foreground features rocky terrain with scattered evergreen trees. In the background, snow-capped peaks rise prominently, surrounded by dense forest. The scene conveys a sense of natural beauty and tranquility.
Top of Rockpile Trail

The trail is a quick 10-minute climb with a few steps, but it’s not too bad. At the top, we encountered a small crowd of people:

A group of people is standing on a viewpoint overlooking a stunning turquoise lake surrounded by dense evergreen forests and towering snow-capped mountains under a clear blue sky. Some people are taking photos of the scenic landscape.

However, it was easy to walk along a few carved-out paths below this group to find a more secluded area. And then, it seemed like we had the entire lake to ourselves:

A person wearing a black jacket and beanie is taking a photo with a smartphone of a stunning landscape. The scene features a turquoise lake surrounded by tall evergreen trees and rugged mountains with patches of snow under a clear blue sky.

A person is standing on a rocky ledge, taking a photo of a stunning mountain landscape. The scene includes a clear blue lake surrounded by tall, rugged mountains with patches of snow. Pine trees line the shore, and the sky is clear and bright blue.
Moraine Lake

Moraine Lake is gorgeous! After soaking in the views from up here, we headed back down to walk the Lakeshore Trail. Again, I appreciated that the lake has a flat, scenic hike. You can rent canoes on Moraine Lake, but I thought they were rather pricey ($160 Canadian dollars plus tax for one hour).

a group of people on a dock on a lake

 

A serene scene of a turquoise lake is visible through a row of tall trees. In the background, a red canoe with several people is floating on the water. The sunlight filters through the branches, casting shadows on the ground.
View from the Lakeshore Trail

a man standing next to a tree by a lake

Moraine Lake has an attached lodge with a small cafe and gift shop:

A wooden lodge with large windows is surrounded by tall pine trees and set against a backdrop of a clear blue sky and a snow-capped mountain. A person in a red jacket is walking on a path leading to the lodge. There is a wooden signpost indicating directions to a cafe, canoes, and a gift shop. The area is lush with greenery and the scene is bright and sunny.

If we had more time, we would have checked out some other hikes at Moraine Lake.

Banff Town

For dinner one night, we made the 40-minute drive from Lake Louise to the town of Banff. It’s a cute mountain town with a very walkable downtown area:

A street scene in a small town with a mountain backdrop. The street is lined with shops and buildings, including a clock tower and a McDonald's. A Canadian flag is visible on the clock tower. There are people walking on the sidewalk and a few cars parked along the street. The sky is clear and blue.

A two-story building with a peaked roof and a clock tower is shown. The building houses a Starbucks and other shops. Several people are standing on the sidewalk in front of the building. There is a no left turn traffic sign and a bicycle rack nearby. The sky is partly cloudy, and mountains are visible in the background.

The image shows a two-story building with a rustic design, featuring large windows and flower boxes. There is an outdoor seating area with tables and colorful umbrellas in red, orange, green, and blue. People are sitting and enjoying the sunny weather. The building is set against a backdrop of a clear blue sky and a forested mountain. The street in front is lined with flower planters.

We had our pick of many restaurants (with patios) as well as quaint shops lining the streets. We ate dinner at The Balkan (Greek food) and it was wonderful.

Overall Thoughts on Our Trip to Banff

Banff National Park exceeded my expectations. I thought the crowds were very manageable, though that may have been because the Calgary Stampede was happening while we were there and that kept the crowds in the city. Everyone we encountered was friendly and happy (how could you not be happy with that scenery?). We lucked out with great weather during our trip.

I’d love to return to Banff with my kids, although I’m not sure they would be thrilled with all of the hiking. If we return, I’d choose to stay in Banff Town for convenience to restaurants. There are still a lot of places to explore in the area that we didn’t have the chance to check out, including:

Author: Nancy

Nancy lives near Dallas, Texas, with her husband and three kids. Her favorite vacations include the beach, cruising and everything Disney.

Comments

  1. Aleks says

    Beautiful area. Nice trails. I love glacier lakes for their color and seclusion.

    It’s sad that nowadays most teenagers get “bored” with nature and don’t appreciate natural environments as they can. This wasn’t the case 20-30 years ago, prior of the spread of hand gadgets… Some European countries now prohibit use of cell phones by anyone younger than 13, and social media to teenagers up to 15 years old.

    Happy travels!!

    Reply

    • Nancy says

      @Aleks My husband and I had to chuckle at some grumpy teens we saw with families at the park. They don’t know what they’re missing. My son is about to embark on a 2-week hiking trip in the Colorado Rockies with no cell phone (organized group trip). I’m sure it will be a shock to his system.

      Reply

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