Two of the most iconic places in the Canadian Rockies are Lake Louise and Moraine Lake, both located in Banff National Park, Canada’s first national park and part of the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Historically, getting to Lake Louise and Moraine Lake was simple enough, you could drive your car right to the lake shore and see the majestic lakes. Then things changed.
Due to increased levels of tourism, from 2013, Parks Canada, who operate the national parks, have been trying to deal with unprecedented levels of tourists that come to visit these iconic sites. Last year, it was estimated that 4.5 million people visited Banff National Park.
To address the issue of visiting these sites, you now need to book a shuttle bus in advance that is operated by Parks Canada. Sounds simple, but as you can imagine, it’s not as I quickly found out being 53,000 in the queue and getting tickets to visit these iconic sites was more difficult than getting concert tickets to Oasis’ long-awaited comeback tour!
On April 15th, Parks Canada opened their booking system at 8am MST. By 9.07am MST, tickets had sold out. Parks Canada will release additional waves, but if you are trying to plan a holiday, it’s not ideal however, there are other ways to get there, one of which is using the Roam Public Transit bus from Banff, but requires an awful lot of hoping on and off of buses and is priced at $30 CAD.
The most practical and guaranteed way of visiting these sites, if travelling with your family, is to book a guided tour with local operators such as Rugged Peaks Touring Co.
If you are staying in the Canmore or Banff area, they will collect you from your door and take you hassle-free to the lakes, providing an interpretive guiding service along the route.
However, the final way to visit these sites, which is my preferred option, is using the bike.
The route to Lake Louise
Bikes can be rented from many local bike shops, and you should simply park at the Lake Louise ski hill, which is where the Parks Canada shuttle buses depart from. You won’t have any trouble parking.
Then it’s a straight descent to Lake Louise over two cattle grids which are most commonly known as a “Texas Gate.” These have huge gaps between the bars, so at this point, I opted to get off my bike and walk it over.
From Lake Louise village, you continue straight over a roundabout and begin your ascent on Lake Louise Drive to the famous Fairmont Château Lake Louise and the lake shore.
This is a 4.5km steady climb with sweeping curves that meanders through towering pine trees and ends at the lake shore, passing the turning for Moraine Lake midway up. My recommendation would be to start early because, during the day, the road can get busy. There is sufficient room for the tour buses to pass, but like any ride, it’s always nice to go when there is less traffic.
As you approach Lake Louise, you will find you will be able to ride to the lake shore and this being another advantage of starting early is there will be fewer people to navigate around.
Take a picture, and then it’s on to the best bit of the ride, Moraine Lake road.
Moraine Lake road
As you descend from Lake Louise, don’t go too fast because you will quickly come upon the turning to Moraine Lake, which is guarded by Parks Canada.
With this road closed to traffic (other than tour buses which pass infrequently), you have the opportunity to cycle at your leisure and enjoy the incredible mountains as you traverse this 14km road that climbs gently to the lake, with an elevation gain of 527 meters.
Due to the infrequency of traffic, be sure to carry a puncture repair kit and be familiar with its use, as you won’t want to be flagging down a bus to catch a lift. The other thing you will need is bear spray. You are in the heart of bear country and although the likelihood of a bear encounter is rare, it’s best to be prepared, and it was the first time I was cycling with bear spray in my jersey pocket.
We have all heard the phrase “It’s not the destination, it’s the journey” in this case, Moraine Lake at the end of the journey is equally spectacular as the ride to get there. There is even the Moraine Lake Café where you can pick up a drink and this may be the most memorable coffee stop you will have.
After taking in the views, you will need to retrace your route along Moraine Lake road before descending back into Lake Louise village and tackling the long steady, but not too steep climb back to your car, completing one of the unique cycling experiences you can have.
Top tips to make the most of your trip
To really enjoy the day, you may want to:
- Start early to avoid encountering too much traffic on the climb to Lake Louise and, consequently, the crowds.
- Take bear spray just in case you have a close encounter on Moraine Lake road.
- Take a pair of hiking shoes so that you can change your footwear at Moraine Lake to something more practical, allowing you to complete a short walk to get an iconic view of the lake, something that is impossible to do in a pair of road cycling shoes.
- Take a jacket as the weather is changeable.
- Pack a puncture repair kit, just in case.
Summing up
Cycling to Lake Louise and Moraine Lake offers a unique and breathtaking experience, allowing you to enjoy the stunning landscapes while navigating the challenges of increased tourism. By planning ahead and starting early, you can make the most of this unforgettable journey through one of Canada’s most iconic natural wonders.
