Consolation Lakes hike
View PhotosConsolation Lakes hike
Difficulty Rating:
The Consolation Lake trail is a favorite family hike near Lake Louise, and can be paired with the Moraine Lake Rockpile and Lakeshore hike. Hike along Babel Creek to Consolation Lakes, which are fringed with stunning glacier clad mountains.
Getting there
If you want to park at Moraine Lake, your best bet is to get there before 6am. To get there, take Lake Louise Drive from Lake Louise Village for 2.0km, then turn left on Moraine Lake Road and follow for 12.2km. Most people end up taking the public transportation.
About
| When to do | May through October |
| Backcountry Campsites | No |
| Toilets | Trailhead |
| Family friendly | Yes |
| Route Signage | Average |
| Crowd Levels | Moderate |
| Route Type | Out and back |
Consolation Lakes
Elevation Graph
Weather
Route Description for Consolation Lakes hike
Parking at Moraine Lake is extremely limited, and the best bet is to aim to get to Moraine Lake before 6am if you want to park.
There are paid shuttle options to Moraine Lake Parking lot. These are available from the Lake Louise Village and the Lake Louise Overflow Parking lot which is where traffic will be redirected to once the Moraine Lake Parking Lot is full. There is nowhere to line up if access is blocked to Moraine Lake Road.
You can also ride a bike to Moraine Lake, and it’s a beautiful ride.
From the Moraine Lake parking lot, follow signposts leading off to the left towards Consolation Lakes. Continue on this route by crossing the bridge and follow the trail, noting that this hike often requires hiking in groups due to bear activity.
This path is well-maintained and the scenery is excellent as you hike below the Tower of Babel on your right and then through a boulder field that leads to a pleasant forest walk. You’ll be surprised how quickly the crowds of Moraine Lake melt away and you can enjoy the solitude and beauty of the Canadian Rockies.
The landscape opens as you approach Lower Consolation Lake. Many people stop here, however you can continue to Upper Consolation Lake via either side of the lake. We recommend taking the route through scree, as the other side can be quite wet.
Insider Hints
Try to begin before 8am or after 5pm for fewer crowds and better access to parking.
Pair this hike with Moraine Lakeshore and Rockpile for a wonderful morning.
Similar hikes to the Consolation Lakes hike
Plain of the 6 Glaciers
A classic hike in Banff National Park, the Plain of the Six Glaciers guides you beside Lake Louise, up past…
Lake Louise Ski Hill
If you have kids, taking the gondola up the Lake Louise Ski Hill is a great trip for the whole…
Moraine Lake Rockpile and Lakeshore
The Moraine Lake Rockpile and Lakeshore trail in Lake Louise provides one of the best views of the Canadian Rockies…
bigfootJOE 4 months ago
We've extended this hike adding another one after, but this part is great by itself.
HikingPhreek 5 months ago
Consolation Lakes was a beautiful hike with some amazing mountain views.
VicTor 5 months ago
Amazing mountains all around. Great to take your kids here. To teach some appreciation for mother nature
Peggy Rosie 6 months ago
Great easy hike, good for families
WanderlustKing 6 months ago
Easy walk, nice views
PMahesh 6 months ago
Arrive early cuz the car park fills up very fast