Moraine Lake Hike (The Rockpile and Lakeshore Trail) Route Guide

Route Description for Moraine Lake Hike (The Rockpile and Lakeshore Trail)

Moraine Lake Hike (The Rockpile and Lakeshore Trail) in 2026

In 2026, the Rockpile and Lakeshore trails remain a short, family-friendly way to enjoy Moraine Lake’s iconic views, but access planning matters more than the walking. Moraine Lake Road is closed to personal vehicles, so most hikers arrive by Parks Canada shuttle, licensed commercial transportation, bike, or as part of a guided tour. Expect peak-season crowds from June to mid-October, fast-changing mountain weather, and standard Banff wildlife precautions.

Route Description for Moraine Lake Hike (The Rockpile and Lakeshore Trail)

The hardest part of the Moraine Lake hike is getting there. Moraine Lake Road is closed to personal vehicles, so most visitors arrive by Parks Canada shuttle, licensed commercial transportation, bike, or as part of a guided tour.

Parks Canada shuttles and other transportation options operate seasonally (typically June to mid-October, weather dependent). If you’re visiting in peak season, plan ahead and book transportation early.

We love this Moraine Lake hike, as it is a great route for families and those who aren’t experienced hikers. Experienced hikers should add this hike to their itinerary at Moraine Lake, and ensure they take in the view from the top of the Rockpile while doing other hikes in the area. The view from the top of the Rockpile overlooking Moraine Lake provides an iconic view of the Canadian Rockies – stunning and fit for a postcard.

To start this hike, hike through the parking lot to Moraine Lake. Before you get to the lake, head off to the left on a trail that goes behind the big rockpile. Some people choose to climb up the rocks up the Rockpile, however, the preferred (and safer way) of hiking up is a well-built trail that involves hiking behind the Rockpile.

The trail around the Rockpile is well-made, with steps for the steeper ascents. Once you’ve hiked to the top of the Rockpile, you can savor the scenery of the Valley of the Ten Peaks towering over the stunning Moraine Lake, one of the most iconic mountain views on earth. The hike continues in a circuit on the top of The Rockpile, which provides many viewpoints for great photos.

Follow the path back down from the Rockpile (it’s the same route you came up on) and then head towards Moraine Lake Lodge. You can stop here for a snack, however most follow the forested trail that goes along the right-hand shore of Moraine Lake.

While hiking along Moraine Lake, you’ll get a beautiful view of Mount Fay and the Fay Glacier as well as being able to look out at canoes enjoying a paddle on the lake.

Hike as far as you want around Moraine Lake. The end of the hike is a boardwalk, with more nice views. Enjoy this pleasant stroll along one of the most beautiful places on earth.

We like to do this hike after dinner during the summer, as evenings can feel quieter, but access still depends on your chosen transportation option.

If you’d prefer to let someone else handle the logistics, you can also join one of the guided hiking tours in Banff offered by 10Adventures.

Moraine Lake

The glacier-fed Moraine Lake is one of the most stunning natural features in the Lake Louise area, with vivid turquoise waters perfectly offset by the surrounding mountains. It freezes over in winter, and usually does not thaw until June, when the rock silt created by the slow-moving glacier gives the water its characteristic turquoise glow. It’s so picturesque that the view from the top of the Rockpile is featured on the backs of Canadian $20 bills printed between 1969 and 1979!

The area around Lake Moraine is well known for outdoor activities, including hiking and backpacking in the summer, and cross-country skiing in the winter (although the risk of avalanche means that you can’t get all the way down to the lake itself between November and March). It’s possible to rent canoes and cross to the far side of the lake although bear in mind that swimming is not permitted! In autumn, the surrounding larch forests blaze with yellow, gold and red colors, as the leaves turn and the nights begin to draw in.

Valley of the Ten Peaks

Moraine Lake is located in the Valley of the Ten Peaks, so named for the ten stunning peaks that crown the lake. The highest peak here is Deltaform Mountain, at 3424m, closely followed by the iconic Mount Fay, named after the early explorer and mountaineer Charles Fay. The jagged, snow-capped peaks make an incredibly beautiful sight, and the Valley of the Ten Peaks is a photographer’s dream.

Around the lakes and mountains, the valley is covered in thick larch forest, which turns red, yellow and gold in the fall season. It’s an ideal destination for hiking, backpacking and biking, in addition to wildlife watching.

Want to find more amazing Lake Louise hikes? Check out the Plain of the 6 Glaciers, Sentinel Pass or the Skoki Lakes hike.