A short history of Moraine Lake
The Bow Valley has a long Indigenous history, much older than the lake's English name. In 1899 Walter D. Wilcox named the lake. Early trails, a lodge and a road brought more visitors in the 20th century, and in 2023 the road was closed to private cars because of traffic and safety.
If you want to see the lake today, start with Moraine Lake tours or the shuttle page. This page is about how the place came to look and work the way it does.
How Moraine Lake got its name
A name from 1899, and a debate about it.
Wilcox wrote that he named the lake in 1899 because he believed the heap of rock that dams it was a real moraine, a ridge of material left by a glacier. The word stuck. A rival idea existed: Fisher read the dam as the result of a rockslide. Wilcox defended the moraine. Both views are part of the lake's story, and the debate belongs to its time. Neither should be treated as a modern geological finding.
A name given in 1899 is not a discovery. People knew and used the valley long before. The Rockpile is the rock heap behind the old argument. It is also a viewpoint, and you can reach it on a loop of 0.7 km. Walk on the marked paths and do not climb the rocks.
Our pick: a guided half day
Our take: a guide adds the background to the views in a single morning.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Moraine Lake tours and shuttle trips
Day trips and sunrise departures from Banff, Calgary and Lake Louise, with live prices and availability.
Indigenous context of the Bow Valley
People lived in and used this region long before 1899.
The Bow Valley has a long history of Indigenous use. The Stoney Nakoda, the Blackfoot and the Ktunaxa each have ties to the region. Treaty 7 was signed in 1877. Its signatories include the Kainai, Siksika, Piikani and Tsuut’ina Nations and the Stoney Nakoda (Chiniki, Goodstoney and Bearspaw). The Ktunaxa have their own regional ties and are not Treaty 7 signatories.
This page keeps to the region as a whole. It does not attach particular stories, names or ceremonies to the lake itself. For the wider story of the valley, read the Banff National Park guide, and learn more from the Nations themselves.
From trails to a road: early tourism
Trails, a lodge and a road.
1899: naming and a first trail
Wilcox photographs and names the lake. A trail named for Tom Wilson dates to the same year.
1902: the CPR trail
A Canadian Pacific Railway trail follows in 1902.
1924: a rough car road
The first rough road for cars dates to 1924.
1959 to 1991: the lodge changes hands
The Moraine Lake Lodge was sold by the CPR in 1959. Arthur Erickson's design for it dates from 1988, and David Hutton and Nancy Stibbard took over in 1991.
1970 and 1978: the CAD 20 note
The lake appears on the back of the CAD 20 note, first issued on 22 June 1970 and modified on 17 December 1978. More in Moraine Lake facts.
Bears, groups and the closed road
Recent history that shapes a visit today.
In 1999 group access for bear safety was introduced in the Moraine area. In 2007 the minimum group size was cut from six people to four. Today the advice is to stay in a tight group of at least four people, make noise and carry bear spray. In 2023 the road to the lake was closed to general private traffic. The reason was congestion and safety. Since then the lake is reached by the Parks Canada shuttle, licensed commercial buses, or by bike from Lake Louise village. See how to get there.
See the history on site
Three short walks that put the story in place.
The Rockpile Loop
The loop is 0.7 km and takes about 30 minutes, with steps and a climb. It leads to the rock heap Wilcox took for a moraine. Stay on the marked path.
The Lakeshore trail
The trail is 1.3 km one way and takes about 45 minutes in total. It begins behind the lodge and is rated easy.
The Consolation Lakes
The trail to the first lake is 2.9 km one way and takes about 2 hours in total. It gives you a different view of the valley. See the hiking guide for every trail.
Moraine Lake history: frequently asked questions
Who named Moraine Lake?
Walter D. Wilcox, who wrote that he named it in 1899. He thought the rock heap at the lake was a moraine.
Is the dam at Moraine Lake a moraine or a rockslide?
Wilcox argued for a moraine and Fisher for a rockslide. The debate is from the early 20th century and not a modern finding.
When did the road to Moraine Lake close to cars?
The general restriction on private cars has been in place since 2023, because of congestion and safety.
Which First Nations are connected to the Bow Valley?
The Stoney Nakoda, the Blackfoot and the Ktunaxa have regional ties. Treaty 7 was signed in 1877 by the Kainai, Siksika, Piikani and Tsuut’ina Nations and the Stoney Nakoda.
Is this an official Moraine Lake website?
No. This is an independent guide, and it is not run by Parks Canada, the lodge or any tour company.