Lake Louise and Moraine Lake in one day
Lake Louise and Moraine Lake are in the same part of Banff National Park, and most visitors want to see both. You cannot drive your own car to Moraine Lake, so the usual choices are the Parks Canada shuttle, which links the two lakes, or a guided Lake Louise and Moraine Lake tour that stops at both.
A Parks Canada shuttle ticket covers both lakes and the Lake Connector between them. You pick one lake first and switch afterwards without paying for a second parking space. A tour is a different product, with its own return time, stop length and conditions. The table below sets the options side by side with 2026 fares.
Our picks: Lake Louise and Moraine Lake in one day
Our take: the canoe-queue tour suits you if you want to paddle on Lake Louise. The small-group tour gives two hours at each lake, and the half-day tour is the budget option when Moraine is in season.
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.
Lake Louise canoe line access and Moraine Lake
- Group of up to 14
- Organised Moraine Lake access
- Park entry and parking
Priority in the canoe queue at Lake Louise, not the canoe itself, which is paid on site, plus guided stops at Moraine and Emerald Lake.
Check availability →
Moraine Lake and Lake Louise from Canmore or Banff
- Local guide
- Coffee, tea and chocolate
- Hiking poles and rain gear
Two hours at each lake in a group of up to 13, with the shuttle waiting nearby.
Check availability →
Lake Louise with Johnston Canyon or Moraine Lake
- National park pass
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- Crampons in winter
Moraine Lake is on this route only from June to mid-October; otherwise it stops at Johnston Canyon.
Check availability →Lake Louise and Moraine Lake tours
Day trips from Banff, Calgary and Lake Louise that visit both lakes, with live prices and availability.
Lake Louise and Moraine Lake tour options compared
Adult prices in 2026. Prices for private tours are starting prices, and the final price depends on date and options.
| Option | Starts at | Both lakes | Price in 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parks Canada shuttle | Park and Ride, Lake Louise Ski Resort | Yes, with the Lake Connector | CAD 12.75, plus CAD 3.50 per online reservation |
| Alpine Start (sunrise) | Lake Louise Lakeshore, 04:00 and 05:00 | Moraine Lake first, back by Lake Connector | CAD 12.75 plus CAD 42 for Lakeshore parking |
| Roam Super Pass | Banff | Roam 8X to Lake Louise, then the Lake Connector | CAD 30, plus CAD 3 per booking |
| Day tour from Banff or Canmore | Banff or Canmore | Varies by tour | From CAD 59 (Moraine Lake), from CAD 105 (sunrise with Lake Louise) |
| Full-day tour from Calgary | Calgary Downtown, pickup 07:30 | Yes, with further stops | CAD 130 per person, CAD 117 on promotion |
For most visitors who already have a car near Lake Louise, the Parks Canada shuttle is the simplest and cheapest way to see both lakes. If you stay in Banff without a car, the Roam Super Pass or a day tour saves you the drive. From Calgary, a full-day tour is the easier choice.
How each way works
What to know before you reserve.
Parks Canada shuttle
The shuttle starts at the Park and Ride at Lake Louise Ski Resort, 1 Whitehorn Road. Departures to Moraine Lake run every 30 minutes from 06:30 to 17:00, and the last return to the Park and Ride is at 19:30. You check in within a reserved one-hour window, and the Park and Ride is free for reserved shuttle passengers. Parks Canada park entry is separate.
Moraine Lake shuttle guide →Alpine Start for sunrise
Alpine Start leaves Lake Louise Lakeshore at 04:00 and 05:00 every day from 1 June to 12 October 2026. Reserve by 15:00 the day before, because there are no walk-up tickets. The service has no accessible vehicles. For one adult with a car, the shuttle (CAD 12.75), the online booking (CAD 3.50) and Lakeshore parking (CAD 42) add up to CAD 58.25, with park entry on top if you need a pass.
Moraine Lake sunrise guide →From Banff with Roam
The Roam 8X runs from the Banff High School Transit Hub to Lake Louise Lakeshore, and the Parks Canada Lake Connector takes you on to Moraine Lake. The Super Pass must start in Banff and needs a same-day return reservation. Adults pay CAD 30, seniors (65+) and youth (13–18) CAD 15, and children up to 12 ride free but still need a reservation. There is no direct Roam route to Moraine Lake in 2026.
Day tours
Licensed commercial buses may drive to Moraine Lake. Starting prices for Banff and Canmore trips range from CAD 59 for a Moraine Lake day trip to CAD 105 for sunrise with Lake Louise. The Calgary full-day tour costs CAD 130 per person, CAD 117 on promotion, with pickups at 07:30 in Calgary Downtown, 09:00 in Canmore and 09:30 in Banff. Check return time, time at each lake and what the price includes.
Moraine Lake tours →Plan the timing of your day
Allow more time than the shuttle times suggest. A short stop at each lake does not replace a hike such as Larch Valley or Sentinel Pass, and you need to add check-in, waiting and the walk to the stop. The Lake Connector has no separate departure reservation: you join the queue after you arrive and need the boarding pass from your check-in.
If you travel on the Roam Super Pass, the whole group should be at the stop 20 minutes before the reserved departure. The latest Connector to Moraine Lake leaves between 16:30 and 17:30, so plan on 16:30 and check before you go. The Connector leaves Moraine Lake for the last time at 18:00.
Lake Louise in detail, with its trails, the canoe dock and the village, is covered in the Lake Louise guide. The park pass is explained on the Banff park pass page.
Season and access
When the shuttle and the lakes are reachable.
Shuttle dates in 2026
Lake Louise service ran from 15 May to 12 October 2026, with the first departures from 08:00 until the end of May. Moraine Lake service ran from 1 June to 12 October 2026. Check the dates for the next season before you plan.
Outside the season
There is no regular bus to Moraine Lake outside the summer season, and the lake is not reachable as a normal outing in winter because of avalanche danger. Lake Louise village and the Lake Louise lakeshore stay reachable all year, so Lake Louise is the lake to plan around in the off season.
Is Moraine Lake open? →Plan the rest of your visit
More guides for the two lakes.
Moraine Lake vs Lake Louise
Which lake to choose when you only have one morning.
Moraine Lake shuttle
Season, fares and the booking rules for 2026.
Parking for Moraine Lake
Where to leave the car and what it costs.
How to get to Moraine Lake
Road closure, shuttles and cycling.
Lake Louise and Moraine Lake: frequently asked questions
Can I see Lake Louise and Moraine Lake in one day?
Yes. In the summer season the Parks Canada shuttle and its Lake Connector link the two lakes, and several day tours stop at both. A short visit to each lake is realistic. A long hike at Moraine Lake plus a full visit to Lake Louise is a lot for one day.
Does one ticket cover both lakes?
A Parks Canada shuttle ticket covers both lakes and the Lake Connector. A private tour ticket is a different product, so check what it includes. You cannot assume that a private ticket lets you use the Parks Canada Connector.
How much does it cost to visit both lakes?
In 2026 the Parks Canada shuttle was CAD 12.75 for adults aged 18 to 64, CAD 6 for seniors and CAD 4 for people up to 17, plus CAD 3.50 per online reservation. Park entry is charged separately. The adult day pass was CAD 12.25.
Can I drive my own car to Moraine Lake?
No. Private cars cannot use the Moraine Lake road. Licensed commercial vehicles, Parks Canada shuttles and registered lodge guests are the main exceptions. If you hold a disability parking permit, check with Parks Canada before you travel.
Which lake should I visit first?
If you hold an early reservation, start at Moraine Lake: the first shuttle leaves the Park and Ride at 06:30, and the Connector takes you on to Lake Louise afterwards. Without a reservation, Lake Louise is the lake you can reach on your own.