Visiting Lake Louise and Moraine Lake

Four routes provide easy access to the Lake Louise Lakeshore, Moraine Lake and offer travel between the Lake Louise Campground and the Park and Ride.

	Dates	Frequency	Schedule	Last return shuttle	Route	Connects to	Reservation required
Lake Louise Lakeshore	May 19 to October 9	Every 20 minutes	6:30 am - 6 pm.	7:30 pm	Park and Ride ↔ Lake Louise Lakeshore		Reserve
Moraine Lake	June 1 to October 9	Every 20 minutes	6:30 am - 6 pm.	7:30 pm	Park and Ride ↔ Moraine Lake		Reserve
Lake Connector	June 1 to October 9	Every 15 minutes	8 am - 6 pm.		Lake Louise Lakeshore ↔ Park and Ride	Roam Super Pass	No. Free for reservation holders.
Park and Ride Connector	May 19 to October 9	Every 30 minutes	7 am – 7:30 pm.		Lake Louise Campground to community of Lake Louise and the Park and Ride		No. Free for reservation holders.

Note: Your shuttle trip must begin and end at the Park and Ride where Parks Canada staff will check you in. Ticket holders who attempt to park at the Lake Louise Lakeshore paid lot will not be permitted on the shuttle. Parking at the Park and Ride is free.

 Lake Louise Lakeshore

When: Daily from May 19 to October 9, 2023
Where:This service runs between the Park and Ride, located at the Lake Louise Ski Resort (1 Whitehorn Road) and the Lake Louise Lakeshore.
Service Frequency: Every 20 minutes between 6:30 am and 6 pm. (8 am to 6 pm May 19-31). The final return bus from Lake Louise Lakeshore to the Park and Ride is at 7:30 pm.

Advance reservations required.

Reserve now!

 Moraine Lake

When: Daily from June 1 to October 9, 2023
Where:This service runs between the Park and Ride, located at the Lake Louise Ski Resort (1 Whitehorn Road) and Moraine Lake.
Service Frequency: Every 20 minutes between 6:30 am and 6 pm. The final return bus from Moraine Lake to the Park and Ride is at 7:30 pm.

Advance reservations required.

Reserve now!

 Lake Connector

When: Daily from June 1 to October 9, 2023.
Where:This service runs between Lake Louise and Moraine Lake
Service Frequency:

Lake Louise to Moraine Lake: Every 15 minutes between 8 am and 6 pm.
Moraine Lake to Lake Louise: Every 15 minutes between 8 am and 6 pm.

The Lake Connecter shuttle is for reservation holders only after they have checked in at the Park and Ride (boarding pass required) or those riders who have purchased a Roam Superpass. The shuttle is free of charge with your reservation and is first come first served. You do not need to book a specific time for the Lake Connector shuttle.

Note: Your shuttle trip must begin and end at the Park and Ride where Parks Canada staff will check you in. Ticket holders who attempt to park at the Lake Louise Lakeshore paid lot will not be permitted on the shuttle. Parking at the Park and Ride is free.

Free access to the Parks Canada Lake Connector shuttle with a Roam Super Pass! With the purchase of a Roam Public Transit Super Pass, visitors will receive free access to the Parks Canada Lake Connector shuttle from the Lake Louise Lakeshore or Moraine Lake. Show a valid Roam Super Pass to Parks Canada staff at Lake Louise or Moraine Lake to receive your Parks Canada boarding pass. For more information, visit Roam Public Transit.

 

 Park and Ride Connector

When: Daily from May 19 to October 9, 2023.
Where:This service runs on a loop between the Lake Louise Campground, the community of Lake Louise (Samson Mall) and the Park and Ride, located at the Lake Louise Ski Resort (1 Whitehorn Road).
Service Frequency: Every 30 minutes between 7 am and 7:30 pm.
Insider tip: Staying in the community of Lake Louise or at the Lake Louise campground? Leave your car at your accommodation and take the Park and Ride Connector route to the Park and Ride, to connect with the Lake Louise and Moraine Lake shuttles.

This route does not require reservations. This service is free of charge. Visitors looking to connect to Lake Louise and Moraine Lake via the Park and Ride must book a reservation in advance.

• Are walk-up tickets available for the Parks Canada shuttle?
• To avoid disappointment, book your ticket in advance. If there is space available, Parks Canada staff at the Park and Ride can assist you in making a reservation for the next available time slot that day. However, this is not recommended as shuttles generally sell out by 9 am.
When can I make my reservation?
• Shuttle reservations are available Spring 2023.
• 40% of the entire seasons tickets (mid-May to mid-October) will be available to book Spring 2023. The remaining 60% will be released on a rolling window at 8 am MDT two days before departure day. For example, the second release of tickets for Saturday, June 3 will be available at 8 am MDT on Thursday, June 1.
• Reservations must be made through the Parks Canada Reservation Service, or by phoning 1-877-737-3783.
• An account is required to use the Parks Canada Reservation Service. If you don’t already have an account, Parks Canada recommends creating your account well in advance of purchasing your ticket to ensure a smooth checkout process when booking! Note: Parks Canada Reservation Service will be hosted on a new platform beginning in 2023, all users will need to create a new account in 2023.
How do I book my shuttle reservation?
• Reservations must be made through the Parks Canada Reservation Service, or by phoning 1-877-737-3783.
• An account is required to use the Parks Canada Reservation Service. If you don’t already have an account, Parks Canada recommends creating your account well in advance of purchasing your ticket to ensure a smooth checkout process when booking! Note: Visitors who previously had accounts with Parks Canada will need to create a new account due to system upgrades that occurred this year.
Where do I catch the shuttle to Lake Louise and Moraine Lake?
• All Parks Canada shuttles to Lake Louise Lakeshore and Moraine Lake begin and end at the Lake Louise Park and Ride, located at the Lake Louise Ski Resort (1 Whitehorn Road). Click here for directions.
• If you are staying in the village of Lake Louise or in the Lake Louise Campground, you are encouraged to leave your vehicle at your accommodation and use the free Park and Ride Connector shuttle. Visitors looking to connect to Lake Louise and Moraine Lake via the Park and Ride must book a reservation in advance.
Does my reservation give me access to both Moraine Lake and Lake Louise in the same day?
• Yes, from June 1 to October 9, your shuttle reservation includes access to the Lake Connector shuttle at no added cost. This shuttle is first come first served and will take you between both lakes. It also includes your return trip to the Park and Ride, from either lake.
Do I need to pay for parking at the Park and Ride?
• No, parking at this site is free.
Why do I need to reserve the shuttle?
• As visitation to Lake Louise and Moraine Lake increases, so do the public safety risks. Visitor safety is of the utmost importance for Parks Canada. The shuttle reservation system helps to better manage traffic congestion, allows visitors to plan their trip in advance by guaranteeing access to the lakes, and maintains emergency services access.
• Shuttle reservations help to spread visitation out throughout the day, and manages congestion. This improves the overall visitor experience, while also enhancing the protection and preservation of the surrounding area.
Are the shuttles accessible?
• At this time, Parks Canada shuttle buses have limited accessibility.
• Roam Public Transit is wheelchair accessible and offers service between Town of Banff and Lake Louise.
• Vehicles with a blue accessible parking placard will always be granted access to the parking lots. Visitors are advised to clearly display the blue placard for traffic control personnel to see. Visitors with a blue accessible parking placard will also be able to travel to Moraine Lake in their personal vehicle, if they are unable to take the shuttle bus.
Can I bring my pet?
• Certified assistance animals are allowed on board at no charge. Owners of assistance animals should be prepared to show the animal's verification of training.
• Passenger pets are allowed on board at no charge. All pets must be crated in a secure and clean carrier designed and intended for the carrying of animals which is small enough to fit on the owner's lap.
• Passengers must hold onto the carrier at all times and are responsible for the safety of their pet.
Can I bring my watercraft?
• The Parks Canada shuttles can accommodate many different types of watercraft including inflatable paddleboards, packrafts, inflatable kayaks, and even small hard-sided kayaks provided space permits. If you are unsure about whether your watercraft can be accommodated, please speak to the Parks Canada staff at the park and ride. If the shuttle is unable to accommodate your watercraft, canoe rentals are available at Moraine Lake.
• Remember to Clean, Drain and Dry your watercraft and water-related gear before entering any river, lake or stream! Learn more here.
Can I bring a stroller and other equipment?
• The Parks Canada shuttles can accommodate strollers and other equipment, such as large backpacks and climbing gear.
How do I get to the Paradise Valley Trailhead?
• Camping at the Paradise Valley Backcountry Campground? Visit Parks Canada staff at the Park and Ride and show your backcountry permit. You will receive a special Paradise Valley ticket and must show this to the bus driver. All reservations for this campground must be made 24 hours in advance through the Banff or Lake Louise visitor centres. This campground is closed when group access restrictions are in effect due to bear activity.
• Day hiking in the Paradise Valley? On the day of your hike, visit Parks Canada staff at the Park and Ride for a first-come-first-serve seat on the Parks Canada shuttle. A limited number of tickets is available each day. The number of first-come-first-serve seats corresponds to the average daily use recorded by trail counters in 2022. You will receive a special Paradise Valley ticket and must show this to the bus driver.
• To return to the Park and Ride, visitors can hike through to Moraine Lake and catch the shuttle from the lakeshore or return the way they came, and catch the next available shuttle to the Park and Ride from the Paradise Valley Trailhead. Two seats on every return shuttle are reserved for Paradise Valley users.
I am a climber or mountaineer, what should I do?
• Mountaineers staying at the Neil Colgan hut, or who have obtained bivouac permits will receive a shuttle ticket as part of their reservation. These visitors should visit staff at the Park and Ride, and then catch the next available shuttle to Moraine Lake.
• Climbers who need access outside of the hours when Parks Canada shuttles are running will need to arrange private transportation such as a taxi or private shuttle.
What is Parks Canada doing to promote of the use of transit?
• Parks Canada strongly encourages all visitors to Lake Louise to take transit and avoid the hassle of finding parking in this very busy place. All of Parks Canada’s trip planning materials encourage the use of transit, and we partner with local organizations including the Town of Banff, Roam Transit, and Banff Lake Louise Tourism to help ensure prospective visitors and residents are aware of the transit options available to them. Parks Canada is constantly working hard to promote transit at every stage of the trip planning cycle.

Hiking to Lake Louise

The Louise Creek trail is a scenic way to connect the community of Lake Louise to Lake Louise Lakeshore. From Samson Mall, walk along Lake Louise Drive to a bridge crossing the Bow River. Cross the bridge and then look for the trailhead on the downstream side of the bridge.

Hiking to Moraine Lake

This is not recommended. Hiking to Moraine Lake from the village of Lake Louise is approximately 28km round trip with moderate elevation gain. There is no pathway along Moraine Lake Road.

Hiking in the Lake Louise area

Road cycling to Lake Louise

Cycling is permitted along Lake Louise Drive. This narrow, mountain road has minimal shoulders and heavy traffic. There is moderate elevation gain over 4km between the community of Lake Louise and Lake Louise Lakeshore. It’s best to ride early or late in the day when traffic volume is lower. Bike racks are provided at Lake Louise Lakeshore.

Road cycling to Moraine Lake

While personal vehicle traffic is restricted along the Moraine Lake road, cyclists will encounter bus traffic. The road is narrow and has no shoulders. Cyclists who wish to avoid traffic should consider riding early or late in the day. From the turnoff at the 3 km mark of Lake Louise Drive, Moraine Lake Road climbs to spectacular views of Consolation Valley and the Valley of the Ten Peaks. Bike racks are provided at Moraine Lake.

Road cycling in the Lake Louise area

Please note: There is very limited parking in the community of Lake Louise. There is no parking at the Moraine Lake junction.

Mountain biking to Lake Louise

The Tramline trail is the former route of a tramway (1912 to 1930). It is a quiet way to connect the village of Lake Louise to Lake Louise Lakeshore. The trail begins opposite Lake Louise train station (Station Restaurant) beside Bow River bridge.

Mountain biking to Moraine Lake

The Highline Trail is a demanding trail for experienced mountain bikers only. This single-track trail begins 2.5 km up Moraine Lake Road. No parking is available here, cyclists must cycle from the community of Lake Louise.

Mountain biking in the Lake Louise area

Please note: There is very limited parking in the community of Lake Louise. There is no parking at the Moraine Lake junction.