You’ve probably seen the photos of Moraine Lake glowing pink and gold as the sun rises over those jagged peaks. But is it really worth waking up at 4 a.m.? Today, we’re talking about what sunrise at Moraine Lake is actually like and whether it’s something you should plan for on your Banff trip.
Let’s discuss sunrise at Moraine Lake: what to expect, why people love it, and whether you should put it on your must-do list. And trust me, I have thoughts.
Why Sunrise at Moraine Lake Is a Big Deal
If you’ve Googled Banff, you’ve definitely seen that iconic photo of Moraine Lake. The Valley of the Ten Peaks glowing in the early light, mirrored perfectly on Moraine Lake’s glassy surface.
There’s a reason photographers and early risers go out of their way for this moment at Moraine Lake. It’s stunning when the conditions are just right. It really does feel like a scene from a postcard. But I’ll be honest, getting there isn’t effortless. You’ll be waking up really early, especially if you’re visiting in June, July, or August.
You’re going to be bundling up. It’s going to be dark, and you’re really crossing those fingers hoping for clear skies. Some mornings it’s going to be cloudy. Some mornings it might be smoky if there are forest fires in the area, or you may just not get that perfect glow.
We took our kids out to Moraine Lake for sunrise, two or three years ago, and we had to get up at 3:30 in the morning to go catch the shuttle.
Getting up that early isn’t fun with an eight and 10-year-old. Of course, at that age, they’re not overly interested in the sunrise. Thankfully, I had planned ahead and packed some blankets and snacks. We were there waiting for the sun to rise and get that beautiful glow on the peaks. As I was setting up my camera and my tripod, I looked back and there’s my kids not even looking at the sunrise. They were laying on the blanket playing games.
While it’s unlikely your kids are going to care about the sunrise, if it’s something that’s a must for you – then you should definitely include it in your Banff itinerary!
What to Expect at Sunrise at Moraine Lake
Let’s get into what to expect at sunrise at Moraine Lake.
What time is Sunrise at Moraine Lake? That really depends on when you’re here. If you are here in June, the sunrise is around 5:30 AM all month long.
In July, sunrise starts to get a little bit later. Towards the end of July, sunrise will be around 6:00 AM. As you get into August, sunrise starts at 6:00 AM and then closer to 7:00 AM as you get towards the end of August.
You will want to plan to be there at least 45 minutes in advance. This will give you time to find your spot on the Rock Pile and be ready to watch the sunrise.
If the sunrise happens at 6:00 AM that means you will want to arrive at the Moraine Lake parking lot by 5:15 AM. Most shuttle operators who offer a sunrise shuttle will make sure that the timing works and tell you what time to arrive for your shuttle. If you are taking the Alpine Start shuttle with Parks Canada, then you’ll need to decide between the 4AM and 5AM shuttles. Make sure it gives you enough time to get to Moraine Lake and get up the Rock Pile before sunrise.
It’s definitely an early morning, so just make sure you plan the rest of your day taking that into account.
How to Get to Moraine Lake for Sunrise
Okay, let’s talk logistics because this is the part that’s changed recently. Since 2023, the Moraine Lake Road is closed to personal vehicles. This means, you can’t drive your own car to Moraine Lake anymore. Only those with a handicap tag or staying at the Moraine Lake Lodge can drive the road (and only later in the morning when attendants are at the gates).
Everyone else needs to take a shuttle, which can either be the Parks Canada shuttle or one of the commercial shuttle operators.
If you caught my episode on the Moraine Lake Shuttles, then you’ll want to find the shuttle that makes the most sense for when you are here. The Alpine Start Shuttle with Parks Canada isn’t always the best option, especially in September when the sunrise is much later. Getting on a shuttle at 4 or 5 AM will mean too much extra time waiting in the cold, dark. Similarly, in late June when sunrise is early, the 5 AM Alpine Start Shuttle can be too late, especially to catch that alpenglow that starts about 30 minutes before the official sunrise.
The private shuttle operators plan for the timing so you are there 45 minutes in advance. They time it perfectly to give you time to walk up the Rock Pile (say 10-15 minutes), find yourself a spot, set up your camera/tripod, and then have a little bit of time to relax and take in that sunrise.
There are a lot of great shuttle operators that allow you to catch a shuttle from Canmore, Banff or Lake Louise. Download my free guide to Getting to Moraine Lake which outlines all of the shuttle options and how to choose the best one for your Banff trip.
It is really important to plan that Moraine Lake shuttle ahead of time to make sure you can catch that sunrise.
Should You See Moraine Lake at Sunrise? Here’s How to Decide
There’s a lot to think about when considering if you should visit Moraine Lake at sunrise. Let’s break it down.
If you’re a photographer and you want that iconic shot, then you’ll very likely want to be there for sunrise. You’ll have the best opportunity to see that alpenglow and get the mountain reflections in the lake at sunrise. Perhaps you want to go with a shuttle that has a photography add-on to find that best spot to grab that picture that you’ve been wanting since you saw it online.
If you were hoping to hike up to Larch Valley, why not go enjoy the sunrise and then do an early hike up to Larch Valley or Sentinel Pass.
As for timing, if you’re staying nearby in Lake Louise, you may not need to get up so early because you’re already there. If you’re staying in Canmore, you have an extra hour to drive. Although, keep in mind, you can take some of those shuttles that leave from Canmore and just nap on the way there. You’ll love having someone else drive you there that early in the morning.
If you are already up early in the morning and you don’t mind waking up at 4:00 AM why not go and experience it?
Now, obviously there’s a lot of other really wonderful spots around Banff to catch a sunrise as well.
Bow Lake up on the Icefields Parkway, Vermillion Lakes in the town of Banff or Two Jack Lake along Lake Minnewanka Scenic Drive are all good options.
Now, when might it not be worth it to see Sunrise at Moraine Lake?
If you’re traveling with little kids who don’t do mornings, it’s not always ideal. They’re not going to enjoy sitting there for an hour, waiting for the sunrise to come up. One option is to split up with your partner. Somebody stay back with the kids and let them sleep longer.
If you don’t want to spend the rest of the day absolutely exhausted, it may not be worth it for you to get up this early in the morning.
If you’re only in Banff for a very short time, maybe you want to prioritize doing something else over Moraine Lake.
Sunrise is the busiest time at Moraine Lake, so if crowds aren’t your thing then I’d recommend visiting later in the day instead of at sunrise.
Now sunrise is obviously quite beautiful, but if it’s the blue color of the lake that you really want to see, you may want to consider another option. Either give yourself more time at Moraine Lake after sunrise or plan to go later in the morning. You really do need the sun reflecting off that rock flour in the water to get that brilliant blue color.
Again, if this is something that you have dreamed of seeing, then absolutely there’s no reason not to do it.
But do remember that Moraine Lake is beautiful no matter when you go, sunrise is just one way to experience it. You can also go later in the morning and canoe on the lake. You can walk the lake shore trail. You can enjoy it at closer to sunset when there’s way less people.
Final Tips on Moraine Lake at Sunrise
Here are a few final tips on visiting Moraine Lake at sunrise.
It’s still really important, even in July and August, to bring some warm clothes. Those mornings can still be quite chilly and you’re not going to be moving around. You’re going to be sitting, waiting, sitting on rocks likely.
You want to bring a headlamp or use your phone for climbing up the Rock Pile in the dark.
If you’re a photographer, a tripod is really important, so make sure you have that ready and packed.
And then of course, just booking your shuttle to make sure you’re not going to miss out on being there in time. You can always check the forecast the night before to see what kind of morning to expect, but do keep in mind that the weather changes quite quickly in the mountains. So the forecast is a hard to depend on.
Sometimes you just have to go and hope that you’re lucky to get the exact experience that you’re hoping for or just enjoy the experience that you’re given.
Here is my full blog post on visiting Moraine Lake at sunrise.
Listener Question of the Week
If you could only do one hike in Banff National Park, which one would it be?
I actually asked this question in my Facebook group to find out which hikes people really loved while they were here. I had answered that the Lake Louise circuit, getting up to Lake Agnes, the beehives and over to Plain of Six Glaciers was certainly one of the best hikes in Banff that I would not miss.
It was really no surprise that Lake Louise really dominated the entire conversation. So many other people answered Lake Agnes teahouse, Little Beehive, Big Beehive, Plain of Six Glaciers and up to Devil’s Thumb were their favourite hikes. Several people loved combining all of the stops or just doing one of the tea houses at Lake Louise.
Other hikes that were popular were Larch Valley to Sentinel Pass, Tunnel Mountain right from the town of Banff and Johnston Canyon to the Ink Pots (very popular especially to see waterfalls).
If you head into Kananaskis, Tent Ridge is always a really popular one. Just know that that does involve a small bit of scrambling, so if that’s not within your wheelhouse, you may want to give that one a miss. And Fairview Mountain from Lake Louise was another hike that was mentioned.
There’s really so many different options and different hiking trails between Kananaskis, Banff National Park, Jasper National Park, Yoho National Park and Kootenay National Park that you’re not going to have any trouble finding a new hike, even if you’ve been here before.
