Moraine Lake is the highlight of any Lake Louise area tour. It’s easy to see why, when you’re visiting in person, the lake’s distinctive azure blue color and gorgeous surroundings in the Valley of Ten Peaks are truly jaw-dropping. Moraine Lake is also pretty sizeable, having a surface area of about 120 acres, and there are plenty of hiking trails to explore during your visit. Here are a few of the best spots to see during your Moraine Lake tour:
The Rockpile: Only a short hike away from the parking lot, the Rockpile is the best place to sit and view the lake itself. It’s especially well-known as a spot to watch the sun rise and set over the mountains, so try to head there first if you arrive early. Be warned, however: the Rockpile is the most popular spot in the Moraine Lake area and is sure to be crowded.
Tower of Babel: If you have any climbing or scrambling experience, we recommend skipping the Rockpile and heading up to the Tower of Babel instead. It’s a pretty steep climb so we don’t recommend it to novice hikers, but if you make it to the top, you’ll be rewarded with a stunning view of the whole valley. If you have a helmet, wear it because there are many loose rocks on the trail that hikers ahead of you could knock over.
Sentinel Pass: Once you’ve had your fill of the lake itself, take a trail out from Moraine Lake to Larch Valley and continue all the way to Sentinel Pass. It’s a challenging hike, but it ends with some of the best views of the mountains in the entire national park. If you can, try to head out this way in mid-September, when the larch trees turn a bright golden color.
For more suggestions, check out our Lake Louise and Moraine Lake Self-Guided Driving Tour, or you can sign up for Action+ and gain access to over 100 tours for a single yearly price.
