Moraine Lake, Banff: How to Visit and What to Do Nearby

Moraine Lake sits at 1,884 meters in the Valley of the Ten Peaks in Banff National Park, Alberta, a glacially fed lake whose intense turquoise color, caused by light refracting off glacial rock flour, intensifies through June and July as meltwater increases. The lake and the ten surrounding peaks appeared on the Canadian twenty-dollar bill from 1969 to 1979. A short trail from the parking area leads to a rockpile viewpoint that frames the classic postcard composition. Parks Canada restricts private vehicle access during peak season, requiring visitors to take a shuttle bus from the Lake Louise park-and-ride. is just one of many options in Banff. Major attractions worth considering include Lake Minnewanka, Sulphur Mountain, and Sunshine Meadows.