How and when to photograph at Moraine Lake, Banff, AB

Early evening at Moraine Lake, Banff, AB

Moraine Lake is located in Banff National Park, AB, and in my opinion not just the most beautiful, picturesque location in all of Banff, but arguably all of Canada. In fact, it’s one of the most picturesque locations in the World. That includes places I’ve visited myself in addition to destinations I’ve viewed from browsing social media.

Location and access to Moraine Lake

The road to Moraine Lake closes sometime in October and opens back up in the month of May. It’s about an hour's drive from the main town of Banff, very close to Lake Louise, also a very popular travel and photography destination. The town itself is called Lake Louise. Enjoy your drive there, it is Banff after all. You’ll need to arrive there early though; the parking lot in peak summer months can fill up by 2 or 3 AM! I’ve been there in both Summer and Fall and access is not much better in September or October. It’s simply the byproduct of such a beautiful location, that’s easily accessible from a parking lot as well. You can hike there too from Sentinel Pass if you have some extra time and feel adventurous. There’s also the option of staying right on-site at the Moraine Lake Lodge. This will cost you anywhere from $700-$1,000/night. If you’re looking to stay close by but do not want to spend at the Lodge, the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise is almost down the road. It’s not cheap either, but less pricey than Moraine Lake Lodge. I’ve seen some Summer nightly rates as low as ~$300. You’re also right on-site at Lake Louise, which is a bonus.

The most popular method of accessing Moraine Lake is the shuttle service, which can be booked on the Parks Canada website for a small fee. You can avoid the disappointment of arriving a bit too late and being turned around. While this may work for most travelers, it is not ideal for photographers. Unless you’re looking for daytime Instagram-type photos, you’ll need to either arrive early with your own vehicle or stay at an accommodation nearby for a better photography experience.

When and where to photograph Moraine Lake

Sunrise at Moraine Lake is truly a remarkable experience. Despite the full parking lot, it seems most are still sleeping in their vehicles as I found it to be relatively quiet at dawn and early morning. Arrive early, and you can photograph the mountains turning red, which I like to refer to as “morning blush”. Afterward, a deep orange and yellow glow hit the mountains. Canoers aren’t out yet, so you don’t have to worry about setting your shutter speed too long or editing them out for a better photograph. The lake at most times is still, giving the glacier-fed waters that beautiful mirror reflection. You’ll want to have lens options of anywhere from around a 14mm focal length to roughly around 50mm, depending on your view and composition.

Access the best vantage points by climbing the rock piles right next to the parking lot. Again, arrive early and navigate your way around. It may seem obvious to stop at the most easily accessible spot once you arrive. While you may get a decent photo, you’ll have to take time with your composition as your foreground might be a bit messy. Moreover, trees will be impeding your view. If this is the composition you're leaning towards, you’ll want to be at the highest vantage point in this case. This is so that the trees aren’t directly blocking your line of sight. After all, if a previous Canadian currency ($20 bill) featured Moraine Lake on the back without trees obstructing the view, it was probably for a good reason. I’ve heard some say to take photos through trees at this spot—- don’t do it. You don’t want messy branches and dirt ruining what’s right in front of you.

It’s not necessary to get carried away with a foreground either, in my opinion. If you do want to include one, hike a bit lower to the lake where some larger rocks may add a bit more interest and depth without too much going on in the composition. Just keep in mind, while Moraine Lake has been photographed a million times, most of those photos are daytime travel-type photos. The lighting conditions, sky, snow, a bit of a different vantage point, etc. can make your photo unique or at least separate it from most.

Morning blush at Moraine Lake

Hike around the lake a bit as well. Search for a composition. The driftwood and other details can give you a bit of a different look if that’s what you’re looking for.

If you get the opportunity, and, are willing to go out at night, I highly recommend doing so if the sky is clear. The Milkyway can be viewed right behind the mountains in the summer months. Being out in the Canadian Rockies with clear skies is such an amazing experience. I typically shoot time-lapses and take multiple photos; however, this is one of the few times I sat there (for the most part) and just enjoyed the view.

One other thing to keep in mind, be sure not to include the large mountain peak on the left from the rock piles. It can create a really odd imbalance in your photos. Unless you have something to balance on your right side (e.g. sun, interesting clouds, etc.), you’ll want to avoid it. The top vantage point with a wide-angle lens may also reduce the imbalance. But keep in mind you’ll probably be including the lodge in your frame.

Wide-angle, 14mm shot of Milkyway while stargazing at Moraine Lake. Large mountain on left but balanced with Milkyway on the right side. Large rocks are located a bit lower from the main vantage points.

PSA

To summarize- it will take a bit of effort to properly photograph and experience this magnificent location. Whether it’s sacrificing some sleep (often the case with landscape photography), and/or forking over a bit of extra cash. But don’t get me wrong, nothing is 100% set in stone with landscape photography. You may be hit with an overcast day and unable to experience an extra special sunrise or Golden Hour; however, you’ll most likely be able to get some nice moody shots with the clouds. In this case, the shuttle would probably be your best option for access.

Post your photos online for others like me to appreciate. But please, try not to flood social media with more 2 PM shots of the sun glaring and trees blocking half the frame of the beautiful view!

2023 UPDATE!

Vehicles are no longer permitted at Moraine Lake! The only exceptions are buses and shuttle services. This means for the early birds and sunset photographers, your options are now more limited. One thing I do recommend is to search for services that offer sunrise and sunset shuttles to and from Moraine Lake. This will most likely be private companies and not the official Parks Canada shuttles. If you’re not staying nearby, this is probably your best bet as hiking at odd hours is not recommended.