Moraine Lake in Banff Alberta, Canada climbed to the top of my bucket list in 2018. For years I pinned pictures on Pinterest and read articles about the beautiful lakes in Banff National Park.
I was lucky enough to spend Canada Day on several Banff treasures, including Moraine Lake and the breathtaking views of the Icefields Parkway and Peyto Lake.
Although Moraine Lake is the most photographed lake in the world, many people still have not experienced the beautiful views of Banff National Park.
Over the holiday weekend, I took a detour on my way to Toronto to check off my bucket list.
Tour of Lake Louise and the Icefields Parkway
I knew Moraine Lake and Lake Louise were becoming more popular, and I didn’t want to deal with the hassle of finding a rare parking spot at the lakes.
After some research, I decided to book a full-day tour with Beyond Banff. The tour offered hotel pick up and drop off with a stop at Louise Village for lunch.
Smaller Lakes
In addition to Lake Louise, the tour also stops at some ”lesser” known lakes in Banff. The views at Two Jack Lake and Lake Minnewanka are just as breathtaking with fewer crowds.
If time permits, I recommend checking out lakes across Banff, such as Bow Lake, Norquay Lookout, and the Bow Falls. The full-day Icefields Parkway tour will take you to these locations as well.
Moraine Lake and Lake Louise
The most popular lakes in Banff are Lake Louise and Moraine Lake. The views of the bright blue water and access to kayak rentals have brought increasing crowds to Banff.
Surprisingly, Lake Louise was the most crowded on the day of our tour. The guests from the Fairmont hotel have direct access to the lake, which likely causes the bigger crowds. I also went on Canada Day, where several events were happening near the lake.
This trip confirmed why Moraine Lake is the most photographed lake in the world. The water was a clear turquoise blue, and the peaks were packed with fresh snow. You can also rent a kayak to take in the grand view from the middle of the lake.
Peyto Lake
I had never heard of Peyto Lake before visiting Banff National Park, but thankfully I got to experience the unbelievable colors of this lake on the last stop of our tour. Peyto Lake is on the scenic Icefields Parkway.
It appeared as if the lake was filled with fresh blue Powerade. The gorgeous blue comes from the Peyto Glaciers surrounding the lake. If you visit Banff, you must stop at this lake.
I would HIGHLY recommending taking a day tour through Banff National Park. Be sure to check out photos from this trip on my Instagram and Pinterest!
