Moraine Lake: Clouds, Sunshine & That Famous Blue

The Canadian Rockies are truly majestic. Being American, we had been to the Rocky Mountains in Colorado and spent plenty of time in California’s Sierras, but the Canadian Rockies still managed to wow us. Our morning at Moraine Lake was definitely not Instagram-perfect. We had clouds, cool temperatures and even a little rain. But that famous blue? It was there from the moment we arrived.

From the base of Moraine Lake, we headed toward the Rockpile Trail. Do not let the name—or the pile of rocks—make you think this is a major hike. The loop is only about 0.4 mile with roughly 115 feet of elevation gain and takes about 15 minutes.

The Rockpile is just what its name suggests—a massive pile of rocks created by an ancient landslide. The debris formed a natural dam at the end of the lake, and today a short trail winds through the trees and rocks to the famous viewpoint above Moraine Lake.

It Was Cloudy!

And cold! (38 degrees F, 3 degrees C!) This was the middle of August. And where was the view from the top of the Rockpile?

WOW! We then turned around and captured this view overlooking Moraine Lake and the Valley of the Ten Peaks. This is that iconic view you have probably seen in countless photos. Even with the clouds hanging low over the mountains, the color of the lake was already remarkable.

Looking down from the Rockpile, you can see Moraine Lake Lodge—and also get a sense of just how remote this beautiful spot is. If you want more time to enjoy the lake, Moraine Lake Lodge offers rooms and cabins right here. Staying overnight would also give you the chance to experience the lake after many of the day visitors have left.

Getting here takes a little planning. Personal vehicles are not allowed on Moraine Lake Road, except if you are staying overnight at the lodge. Most visitors arrive by shuttle or tour bus. We took advantage of the shuttle offered through the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, which made it incredibly easy—we walked out the front door of the hotel and were delivered right to Moraine Lake.

Once you arrive, services are limited, so plan accordingly. Despite the limited accessibility, the lake area gets very congested. The weather on this day said, “late fall” but the crowds said “high summer.” We had picked up sandwiches at the Fairmont and brought our water so we had a quick picnic and kept exploring.

Down at lake level, you can rent canoes all summer long. The bright colors of the canoes are a bright contrast to the turquoise lake.

There are miles of hiking trails around Moraine Lake, ranging from easy lakeside walks to more challenging hikes into the mountains. If you are planning a longer hike, be sure to check the current trail and wildlife restrictions before heading out. Some trails may require hikers to travel in groups and carry bear spray. These are the Rockies, after all—and bear country! We stuck to the easy trail along the lakeshore.

Even with the crowds, from time to time, you will find yourselves with peaceful moments along the trails at Moraine Lake.

The trail along the lakeshore ends at the other side of the lake. The clouds seemed to be getting thicker.

By the time we reached the far end of the lake, Moraine Lake looked completely different. From this angle and under the cloudy sky, that famous turquoise had almost disappeared. It was a good reminder of just how much the light can change the color of the water—and that Moraine Lake is beautiful even when it is not showing off its famous blue.

So we started our hike back, giving up on the sunshine for the day.

And just when we thought we had seen only the overcast version of Moraine Lake, the clouds finally gave way.

We headed back up the Rockpile one last time to try to capture blue skies above that famous turquoise water.

So beautiful at any angle but the blue skies began to provide an amazing backdrop. We spent a total of 5 hours along the lake and it was worth it to see such variety.

Clouds, sunshine and every shade of blue in between—we got to see Moraine Lake in all its moods. And honestly, we would not have wanted it any other way. What a day!

We hope this inspires you to enjoy this spectacular place, no matter what the weather brings.