When Parks Canada banned private vehicles from the 12-kilometre road leading to Moraine Lake earlier this year in an attempt to curb massive crowds, Banff local Jesse Kitteridge and his wife Alexandra saw an opportunity. The couple launched the Moraine Lake Bus Company, a shuttle service to get hikers and sightseers to the popular destination without the hassle of car parking.
In its first summer of operation, the service has already seen record numbers of reservations and long queues at its pick-up point in Lake Louise village. The pair expect the service to continue to grow as word spreads.
Guests must reserve their shuttle tickets online in advance to ensure availability. They must also show a printed or downloaded copy of their reservation email along with photo ID matching the name on the booking to be allowed onto the bus. The service runs from June to October, with the peak season being July and August. Those looking to avoid the crowds should head to the Rockies in shoulder seasons like September to October or early June when the road is open but crowds haven’t yet gathered.
The first shuttle departs the Lake Louise Park and Ride at 6:30 AM. It runs every 15-20 minutes in both directions and takes about 30-40 minutes to get to Moraine Lake. It’s a great way to see both lakes in one Shuttle to lake louise day and enjoy all the trails and sights along the route.
Reservations for the shuttle are released two days before the date of travel at 8 AM and can be booked here. The shuttle is limited in capacity, and time slots often sell out. For those hoping to catch the sunrise at Moraine, a separate shuttle is available to do so, but it’s important to book in advance as this option can sell out quickly.
In addition to their shuttle, the pair also operates guided tours, including ice field parkway hikes, Columbia Icefields trips and Alberta foothills tours. They’re currently working on a new glacier tour in partnership with the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides that will include a trip to Moraine Lake. Masse says the partnership will help address some of the pain points he has noticed since Parks Canada rolled out their shuttle, commercial vehicle and transit-only approach to accessing the site.
Parks Canada’s new strategy hasn’t been flawless, but they hope that the changes will make a difference this summer. “We’ve had a number of issues from people who have tried to drive in their personal vehicles that have been turned away,” Masse said. “There are literally thousands of people who are being turned away from Lake Louise and Moraine Lake on a daily basis, and the Parks Canada shuttle does not come close to meeting that need.”
Those hoping to visit Moraine this summer should reserve their Parks Canada shuttles online well in advance as they fill up fast. The service will run until mid-October with the last shuttle leaving at 7:30 PM.
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