Famous for turquoise blue lakes, majestic peaks and awe-inspiring wildlife, Banff National Park is one of our favourite places on the planet. In this blog post, we are going to share the best way to visit Moraine Lake, Lake Louise AND Emerald Lake with our number one local tour company, Big Nature.
There are countless alpine lakes scattered throughout the Rockies that vary in size, colour, and accessibility. At the top of virtually every list, you will find Moraine Lake. Moraine Lake is one of the most photographed lakes not only in Canada but in the entire world. tour
Unfortunately, the popularity of this lake has created many challenges for travellers. In 2023, Parks Canada closed the 11-kilometre access road to all private vehicles. This leaves limited options for visitors wanting to explore the area.
The second most popular lake in Banff, Lake Louise, is located less than 15 kilometres from Moraine Lake and sees a similar influx of tourists. Although this parking lot is still open to the general public, it fills up daily between 6-7 AM. After that, guests either have to book a spot on the public shuttle or walk 14 kilometres round trip from the village of Lake Louise.
If you’re thinking that all of this sounds incredibly chaotic and confusing, you are correct! Getting yourself to either of these bucket list destinations can be time-consuming, frustrating and overwhelming.
That’s where Big Nature comes in.
Last week, David and I took the Big 3 Sightseeing Tour run by our new favourite local guides, Big Nature. Although we don’t typically consider ourselves “tour people”, we were absolutely blown away by the convenience, customer service, and level of comfort we experienced.
*You can use the discount code MADETOEXPLORE10 for 10% off ALL small group and private tours that Big Nature offers. Click here to check them out!*
They got us in and out of these hectic areas quickly, efficiently, and before the majority of the crowds. Our guides and the owners, Bryce and Cassie, were knowledgeable, friendly and fun. Plus, we had round-trip transportation from Calgary with tons of space to spread out, take in the views, and enjoy the provided snacks and refreshments—more on that, later!
This tour maxes out at 13 guests, so you know you will never be part of a huge crowd. With prices starting at just $220 CAD per adult, they provide exceptional value in this 12-hour day of adventure. You can also book a private tour if you have a large group or prefer a more exclusive experience.
In this blog post, we are going to walk you through our Big 3 Tour with Big Nature and share why we think they offer the best day tour in Banff National Park!
*You can use the discount code MADETOEXPLORE10 for 10% off ALL small group and private tours that Big Nature offers. Click here to check them out!*
First Stop: Moraine Lake for Sunrise
After an early morning wake-up call and a short snooze on the drive to the mountains—ah, the perks of having a driver begin—we arrived at Moraine Lake 30 minutes before sunrise. As I stated earlier, the 11-kilometre road to Moraine Lake is no longer accessible by private vehicles. This means that your only options to visit are to hike, bike, take the public shuttle, or book a tour.
David and I have biked this road in the past. It can be a great option if you are staying nearby and have bikes readily available. If not, though, it will cost around $90 CAD per day for each bike rental plus the cost of your hotel. On top of that is the hassle of transporting the bikes to and from the base of the road.
As we watched other large groups swarm around with little interaction or direction from their guides, we became increasingly more thankful for Bryce and Cassie. They led us to a quiet spot away from the crowds and handed out sitting pads, sleeping bags and hot drinks. We felt completely taken care of and had a blast experiencing the sunrise together. Bryce even set up a tarp shelter for us when we got a few minutes of rain.
Our worry before visiting Moraine Lake via tour was that it would feel rushed and crammed with people. To our delight, this experience was the complete opposite. We were able to enjoy this magnificent lake without any of the stress. Big Nature took care of everything, all we had to do was sit back and enjoy the view.
NOTE: We booked a private Big 3 Sightseeing Tour, which allows a bit more flexibility in start time and the sequence of stops. For this reason, we were able to visit Moraine Lake for sunrise. If you are on the small group tour, you will visit Lake Louise first followed by Moraine Lake. Either way, there is a benefit as the crowds are similar at both places.
*You can use the discount code MADETOEXPLORE10 for 10% off ALL small group and private tours that Big Nature offers. Click here to check them out!*
Second Stop: Lake Louise
We left Moraine Lake as the public shuttles began rolling in and made our way to Lake Louise. When we arrived at 8 AM, the lot was full and they were turning all private vehicles around. In the Big Nature van, we were able to squeeze right through and park at the front of the lot. Fantastic.
We hopped out and walked to the shoreline of Lake Louise. Once again, Bryce and Cassie took us to a quieter spot where we were able to enjoy the scenery without feeling overwhelmed by the crowds.
Bryce shared loads of history that we had no idea about, even though we have both lived within a few hours of Lake Louise our entire lives. His passion and energy are contagious, and we really enjoyed learning so many interesting things while we explored the lake.
FUN FACT: Bryce and Cassie recently got engaged on an active volcano in Guatemala! they hadn’t yet taken a photo to share the engagement with their loved ones. We all decided Lake Louise would be the perfect place for such a photo, and it’s so sweet I had to share.
After getting back to the van, we grabbed an ice-cold drink from the cooler and drove to the village of Lake Louise. Here, we had a quick bathroom break and the opportunity to buy breakfast or lunch if we wanted to.
Because we have been on tours that consider a soggy cucumber sandwich or a little bag of peanuts a day’s worth of snacks, I don’t typically take “snacks provided” too seriously. Especially as someone with dietary restrictions. However, the snack box in the Big Nature van was out of this world.
In between David and I, there was an assortment of different granola bars, fruit snacks, goldfish, and small pieces of coconut chocolate heaven called “unreal bars”. Seriously, try them. They also had a cooler of cold drinks (bubbly’s, juice, etc) and a large cooler for water bottle refills. This was on top of the hot chocolate, tea, coffee, and cookies from the morning. Overall, we give Big Nature a 10/10 on their snack and refreshment game.
Third Stop: Emerald Lake
After departing Lake Louise, we drove for approximately 30 minutes, crossing the border into Yoho National Park, to visit Emerald Lake. This surreal mountain lake is slightly more green in colour than Lake Louise and offers a drop-dead gorgeous backdrop.
After bypassing all of the vehicles parked along the side of the road, we were treated to another front-row parking spot. From there, we began walking around Emerald Lake with our crew.
As we discovered the area, Bryce shared more details and fascinating history. He even had replica fossils from the nearby Burgess Shale hike to show us. It was not uncommon for people around us to notice him explaining something, start ask questions and join our group for a while. It was amazing to watch his passion rub off on so many different visitors throughout the day.
Before leaving Emerald Lake, we all decided to jump into the refreshing glacier water for a swim. At this point, it felt more like a day trip with friends than a tour with guides we had just met that morning.
*You can use the discount code MADETOEXPLORE10 for 10% off ALL small group and private tours that Big Nature offers. Click here to check them out!*
Fourth Stop: Takakkaw Falls
On our way back to Calgary, we made a stop that David and I have been dying to see. Takakkaw Falls is the highest waterfall in the Canadian Rockies and the second tallest waterfall in Canada.
Only about 30 minutes from Emerald Lake, we were completely blown away by the size and beauty of Takakkaw Falls. We hiked the short 1.8-kilometre out-and-back trail which has views of the falls almost the entire way.
Exploring this area with Bryce and Cassie was a blast! We learned more about the areas history, hikes and campgrounds before going over the difference between grizzlies and black bears. Bryce even had bear claws and different photos for us to compare.
This entire day was full of bucket list stops, big laughs, and incredible scenery. We would highly recommend the Big 3 Sightseeing Tour to ANYONE wanting to explore Moraine Lake and the best of the Canadian Rockies for a day.
On top of this wonderful tour, Big Nature offers private sunrise tours to Moraine Lake. They also plan custom trips throughout Banff, Yoho, and Kootenay National Parks. With activities including hiking, biking, rafting, skiing, caving, climbing, and more, we are confident you will love your time with Big Nature.
Click here for a list of Big Natures Tours (use code MADETOEXPLORE10 for 10% off)
Click here for more information on the Big 3 Tour (including a sample itinerary + packing list)
We hope you have a wonderful time in the Canadian Rockies! Feel free to reach out with any questions you may have or comment below with your thoughts on the big 3 sightseeing tour to moraine lake, lake louise and emerald lake. We would love to hear from you.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
9 Gorgeous Easy Hikes in Banff You Can’t Miss This Summer!
15 Turquoise Lakes Near Banff, Canada You Don’t Want to Miss!
Nightrise: An Incredible Experience at The Top of The Banff Gondola
10 Adventurous Things to do in Banff National Park This Summer
Hot Springs in The Canadian Rockies: A Bucket List Guide
Leave a Reply