Biking into Moraine Lake is a great way to get there in order to beat some of the crowds and not have to worry about reserving a spot on a shuttle in order to see this beautiful lake!
One of the absolute best ways to beat the crowds at Moraine Lake is by biking to Moraine Lake when the road is closed to vehicles. This is how I beat the crowds in the Spring season, and at one point had Moraine Lake all to myself!
Moraine Lake closes in the winter due to the snow and the risk of avalanches. This means that you can’t actually visit Moraine Lake for part of the year. Typically, Moraine Lake is only open from late May or early June to the weekend of Canadian Thanksgiving in October.
The sweet spot for biking in to Moraine Lake is right before the road opens, or right after it closes! (As long as conditions are safe).
In this article, I will cover when you can actually bike into Moraine Lake, how to get there and where to park, what to expect once you’re there, and other useful information about cycling there!
Please know this website is reader supported and includes some affiliate links. I earn a small commission when you click on or purchase from affiliate links at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support!!
When Can I Bike Into Moraine Lake?
There are two small windows of the year when visitors can bike into (or hike into) Moraine Lake, when the road is plowed but still closed to vehicles.
Now that the road is closed to public vehicles, biking or hiking up to Moraine Lake has gained a lot of interest. You technically can hike or bike up at any point in the summer season (when the road is open), however keep in mind that the road in is all uphill, there is a very small (if any) shoulder on the road, and there are a lot of twists and turns. This means that big busses and shuttles turning corners can come at a surprise and may be relatively unsafe for bikers or hikers at times. Depending on your skill level and just in general, I wouldn’t recommend biking in while the road is open to vehicles. Jump to the part of the article where I talk about this!
Biking in the Spring
Every Spring, they prepare Moraine Lake for tourists and locals by plowing all of the snow off the road, once the risk of avalanche is gone. This is the sweet spot – the road is cleared of snow, but not open to busses just yet. Therefore, you can bike (or hike if you want to!) the road, without the worry of vehicles.
When they plow the road depends on snowfall and avalanche risk. In past years they would plow the road on the May long weekend, and usually, the road opened to vehicles the Tuesday after May long.
This year, they are planning to open Moraine Lake Road on June 1st, 2025. So a few days before this I would think the road would be ready and cleared to bike! I would recommend checking in with Parks Canada at a Visitor Centre to see if they know what the conditions are like before setting out.
In 2025, only commercial vehicles/shuttle busses are allowed once the road is open. Visitors can no longer drive themselves to Moraine Lake in personal vehicles, once the road is open.
Biking in Fall
Depending on conditions, the road to Moraine Lake typically closes around Canada’s Thanksgiving Day. Moraine Lake road closes for the winter because of the risk of avalanches, so it can be a hit or a miss whether or not it is safe to bike near the end of the season. I would, again, recommend speaking with Parks Canada and inquiring about road conditions/safety risks before heading out on the closed road in October.
Once the road closes, if conditions are good, you could bike into Moraine Lake and have it all to yourself if no other bikers are there!
During the fall, if you’re really lucky, you might catch Moraine Lake with a pretty, thawed, icy blue lake and snow-dusted mountains if there is a fresh snow dusting.
How to Get To Moraine Lake
To get to Moraine Lake from Downtown Banff or Canmore, you will drive the Trans Canada Highway (Highway 1) North and take the exit onto Highway 1A. (Basically follow the signs to Lake Louise from Banff).
Highway 1A will turn into Lake Louise Drive, you will pass Lake Louise Village and will follow this road for most of the way there. The start of Moraine Lake Road will be on the left of Lake Louise Drive, and here there are very few parking spots right at the base of Moraine Lake Road.
Where to Park When Biking to Moraine Lake
You can park there if there’s space, otherwise, you can drive a little farther up Lake Louise Drive and there will be a dirt parking lot on the right side of the road. It is the parking lot for the Great Divide Trail and is a lot larger (located on the map & pictured below).
I wouldn’t recommend parking all the way at the Lake Louise lakeshore lot, because it adds another hill that you will have to bike up during your journey. It also costs money to park at the Lake Louise Parking Lot! In 2025, it costs $36.75 to park. However, paid parking is only in effect from May 16 – October 13, 2025 from 3am to 7pm. So if you’re biking outside of this time, you wouldn’t have to pay to park at Lake Louise (just make sure the road conditions/conditions are safe at Moraine Lake!).
Last year when I was driving up to Lake Louise, I noticed that the dirt parking lot I am recommending was closed. I’m not sure if this is something that will happen from now on, but if this lot is closed, I would plan to park at Lake Louise as a back up and be prepared for a little bit of a longer ride! Or, you could park at the Lake Louise Ski Village Parking lot, which will add quite a bit of time onto your journey, but is free and easily accessible.
Will I See The Stunning Blue Water of Moraine Lake in May?
Biking to Moraine Lake in Spring usually means you’ll be seeing a mostly snowy Moraine Lake. That beautiful blue water doesn’t start to appear until the snow fully starts to melt in late-June, early-July. Depending on conditions, you may be lucky to see the blue water in the late fall, but Alberta’s conditions can be SO unpredictable.
Keep Reading: Lake Louise One Day Itinerary
How Hard is the Bike Ride to Moraine Lake?
The way in is mainly uphill and I was seriously struggling on my way up.
I’m not the best uphill biker and this is probably why I struggled so much!
Honestly, I did push my bike most of the way there, but I usually only bike on flat ground so my thighs and body were just not used to that kind of exercise.
Everyone else we saw seemed to be having no problems on their bikes, so it just depends on your activity level!
I also don’t have an expensive, light weight bike, which may have also made the bike more difficult!
And, even if you do push your bike the whole way there, you will be so thankful to have it on the way down. You can coast almost the whole way back downhill and so it makes getting back so much easier and faster, so it’s well worth it to have a bike instead of hiking in!
If you’re coasting down while potential shuttles and big busses are on the road, be careful when going around corners.
If you are planning to rent a bike to get to Moraine Lake, I would highly recommend looking at renting an e-bike. It would make the journey up way more enjoyable!!
Biking to Moraine Lake was a dream and such a fun adventure, I highly recommend it if you are visiting Banff in May or October!
Other Useful Information for Biking Moraine
- You can rent bikes from Banff Adventures (in Banff) or Wilson Mountain Sports (in Lake Louise, which is closer to Moraine). Make sure you also have a helmet!
- Pack snacks like jerky, cheese, granola bars, juice boxes, and whatever else you like to bring
- You could even pack a small lunch and have a picnic when you arrive (this is what I did!)
- Don’t forget your water!
- Weather can change in a minute, I wore my t-shirt on the ride in but I wore a sweater, a windbreaker, and small gloves on the ride out – so be prepared with a few layers
- It took me roughly an hour to bike in. Our whole trip (from the parking lot, up to Moraine Lake, exploring around, and back) took around 4 hours. We did spend quite a bit of time at Moraine Lake though and made a lot of stops on the ride up. You could spend less time at the lake, but we just wanted to enjoy the peacefulness and the beauty as long as possible (since it’s rare to have the lake with so few people around!)
- Make sure your camera & phone batteries are charged
- Have fun! It is such a fun adventure and I can’t wait to do it again next Spring 🙂
- There is no cell service at Moraine Lake and it is considered a backcountry location. Because it is also closed for parts of the year, it isn’t really monitored during that time. You should be very well prepared if you’re planning to cycle in.
Can I bike to Moraine Lake when the road is open to cars?
Once the road is open to vehicles, I, personally, would not recommend biking to Moraine Lake. The road twists, is mostly uphill the entire way there, and there is really no shoulder on the road. The way down is mainly downhill, and with the twists of the road and some cliffs, it could be quite dangerous with vehicles driving and taking up a lot of the road.
I, personally, would not attempt to bike ride when the road is open to busses and other commercial vehicles, unless you go late in the evening when the shuttles are wrapping up for the day and there is less traffic on the road. This time of day comes with its own risks though, keep in mind Moraine Lake is considered backcountry!
If you are visiting during summer/during shuttle season, it is probably best to book a spot on the shuttle or book a tour to get to Moraine Lake. Unless you are a super strong biker!
Cycling to Moraine Lake in 2025 Summary
Biking to Moraine Lake is a super fun way to experience this iconic destination in the Rockies while avoiding the crowds. Since the road is closed to vehicles during different times of the year, cyclists have the chance to visit right before the road opens or right after it closes for a chance to have the lake all to themselves!
To visit during the sweet spot, visit right before the road opens in the Spring or right after it closes in the Fall. Just make sure to check conditions and make sure it is safe to bike there. Moraine Lake closes in winter because of avalanche risk, so you want to make sure you are safe before heading out.
It’s important to be prepared for changing weather conditions anywhere in Banff National Park, but especially when biking to Moraine Lake since cell service is limited and you are in the back country!
Make sure to pack what you need, and consider renting an e-bike for an easier and more enjoyable bike ride.
Visiting Moraine Lake by bike offers a memorable adventure and I highly recommend making time for in your Banff itinerary!
Have you biked to Moraine Lake before or dream of visiting? Let me know your experience/plans below!
Have any questions? Feel free to leave a comment or message me on Instagram!
Visiting Moraine Lake in the summer? Here are some tips to help you plan your visit!
Find me on: Instagram | Pinterest
Read More on Banff National Park:
- 4 Day Banff Itinerary
- Banff Bucket List: What to do in Banff National Park
- Your Guide for Planning a Trip to the Canadian Rockies
- The Best Places to Stop Along the Icefields Parkway
Hey! I’m Kat. Based in Alberta, Canada I love to travel to the Rockies and explore new places around the world. Follow along on my adventures and find inspiration and tips for your own travels.
