It takes an early morning commitment to paddle an iconic body of water like Moraine Lake. This lake has been on my “must paddle '' bucket list for a number of years but I was always hesitant to plan a trip there because of how busy I’ve heard it can be.
People either drive up super early, filling all the available parking before sunrise, or take the shuttle from the park-and-ride lot 6 km east of Lake Louise on the Trans Canada to catch a glimpse of this incredible mountain lake.
After paddling Bow Lake a couple of years ago, I really wanted to dip a kayak paddle in the turquoise colored water of Moraine with the Valley of the Ten Peaks towering in the background. The summer busyness of Moraine Lake always had me postponing this paddle trip and telling myself “maybe in the fall or maybe next year,” but with the beginning of each new paddling season, Moraine still seemed to be on my mind.
Moraine Lake Kayak Report
Planning to Kayak Lake Moraine
May and Ken
There was an open invite on social media from another paddler, Ken Takabe, wondering if anyone wanted to join him for an early Moraine Lake sunrise paddler. Ken and I have never met in person but had followed each other’s posts for a while.
The paddling community is a close group where impromptu day trips just seem to come together at the right time. Everything lined up perfectly; I was on vacation, the Moraine Lake weather looked good, with this open invitation, who could say no!
If you live in Calgary, want to paddle Moraine Lake, but don’t want to overnight close to Lake Louise, you have to commit to a very early start. I spent some time the night before preparing gear to ensure everything was packed and ready to go.
After setting a couple of alarms for my 2AM wakeup so I could be on the road by 3AM, it was early to bed. I was so excited to be getting out on this mountain lake that it was tough to get to sleep!
The Moraine Lake Trip
When 2AM rolled around I was up like a shot, out to the car for a last minute gear double check and hit the highway with some good tunes.
Ken and I planned to have a “highway meet up” just west of Red Earth Creek. When I pulled up to his vehicle, both the driver’s and passenger doors opened up. As I met Ken for the first time, I was stoked to see a paddling friend from years ago, May Guan. After reminiscing and sharing our collective excitement about getting on the water together, we headed on to Lake Louise and up the 14 KM winding access road to the Moraine Lake parking lot.
Moraine Lake Parking Lot Gear Up
After finding a couple of parking spots not too far from Moraine Lake, we focused on gearing up. There were a good number of people hurrying to find the best spot to watch the sunrise and get that memorable photo. Some folks were very interested in watching us prepare for what would be a beautiful paddle.
Pumping up the SUP, off loading kayaks, and getting into our wetsuit and drytop, or full drysuit. For non-paddlers this was like a spectator’s sport and they were quite intrigued.
We carried out our kayaks and SUP past all the folks heading up to the top of the Rockpile -- a high view point at the east end of Moraine Lake -- for a sunrise wedding picture photo shoot that we would inevitably be photo bombing during our paddle. It was then that I could suddenly see the bold turquoise coloured water of Moraine Lake. After a breathtaking pause to take it all in, we were in the water paddling out on this splendid mountain lake by 6:20 AM.
Paddle Moraine Lake
We were in awe as we glided over the glassy blue Gatorade coloured water with the majestic mountains that make up the Valley of the Ten Peaks reflecting on the Moraine Lake’s surface. This is the kind of location that found me wanting both a solo experience and a group paddle experience.
Each of us repeatedly paddled off separately to find our own space on the water. After mindfully paddling and taking it all in, we seemed to naturally be drawn back together to share in the excitement of being at this magnificent spot. It was as if we could not believe the beauty of our surroundings and words just couldn’t really capture the feeling that Moraine Lake generated for each of us.
As we paddled to the far end of the lake, there was a reluctance to commit to a shore line paddle or even head in one direction. It seemed to be all about us trying to create a 360 experience to watch the sun find its way over the eastern mountain tops and at the same time appreciate how the rising sun began to bring rich colour to the water and the mountain faces to the west.
At the west end of the lake we had a short time off the water to explore one of the main inflows to the lake. A thick green carpet of super spongy moss at the edge of the shoreline was like a welcome mat leading to a small path that ended at a fantastic glacial stream rushing to get to the lake. With a wetsuit, neoprene socks in paddling shoes, I was comfortable grabbing a few photos from the middle of the glacier fed stream to capture this beautiful picturesque spot.
About Moraine Lake
Moraine Lake is in the Banff National Park and is a glacier fed lake with the primary inflow from the Fay Glacier and Larch Creek.
Moraine Lake reaches its highest level generally by mid to late June. The fine silt size particles made by the surrounding glaciers suspend themselves in the lake and creates the amazing shade of “Azure Blue” water that keeps me returning to the pics and video from our day of paddling.
Valley of the Ten Peaks
The Rockpile View
These phenomenally beautiful and rugged peaks were originally named from east to west by Samuel Allen in 1894 using numbers (1-10) from the Stoney First Nation language (Heejee, Nom, Yamnee, Tonsa, Sapta, Shappee, Sagowa, Saknowa, Neptuak and Wenkechemna). Eventually all of these peaks, with the exception of three, were renamed after noteworthy individuals such as Samuel Allen.
For outdoor enthusiasts, there are many hiking trails that begin at Moraine Lake leading to other picture-perfect. exquisite areas in the valley.
Post Moraine Lake Paddle Thoughts
After packing up our gear and loading kayaks, we closed out our trip to Moraine Lake with a short hike up to the Rockpile to get a bird’s eye view of the lake. All I can say is wow, such a beautiful and rugged location in our Canadian Rockies.
Moraine Lake and the Valley of the Ten Peaks is a world renowned location and for ten years (1969-79) this gem in the Rockies was on the reverse side of the Canadian twenty dollar bill. It is one of the most photographed locations in Canada.
After paddling Moraine, it definitely has a million dollar view and has created a memory that will stay with me for a lifetime.
“create your own momentum”
Bryan Hume
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