Moraine Lake, Banff, Alberta (Bob's favorite place, so far) - Monday, June 27, 2022

An early morning drive to Moraine Lake was needed today. You see, the parking lot at Moraine Lake usually fills before sunrise. It has been a few years since we were here and there has been a very important change.

Early morning drive on TransCanada 1.

The bridge is a wildlife crossing. Many large
animals had been hit on TransCanada 1, so 
they built the bridge for the safety of everyone.

Views on the road to Moraine Lake.

The 14-mile road to Moraine Lake now has limited access. If the lot is full, the road is closed and has a gate with a guard. When a number of cars leave, they let more people go up the road. 

We were surprised when we drove up the road to Lake Louise (which is how you get to the turn-off to Moraine Lake) that you could not turn left onto the Moraine Lake road. All the turn-arounds were coned off. You had to drive past the road, go up to Lake Louise, go through the crowded Lake Louise parking lot and come back down the hill to turn right onto the road to Moraine Lake. 

I don't know how we got so lucky, but when we came back down the road, they let us through the gate! We drove up and found a number of parking spaces available around 7 am. 

We came here to do the 5 km Volksmarch which goes up The Rockpile, along the north side of the lake, and then passes by the Moraine Lake Lodge and the boat rentals.

Our first stop was the pit toilets. They were horrible. I tried three different doors before I found a toilet that was barely acceptable as far as cleanliness was concerned. I shudder at how awful they were.

Once that was taken care of, the rest of our hike was incredible. The Rockpile is exactly what it says it is. It's a HUGE pile of rocks (think big hill of rocks) that you hike to the top of for outstanding views of Moraine Lake.

The stairs up to The Rockpile can be
seen to the left of the sign.

We are headed to the top of The Rockpile.

Up and up for exquisite views of
Moraine Lake.

Once you reach the top of The Rockpile, you can wander all around for views in every direction. You will be glad you braved all the steps! The next photos are taken from The Rockpile.

Moraine Lake sits in the Valley of the Ten Peaks.

Looking in the opposite direction from the lake.

Moraine Lake in the Valley of the Ten Peaks.

Bob hiding in the shadows.

I'm also in the shadows. It was still early.

Looking back at The Rockpile (the lower hill).

If we were going to do the 10 km Volksmarch, we would have hiked 5 km on the Consolation Lakes Trail. However, both times we have been to Moraine Lake, this trail has been closed due to bear activity. I think I read if you do hike on this trail, you need a minimum of five people in your group.

Bob standing in front of The Rockpile.

A close-up of the rugged Rocky Mountain peaks.

Bob's favorite spot!

The Volksmarch continued along the lakeshore, past the restaurant, Moraine Lake Lodge, and boat rentals. We had a lovely morning for our walk! 

Let's get the informational signs out of the way. These give the history and geology of this magnificent landscape.

Looking up at people silhouetted on The Rockpile.

Stunning!

A great reflection photo.

We now continue with our scheduled walk...

The canoe looks like it's floating on air!

A big, fat ground squirrel.

It's hard to take a bad picture.

"Just look at this scenery!!"

Valley of the Ten Peaks at Moraine Lake.

I did not add any sparkle to this photo. It is natural!

This is my way of saying, 
"I love this place."

Bob says he loves this place.

The water was so still!

The mountains and a hanging glacier.

Close-up of the hanging glacier.

The trail went to the end of the lake where we had to turn around and retrace our steps. Just before the end of the lake, springs bubbled up out of the ground. I took a video but exceeded the file size for my blog so I couldn't post it here.

A river entering Moraine Lake.

The end of the trail.

Bob at the end of the trail.

Harlequin duck at Moraine Lake.

We turned around and headed back through the woods to the boat dock. We then turned uphill and walked the path around Moraine Lake Lodge

A darling ground squirrel posed for us.

Bob ran back up to the top of The Rockpile to take a few more photos on my phone so I could immediately post them on Facebook. I went to the car and waited. Here are his photos.

Looking at the parking lot from the top of
The Rockpile.

When we finished our walk, we drove to downtown Banff and had lunch at the Indian Curry House. There were more surprises in store!

If you have driven in a national park, then you know if cars stop alongside the road there is probably a wild animal in the vicinity. As we drove back to Banff, a lot of cars whizzing along on TransCanada 1 suddenly slowed down and stopped on the side of the road. We did too. I got out and ran over to where all the people were. Bob stayed in the car.

A grizzly bear was busily eating behind a large fence designed to keep wild animals off the highway. (Remember the photo of the wildlife bridge earlier in the blog? That's how the animals get across the freeway.)

Grizzly bear.

Thankfully, there's a fence between us and him!

He was not interested in the crowd of
onlookers.

Another spectacular Canadian Rocky Mountain view.

We made a stop at the Rest Area which had a lot of signs and many mountain views.

The Vermilion Lakes Wetlands. (See the sign in the
photo above.)

Cute critter.

The old train station in Banff. There is
free parking near it, but you have to walk a 
few blocks into downtown.

Sculpture on a street corner of a hiker's campsite.

Presbyterian Church in downtown Banff.

I liked this weather vane.

We had lunch at the Indian Curry House.

Art on a wall in downtown Banff.

We strolled around downtown Banff.

After lunch, we headed back to the 5th wheel. Tomorrow, we are headed to Calgary. We are truly enjoying the weather here!