It was 6:30 a.m. at our campground here at Lake Louise in Banff National Park. I considered rolling over and going back to sleep, but I was determined to get out and visit some of Banff's beauty before the mass of humanity showed up.
I threw on my layers and drove toward Moraine Lake. At 7:00 a.m. the road was already closed due to a full parking lot. I continued on up to Lake Louise where there is more parking and it wasn't nearly full yet.
I got out and took my first look at Lake Louise, but the surrounding mountains were mostly covered by clouds.
I walked around and got my bearings noting where the trailheads were located. I found the shuttle to Moraine Lake and discovered tickets were going on sale at 8:00 a.m. with a first departure at 8:40, later than I'd hoped, but not bad. The buses run every 20 minutes.
I got in line when tickets went on sale. Tickets were $6 (or $3 for seniors). I asked for an "adult" ticket, but they gave me a senior price. I must be looking older than I think. I managed to get on the first bus.
When I arrived around 9:00, I was surprised that, even with a full parking lot, it didn't seem too crowded.
I walked to the lake and over to the canoe rental place to take a couple photos.
I inquired about kayaks, but they only had canoes and the rental price was $120 CAD per hour. Yikes. Still, I considered, briefly, perhaps splitting a canoe with someone. It's a public lake, so personal watercraft is allowed, and I though maybe Linda & I could launch our Sea Eagle one evening.
From there, I walked up to the Rockpile viewpoint and, again, was surprised to see I could easily get some photos without vying for position.
The lake was pristinely calm and more beautiful in the morning light than it was last night. I took my pictures ...
and observed as people were getting their first look at this amazing sight. There were audible gasps proving that it was truly breathtaking. All the known color names we have for shades of blue are inadequate to describe the brilliant color of Moraine Lake.
The few of us there took photos of each other.
Everyone this morning was kind, considerate, respectful, and reverent. It was a lovely contrast to last evening's visit.
We've seen a lot in all our travels, but Moraine Lake, on this morning, was one of the most jaw-dropping scenes I've ever been privileged to view. The color of the lake is unbelievable and many people commented "It doesn't look real".
I watched as the first canoers of the morning paddled out.
Wow. Just wow.
Eventually, I pulled myself away from the Rockpile, and prepared to do some hiking. Here's a sign with a list of hikes and distances.
I took another photo as I passed by the boat area heading to the hiking trails.
There is a Lakeshore Trail that goes to the end of the lake. That trail is easy and quite popular. The lake isn't all that big, and there are no views you can get from a canoe that you can't get from shore, so that lessens the desire to canoe a little bit.
I followed the arrows on the this trail sign to the right.
This time of year, most people are hiking to Larch Valley for the golden color of the Larch trees and many of those continue on to Sentinel Pass. I was climbing up the switchbacks with everyone else, but at a trail junction above I was peeling off toward Eiffel Lake on what is known as the Valley of the Ten Peaks hike. It would be a little over 7 miles round-trip.
It was all uphill along several switchbacks where we got occasional glimpses of Moraine Lake through the trees.
At the junction, I went left by myself toward Eiffel Lake as the other hikers on the trail this morning took the right fork toward Larch Valley.
The great thing about the Eiffel Lake/Valley of the Ten Peaks trail is that it's pretty flat from that point. It does go up, but it's hardly noticeable. In addition, there was nobody else on the trail, and there are mountain views pretty much the whole way.
Stopping to look behind me, there were views of that gorgeous blue of Moraine Lake.
I had some blue skies for a short time and, while I hoped for full clearing, it never quite happened.
Oh, and I had Larch trees and other Fall colors as well.
I was thoroughly enjoying myself in the solitude of the gorgeous natural surroundings.
The trail opened up as I got closer to Eiffel Lake.
These were the first people I encountered on the Eiffel Lake Trail.
Just past them, I got a look at Eiffel Lake in the valley.
Looking back at several of the ten peaks.
Closer to Eiffel Lake.
It was a bit chilly, so I found a nice little nook in the rocks above the lake where I added a layer, had a snack, and just enjoyed the views.
The trail continues on to the pass in the distance in the above photos, but I was quite content with ending my hike right there.
Before heading back, a couple from North Carolina took my picture on the trail.
On the return, I was still snapping photos.
Along the way, this was the only wildlife I saw - a Golden Mantled Ground Squirrel.
Eventually, I made it back down the switchbacks to the edge of the lake. I spent about three and a half hours on the trail.
At the lake, I decided to wander a little ways down the Lakeshore Trail where I, of course, took more pics.
The rock in the above photo is the Tower of Babel, a popular destination for rock climbers.
These are photos of the Rockpile behind the canoers, where I took those amazing shots from this morning.
The low clouds had cleared from this morning for a more full view of the mountains.
I took one last shot before calling it a day at Moraine Lake.
On the return, you can take any bus and they come every 20 minutes. I caught the 2:00 shuttle. The return shuttle went to the Park & Ride out on the Trans-Canada Highway where those of us parked at Lake Louise had to transfer to another bus. It took about 45 minutes total to get back to Lake Louise.
I walked back to Lake Louise where the clouds had cleared from this morning and took a few more photos before heading home.
The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise.
Boat house.
Lake Louise has been on my bucket for so many years that I can't remember when I first became aware of it - 20 to 30 years ago, probably. But, as pretty as it is, Moraine Lake is, in my opinion, far more stunning.
But in a day of exquisite natural beauty, if Lake Louise is the worst of it, that's a pretty darn good day.
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