Lake Louise & Moraine Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour

We’ve made it to Moraine Lake! The shuttle will drop us off in the parking area ahead. One of the most popular things to do here is hike onto that rockpile that Wilcox climbed all those years ago. You’ll find the entrance to this half-mile, 15-minute hiking trail near the end of this parking lot. Just follow the loop around to the top of the rocks and enjoy the views!

In a couple minutes, we’ll see Lake Louise. Spanning 222 acres and reaching depths of 230 feet, there’s plenty of this lake to go around. Long before the Canadian Pacific Railway came through here, the Stoney Nakoda used this lake to fish. They called it “Horâ Juthin Îmne,” which meant “Lake of Little Fishes.

Welcome to Lake Louise! We’re about to see miles of untouched wilderness, shimmering glacial lakes, and so much more on this tour. We’ll begin at the Lake Louise Ski Resort’s parking lot at 1 Whitehorn Rd. If you’re not there already, you should head there now.

Note: The tour is over 56 miles long, with more than 39 audio stories, and takes about 2-3 hours to complete.

Buy once, use for one year! Ideal for extended visits and return trips over the next 12 months.

It gets its name from Nicholas Morant, a staff photographer for the Canadian Pacific Railway. Morant took photos of this spot in the middle of the 20th century. Those photos were then reprinted on just about every promotional pamphlet and ad for Banff! After that, tourists came up here just to see what Morant saw through his lens.

Coming up soon is the Castle Lookout Trail. This 5-mile hike takes 3-4 hours to complete, and it’s a challenging one. But hikers who make it up the side of Castle Mountain certainly don’t regret the journey! The trail boasts vistas of the Bow River and the long line of Rockies beyond. In fact, climbers say the end of Castle Lookout Trail is one of the best panoramic views in all of Banff National Park.

Just ahead is the trail to Silverton Falls. It’s a moderate, one-mile hike that takes half an hour. The end of the trail features an unbelievable view of Bow Valley on one side and a 160-foot waterfall on the other! To visit the falls, turn left into the parking lot ahead.

Another breathtaking hike is coming up in a moment! This moderately challenging trail winds through Moose Meadows and up to springs known as the Ink Pots. It takes about three hours and stretches over five miles, but it’s the 1,100 feet of elevation gain you’ll feel if you hike this trail!

Johnston Canyon is up next, the most popular hike in the park. This easy one-mile trail is a must see. This canyon is named after a prospector who never found any gold, but who mapped the canyon during his search!

Coming up is Hillsdale Meadow Viewpoint, offering 360-degree views of the Rockies. There’s also a meadow full of wildflowers! You’ll see Pilot Mountain off in the distance, the Canadian Pacific Railway tracks, and the Bow River. It’s an unbelievable vantage point. Pull into the turnout ahead if you’d like to visit, or continue straight.

Coming up soon is Backswamp Viewpoint. Don’t let the unappealing name fool you—this spot makes for a great place to stop! Backswamp Viewpoint has a spectacular view of Mount Bourgeau. The Bow River runs right up near the lookout point. And if you’re lucky, you might see a train chug down the tracks along the riverbank!

Vermilion Lakes viewpoint is just ahead, featuring lovely views of three little lakes right next to one another. Beyond those lakes lies the town of Banff. This is a favorite spot for watching sunsets, sunrises, and wildlife! You might see some loons, some buffleheads, and maybe even an osprey. People have reported elk, mule deer, and occasional moose sightings at Vermilion Lakes.