Banff Lakes & Canyon Tour: 4 iconic stops with guide

Four lakes and a canyon in one day, with guaranteed access to Moraine Lake

A shared sightseeing tour of Banff National Park visiting Moraine Lake, Lake Louise, Johnston Canyon and Emerald Lake, with an English-speaking guide, park passes, and hotel pickup from Banff or Canmore. The tour includes an easy one-hour hike through Johnston Canyon and time to walk or hike around each lake. Moraine Lake access is guaranteed because private vehicles are not permitted there. The tour runs eight to nine hours and returns you to your original pickup location.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Emerald Lake30m
2. Moraine Lake1h 30m · entry included
3. Johnston Canyon1h 10m · entry included

Explore Banff National Park highlights

• Visit Moraine Lake and walk Rockpile Trail
• Walk along Moraine Lake shoreline or canoe
• Admire Lake Louise and hike or relax
• Hike Johnston Canyon to Lower Falls
• Walk Emerald Lake trail and optional canoe
• Return to original pickup location

The experience

The tour departs from your hotel in Banff or Canmore and heads straight to Lake Louise, where you have ninety minutes to explore on your own. The lake sits at the foot of the Victoria Glacier, ringed by mountains. You can walk the shoreline, climb to the lookout, or simply sit with the turquoise water in front of you. From there the shuttle moves to Moraine Lake, the most photographed spot in the park. The Rockpile Trail is a short steep climb to the viewpoint where the lake's intense blue water spreads out beneath the Valley of the Ten Peaks. The hike takes roughly an hour, but you can also walk the lakeshore or canoe if you choose.

Johnston Canyon comes next, a one-hour walk along catwalks built into the canyon walls that lead above the waterfalls. The turquoise water and the rock formations make it one of Banff's most-visited attractions, and the path is easy enough for most fitness levels. After that, the tour finishes at Emerald Lake in Yoho National Park, where a 5.2-kilometer trail circles the lake through alpine forest and past snow-capped peaks. Your guide shares details about the geology and wildlife as you walk. You can also canoe across the lake or rest at the historic lodge. The shuttle brings you back to your starting point by late afternoon.

Park passes and parking are included, along with bottled water and an air-conditioned vehicle. Specialized infant seats are available if you need one, and service animals are welcome. The tour operates with a live English-speaking guide. Note that Moraine Lake closes for the season on October 13, so plan accordingly if you're traveling in fall.

What’s included

• Park passes and parking.
• bottled water.
• air-conditioned shuttle.
• travel insurance.
• English-speaking guide.
• hotel pickup and return to your starting location.

Options for this experience

3 options

Guide in English09:00

Guide in English08:30

Guide in English07:25

Options with the same name differ in details you'll see when you pick a date.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 07:25, 08:30 and 09:00

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats availablePets welcome

Operated by ABestX | Canada

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you're staying in Banff or Canmore and want to see the park's four most famous lakes and a canyon without driving yourself. The shared shuttle and fixed itinerary mean you don't navigate the roads or worry about parking at Moraine Lake, where private vehicles aren't allowed: that guaranteed access is the main reason to choose this format over renting a car.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24h before the start.

Can I choose which lakes to visit, or do I have to do all four?

The tour visits all four sites (Lake Louise, Moraine Lake, Johnston Canyon and Emerald Lake) in a fixed sequence. Each stop has time built in for your own exploration, but you don't skip any of them.

What's the difference between Moraine Lake and Lake Louise?

Lake Louise is fed by the Victoria Glacier and sits in a wide valley surrounded by mountains. You have ninety minutes to walk, hike or rest there. Moraine Lake sits beneath the Valley of the Ten Peaks and is famous for its intense turquoise color and the Rockpile Trail viewpoint, which takes about an hour to climb and is the most photographed spot in Banff.

Is the Johnston Canyon hike difficult?

Johnston Canyon is an easy one-hour walk along catwalks built into the canyon walls above the waterfalls. It's suitable for all fitness levels, though the path is narrow in places and you're walking above the water.

Do I have to hike at Emerald Lake, or can I just look at it?

Emerald Lake offers choices: a 5.2-kilometer trail circles the lake through forest and alpine scenery, but you can also walk just the lakeshore, rest at the lodge, or book an optional canoe excursion across the water.

Where does the tour pick me up, and what time does it start?

You choose your pickup location at checkout: from a downtown Banff hotel, from Canmore, or from a Banff hotel. The tour runs eight to nine hours total and returns you to your original pickup point by late afternoon.