Sunset at Moraine Lake & Stargazing Tour from Canmore/Banff
Description
See a whole new side of Moraine Lake—peaceful, uncrowded, and lit by the beauty of sunset and the stars. This evening adventure takes you beyond the typical daytime experience, combining stunning landscapes, wildlife viewing, and one of the best stargazing spots in Banff National Park. Your journey begins along the Bow Valley Parkway, with chances of spotting wildlife, and a stop at Morant’s Curve. Take a guided walk along the lakeshore trail and soak in the quiet beauty of the lake as the surrounding peaks glow in warm sunset colors. Then, we’ll make our way up to the rockpile for the best panoramic views as the sky transitions from day to night. With minimal light pollution, Moraine Lake offers incredible stargazing. We’ll use telescopes and binoculars to get a closer look at planets, constellations, and even the northern lights if conditions are right. If you want to escape the crowds and enjoy Moraine Lake in a way most visitors never do, this tour is for you.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Step away from the crowds and into the wild with our Moraine Lake Sunset & Stargazing Tour, a truly magical evening experience in Banff National Park. This tour offers a chance to experience Moraine Lake beyond the usual daytime rush, in a setting that’s peaceful, immersive, and truly unique. From wildlife sightings and sunset photography to exploring the vast night sky, this is an evening adventure designed for those who want to see a different side of the Rockies.
This adventure begins with a scenic drive along the Bow Valley Parkway, a prime wildlife corridor where we may spot elk, deer, or even bears as they emerge in the cooler hours of the evening.
Along the way, we’ll stop at Morant’s Curve, an iconic photography spot where the winding railway meets the towering peaks—a perfect opportunity to capture the golden light before sunset.
Upon arriving at Moraine Lake, you’ll have time to take in the changing colors as the sun sets behind the Valley of the Ten Peaks. A short guided walk along the lakeshore will allow you to fully appreciate the peacefulness of the area at this time of day, when most of the daytime crowds have cleared out. After the walk, we’ll head up to the rockpile, the best vantage point for watching the sunset. Here, you can relax with a hot drink, enjoy the quiet atmosphere, and watch as the lake transitions from vibrant blue to deep twilight hues. As night falls, we’ll turn our focus to the night sky. With minimal light pollution, this is one of the best places in Banff National Park for stargazing. We’ll use telescopes and binoculars to get a closer look at distant planets, constellations, and, if conditions allow, the northern lights. Whether you’re a first-time stargazer or an astronomy enthusiast, the sheer number of visible stars will leave a lasting impression.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
The tour begins in Canmore, with additional pickups in Banff. After you book your tour, we will send you a follow-up message with all important pickup details to help you prepare for your experience. Please keep an eye out for this message, as it will include: • Your confirmed pickup time based on your selected location • A description of our tour vehicle to help you easily identify your guide • A reminder of what to bring for your tour • The waiver link that must be completed prior to departure This information is sent to ensure a smooth, easy, and stress-free start to your tour. If you have any questions before then, feel free to reach out anytime.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Minimum Age: 6 years. For safety and comfort, we cannot accommodate children under 6.
- Prior to your tour, we will send you a message with all important pickup details to help you prepare for your experience. This information is provided to ensure a smooth, easy, and stress-free start to your tour. If you have any questions before then, please feel free to reach out anytime.
- Our tours proceed rain, shine, or snow (yes, even in the summer!). However, in extreme weather conditions, we prioritize your safety and comfort—so we’ll either reschedule your tour or offer a refund.
- Watching the sunset at Moraine Lake is chilly! Dress in layers to stay warm and ready for unpredictable mountain weather.
- In order to participate all adults must sign a waiver prior to the tour. A waiver must also be completed by the parent or guardian of any child under the age of 18. Failure to complete the waiver will result in the cancellation of your tour.
- No-shows, missed departures, or unused services are non-refundable.
- We require at least 6 guests for the tour to proceed. If we don’t reach this minimum number, we will offer you options to reschedule or receive a full refund.
- The stargazing portion of the tour is subject to weather conditions. If cloud cover, rain, or other factors affect visibility, we’ll adjust the schedule by spending more time simply enjoying Moraine Lake and less on stargazing. The tour will continue regardless of the weather.
Reviews(119)
Wonderful opportunity to see Moraine Lake without the crowds. Our guide was very personable and knowledgeable of the area and history.
Toby, the guide we had was great! Unfortunately it was cloudy so we didn’t see any stars. Everyone made the best of it.
Thank you so much for sharing your experience! We're happy to hear that Toby helped make your evening enjoyable despite the cloudy skies. The Rockies always have a way of creating a beautiful atmosphere, and we're glad everyone made the most of the adventure. We'll be sure to share your kind words with Toby, and we hope to welcome you back on another night with clearer skies and a chance to experience the magic of the stars!
It was the best idea to go see moraine lake at the end of the day, when there is almost no one else. The evening lights are beautiful and Tobias made sure everyone was comfortable. Highly recommended.
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed experiencing Moraine Lake in the peaceful evening hours. Seeing this incredible place with fewer crowds and beautiful evening light truly creates a special atmosphere. We're also happy to hear that Tobias helped make your experience comfortable and memorable. We'll be sure to share your kind words with him. Thank you for recommending us, and we hope to welcome you back for another Rocky Mountain adventure soon!
Our tour was with Abdul. Abdul was very engaging and helpful throughout this tour. We saw a black bear on our way to the star gazing site, and Abdul stopped so that we could all get a good look and be able to take pictures of it. He also took pictures and shared them with the group to ensure we all had a photo. He stopped at the gorgeous viewpoint of Temple Mountain, where we took breathtaking photos. The actual star gazing portion of the tour was a little adventure. We got to enjoy Moraine Lake after closing, and all of the crowds were gone. He provided us with all the needed gear and led us up the steps of the rockpile. We saw shooting stars. He pointed out various stars and constellations, and he helped everyone set up their cameras to capture pictures. We really enjoyed this tour.
Thank you so much for taking the time to share such a detailed and wonderful review! We're delighted to hear that Abdul helped make your Stargazing Tour such a memorable experience. From spotting wildlife along the way to enjoying the peaceful beauty of Moraine Lake after the crowds have left, it sounds like you experienced some truly special moments in the Rockies. We're so happy Abdul was able to share his knowledge, help capture those memories, and guide you through the night sky with stories of the stars and constellations. We'll be sure to share your kind words with Abdul. Thank you for joining us, and we hope to welcome you back for another unforgettable adventure under the stars!
The coach was outstanding, went above and beyond, and was not called for. He made sure to attend to every member of the trip. What an execution. He was also on time. We show a grizzly baby bear :)
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear that you had such a great experience and that your guide went above and beyond to make the journey special for everyone. Providing a comfortable, informative, and memorable experience is exactly what we strive for. Seeing a baby grizzly bear along the way was an incredible bonus too! Thank you for choosing us, and we hope to welcome you back for another Rocky Mountain adventure soon!
Northern lights was a nice bonus!
Thank you for sharing your experience! We're so happy to hear that you enjoyed the tour and that the Northern Lights made the evening even more special. Nature always has a way of creating unforgettable moments in the Rockies, and we're delighted you got to experience it. We hope to welcome you back for another adventure under the stars soon!
This tour was amazing! Abdul, our tour guide, made the trip safe, educational, and a special memory my family will never forget. We had the lake basically to ourselves and saw more stars than I thought imaginable including several shooting stars. Highly recommend to anyone looking to make a special memory.
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear that Abdul helped make your experience such a special and memorable one. Having Moraine Lake peacefully to yourselves under a sky full of stars is truly a magical Rocky Mountain moment, and we're so happy your family was able to experience it. We'll be sure to share your kind words with Abdul. Thank you for recommending us, and we hope to welcome you back for another unforgettable adventure!
Amazing tour of lake Morraine Tobby was wonderful guide with experience made it so much fun and adventurous A very clean van with a special treat
Thank you so much for your kind review! We’re delighted to hear you had an amazing tour of Moraine Lake and that Toby made your experience so fun and adventurous with his knowledge and guidance. It’s also great to know you enjoyed the comfortable, clean van and the special touches along the way—your feedback truly means a lot to us. Thank you for choosing Into The Wild Tours. We hope to welcome you back for another unforgettable adventure in the Canadian Rockies!
This was a great experience! Our guide Toby was super nice and knowledgeable! Pick up was easy at the Banff train station. It was about a 90 min drive up to the lake via Bow valley parkway (the old highway up) where we stopped at a beautiful curve with a train and mountains in the background. We saw two black bears and an Elk on the road! Once we got to the lake we walked around the lake a bit. It was so serene and quiet. We then made our way up the huge rock pile by the lake to stare gaze, there are stairs so it was easy to get up. We had time to explore the area a bit before we settled in. We were provided chairs, blankets and a hot drink! It was overcast so not much of a sunset and saw few stars but it was still phenomenal. It did get pretty cold but not unmanageable. Wear layers!! Hat/gloves etc. We brought an extra blanket and they do provide hand warmers. We got back to the train station at 1:50 am so it was a long night. But it was such a great way to experience Moraine Lake
Thank you so much for sharing such a detailed and wonderful review! We’re thrilled to hear that you had a great experience with Toby and that he made your tour both enjoyable and informative. It’s fantastic that you were able to enjoy the scenic drive along the Bow Valley Parkway and even spot wildlife like bears and an elk—what an unforgettable experience! We’re also glad you enjoyed your time at Moraine Lake, from the peaceful walk around the lake to the stargazing experience with chairs, blankets, and hot drinks provided. Even with the cloudy skies, we’re happy to hear it was still a phenomenal and memorable evening for you. Thank you for your helpful tips for future guests as well—layering up is definitely great advice for the colder evenings in the mountains! We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you back for another adventure in the Canadian Rockies soon.
We had an absolute blast on this stargazing tour! Our guide, Abdul, was incredible. Not only was he knowledgeable about the animal life and landscape but also about the night sky—pointing out constellations and sharing fascinating insight. He was also exceptionally courteous and helpful throughout the entire evening. He made sure everyone was comfortable and took the time to answer all of our questions. It was a truly magical experience and a major highlight for us. We had a wonderful time and will definitely be recommending Abdul and this tour to all of our friends and family!
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re thrilled to hear that you had an absolutely amazing time on your stargazing tour with Abdul. It’s great to know that his knowledge of the night sky, wildlife, and local landscape helped make the experience even more special, and that he took such great care of everyone throughout the evening. We’re especially happy to hear that the tour was a magical highlight of your trip. Your kind words and recommendation mean a lot to us, and we will be sure to share your feedback with Abdul—he will be delighted to hear it! Thank you again for choosing Into The Wild Tours. We hope to welcome you back for another unforgettable adventure in the future!
