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.
- The tour begins with pickups in Canmore, followed by pickups in Banff approximately 30 minutes later. After booking, you will receive a follow-up message confirming your pickup time based on your selected pickup location, along with other important tour details. Please read this message carefully, as it contains everything you need to know to prepare for your tour.
- 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(152)
My family, including two seniors in their late 70s and a 8 year old truly loved our experience! Our guide, Toby, was knowledgeable and very patient with my group. Communication from Into the Wild was excellent! An unforgettable memory for my family!
Really appreciate you sharing this! We’re so pleased the whole family had a great experience and felt well looked after by Toby throughout the day. We’ll make sure he sees your comments. Thanks for spending the day with Into the Wild Tours!
Tovy was amazing! He was so friendly and knowledgeable. Book this!
Really appreciate the recommendation! We’re glad you had such a good experience with Toby and enjoyed having him as your guide. Thanks for joining Into the Wild Tours!
This was a great outing from start to finish. Our tour guide, Toby, did an excellent job—super friendly, helpful, and informative throughout. The stargazing was fantastic, and we lucked into a nearly perfect, clear night. But having Moraine Lake all to ourselves, with no crowds, was priceless. We even saw a couple of grizzlies on the drive up. Highly recommend this one.
Thanks for the great review! Sounds like you picked a brilliant night for the tour. We’re glad Toby took good care of you, and spotting a couple of grizzlies along the way was a great bonus! We really appreciate the recommendation! Into the Wild Tours
We had such an incredible evening! Our guide, Toby, was super knowledgeable and fun! He was also an awesome photographer! Our pictures look so good people think they're AI generated! We didn't get to see many stars because of the wildfire smoke, but there were no complaints in the group because it was such a magical experience. Moraine Lake is stunning! We were the only group there & it was so peaceful. Would 1000 percent recommend!
Thanks for the great review! We’re glad you had such a good evening despite the wildfire smoke. It sounds like Toby’s photography skills definitely made an impression too! We really appreciate the recommendation and hope you enjoy those photos for years to come. Into the Wild Tours
This experience is the best experience you will have in many of your travels. You will experience a carefully curated and safe tour of the Canadian rockies that will feel like an exclusive private peak at the stars. Toby took very good care of us from his carefully and expert driving to ensuring we had a hot bevarge, chairs and blankets atop the rock pile, and for this single mother traveling with kids, making sure i had pictures of my vacation with my kids that I am in!! Thank you so much- worth so much to me.
Thank you for the great review! We’re glad Toby took such good care of you and your family throughout the evening. And it’s great that you managed to get some family photos with everyone in them too. Thanks for choosing Into the Wild Tours!
Great experience on the Moraine Lake Sunset and Stargazing Tour! Our guide Timothy was very knowledgeable and made sure everyone had an unforgettable night. It was cloudy to start but the sky cleared for the stargazing and amazing views.
Thank you for sharing your experience! We’re glad Timothy could make the evening enjoyable and that the skies cleared for some great stargazing and views of Moraine Lake. We'll pass on your kind words to Timothy! It sounds like the weather cooperated just in time. We hope to have you join us again!
We chose the star gazing tour in August 2026, and it was phenomenal. Our tour guide was Abdul and is exceptional at his job. Pick up was on time, easy, and we enjoyed learning about the area as we drove to our tour spots. Abdul also shared with us his knowledge of bears, Canadian history, constellations, and how to take night photos of the scenery. It was a fantastic excursion that wasn’t rushed and our group walked away from it feeling more connected to the area and with a new friend. Thank you Abdul!
Thank you so much for taking the time to share such a thoughtful review! We’re thrilled to hear that you had such a phenomenal experience on our stargazing tour. We’ll be sure to share your kind words with Abdul. It sounds like he was able to make the evening truly special, from sharing his knowledge to helping you capture some beautiful night photos. We especially love hearing that you never felt rushed and left feeling more connected to the area. Thank you again for choosing to spend your evening with us and for trusting our team to show you around. We truly appreciate your support and hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you back for another adventure in the future.
Excellent experience and our guide, Abdul, was amazing. We had the lake practically to ourselves and he was super knowledgeable about the area, animals, astrology, and provided an excellent experience. Will definitely book with company again.
Thank you so much for your review! We’re absolutely delighted to hear that you had such a fantastic experience with us. We’ll be sure to pass your kind words along to Abdul — he’ll be so happy to hear that his knowledge and passion helped make your experience special. Having the lake nearly all to yourselves sounds like a pretty perfect day! Thank you again for choosing to join us and for taking the time to share your experience. We’d love to welcome you back for another adventure in the future!
Sunset and stargazing at Moraine Lake was magical! It was definitely a once in a lifetime experience that my entire family truly enjoyed. Our tour guide, Tobias, was extremely professional and well prepared. His knowledge of the constellations was outstanding and he made sure each guest got the most out of the adventure.
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re thrilled to hear that your family had such a magical evening at Moraine Lake. Seeing the sunset followed by the stars over the Rockies really is a special experience, and we’re so happy you enjoyed every moment of it. We’ll be sure to pass your kind words along to Tobias. His passion for astronomy and his dedication to making sure every guest has a memorable experience are exactly what we hope for from our guides. Thank you again for choosing Into the Wild Tours and for recommending us. We hope to have the pleasure of welcoming your family back to the Canadian Rockies in the future!
Amazing!! There were 7 of us ages 17-50. This is an incredible must do activity. Going to Moraine Lake at this time means much fewer people, as the shuttles have all made their last trip out for the evening. Our guide was very experienced and knowledgeable. The tour company thought of every detail providing blankets, chairs, warm beverages, tripods and even bug spray. These are the views of a lifetime. Don’t miss it!
Thank you so much for the wonderful review! We’re thrilled to hear that your group had such an amazing experience at Moraine Lake. Visiting in the evening really does offer something special, with fewer people around and the opportunity to enjoy the lake in a much more peaceful setting. We’re also so glad you appreciated the little details we provide, from the blankets and warm beverages to the chairs, tripods, and even the bug spray! It was a pleasure having your group with us, and we truly appreciate you recommending the experience to others. We hope to have the opportunity to welcome you back to the Canadian Rockies again in the future!
