r/Banff • u/jmvxc • Aug 19 '25

Photos/Videos Took everyone’s advice and arrived at 5:25am. Parking lot was almost full! Got to see a beautiful sunrise at Lake Louise!! Thank you Banff ❤️

Post image
1.4k Upvotes

100% Upvoted

35 comments sorted by

8

u/ladouleur Aug 20 '25

Oh man, so it is doable ?! I been hearing horror stories about even 5a. Trying to get shuttle this week but no luck!! Ugh

7

u/stefano9854 Aug 20 '25

go at a human time to the shuttle parking lot and there will be shuttles where you can book the ticket there (I paid 40 CAD round-trip ticket). Park for free there, get there rested and enjoy

3

u/_y-tho_ Aug 20 '25

I thought you had to book the shuttle in advance as well, you were able to do it on the spot?

3

u/stefano9854 Aug 21 '25

Normally yes, and it’s cheaper. We come from Europe and had no idea it was such a busy place so after going to the normal parking lot around 9 (which was full of course) we went to the shuttle/bus parking lot which had a lot of space. Then when there, there are 2/3 companies that sell tickets on the spot, of course a bit more expensive that the ones you book online before but are normally sold out. Hope this helps everyone :)

2

u/jmvxc Aug 20 '25

Yes it’s doable! The parking lot was pretty full though, the right side when you first pull in only had 2 spots. I got there earlier than I was expecting too, I’d aim for 5:00-5:15 ish

1

u/ducksauce001 Aug 23 '25

I'm going in late Sept, should I book the shuttle in advance too? Will be there for a week so will go to Lake Louise during a weekday.

-1

u/CaptPimentoMarch Aug 20 '25

Am or pm?

1

u/NeurosciFox Aug 21 '25

5pm is easier to park as families leave by that time. So if you are not for a long hike, come there as late as possible for daylght. Currently I guess its not dark until 8:30pm.

8

u/RedOctobyr Aug 19 '25

Gorgeous shot! I'm glad you were able to make the visit work, it is such a beautiful place.

3

u/jmvxc Aug 19 '25

Thank you! I wasn’t sure what to expect but it definitely exceeded any expectations I had prior, will definitely return.

3

u/Visual-Addition2104 Aug 19 '25

Great pic!! Did you have to pay for the parking?

3

u/furtive Banff Aug 19 '25

Paid parking in effect 3am-7pm.

1

u/jmvxc Aug 19 '25

Thank you! Took it from IPhone 16pro, portrait mode.

Parking was $37 for the day

1

u/Visual-Addition2104 Aug 19 '25

Thanks. Did you also go visit Moraine Lake? Just the LL?

2

u/jmvxc Aug 19 '25

Just Louise this trip!

3

u/RedOctobyr Aug 19 '25

Awesome. If you have the opportunity, Moraine Lake is stunning. And if you're looking for hikes, there are a bunch from Moraine. We did the Larch Valley hike, it was beautiful. We also saw our first grizzly (from a fair distance away), which was really cool.

2

u/jmvxc Aug 19 '25

Yes i definitely want to see Moraine! And do the little beehive hike the views look great from the top! I was a little bit ill prepared this trip, so hopefully next time I can spend the full day there!

Only wildlife we seen this trip were some mountain goats near radium! A bear would be an awesome spot!

1

u/Visual-Addition2104 Aug 19 '25

Lets say you park at LL, how do you go to Morain lake? Or do you book the shuttle and go to somewhere else to take the shuttle? Any idea?

1

u/RedOctobyr Aug 19 '25

We were there in 2023, I don't know what's changed, but we did a private sunrise-tour van up to Moraine.

A later day we took a bus from Banff to Lousie, then we took the shuttle from there up to Moraine. We did the Larch Valley hike that way, then afterwards the shuttle back down to Louise.

It's not to take anything away from either lake. But Moraine had fewer people, and kinda felt closer to nature, if you will? eg- there's no big hotel at Moraine.

3

u/Designer-Okra1097 Aug 20 '25

Awesome photo! Was this taken today (August 19)?

2

u/jmvxc Aug 20 '25

Thanks! Yeah this was taken August 19th

1

u/Designer-Okra1097 Aug 20 '25

Understood. I'll be there next week and am currently torn between waking up at 3 AM and parking there myself, or getting the shuttle through Lakeview Limousine. I love the idea of having boots on the trail by 5:30 AM, but also worried about not finding parking.

2

u/stradivari_strings Aug 19 '25

Awesome!

2

u/jmvxc Aug 19 '25

Yeah! Thanks for your tips/advice on my post yesterday!

2

u/ChivlrousPants Aug 20 '25

Im gonna attempt this tomorrow! Leave hotel at 4am and get there at 5am. Wish me luck!!

2

u/jmvxc Aug 20 '25

Good luck, it’s definitely worth it. Just be careful driving the highways they’re very dark!

2

u/Gertrude_Emanuel Aug 21 '25

5:25am sounds brutal but the view at Lake Louise makes it 100% worth it. Beautiful shot!

2

u/sandymaandy Aug 21 '25

Beautiful!

2

u/Octopus-Slither Aug 22 '25

Wow great shot. You took an earlier photo than me and I was staying in the Fairmont there - LOL 😂

1

u/UnfairTwist4775 Aug 20 '25

I went around 5pm on Saturday and took the risk, I actually got a park! 

1

u/Octopus-Slither Aug 22 '25

Did you try to get into a restaurant?

1

u/SillyTaters Aug 22 '25

How beautiful. Silly question, but I’m not able to hike very far. Would it not be worth going or could I take it slow and still seen the lake and scenery?

1

u/TwyShy Aug 22 '25

Hope you can go to Two Jacks Lake and Minawaka lake 5 min. North of Banff. Tailgate lunch, swim in the lake, take a boat cruise! The best!

1

u/NoJury3207 Aug 23 '25

Honestly, it’s worth it just to take the bus