Shuttle service begins for Moraine Lake visitors, Parks Canada ban on private vehicles in effect

Shuttle services are now running to Moraine Lake, an extremely popular tourist destination in Banff National Park.

Earlier this year, Parks Canada announced it would block private vehicles from entering the area — accessible along a 12-kilometre road branching off Lake Louise Drive — in an attempt to curb massive volumes of cars entering the area.

Shuttle service launched Thursday and will be available, with a reservation, from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. until mid-October, with the last return shuttle leaving at 7:30 p.m.

"It wasn't an easy decision, but we feel like it's the best one," said Jed Cochrane, manager of visitor experience for the Lake Louise, Yoho & Kootenay field unit of Parks Canada, in an interview with the Calgary Eyeopener.

"We've heard from the majority of folks that they knew a change needed to happen, and they felt like this was the right step."

Parks Canada has seen increasing visitor pressure on the area in recent years. 

Last summer, the agency restricted the number of vehicles heading up to Lake Moraine in order to keep the parking lot at capacity. Cochrane says the lot was still full almost 24 hours a day, and they were turning away about 5,000 cars from the base of the road.

"Lots of frustrated people, lots of people who had made plans to go to Moraine for the day, to do all kinds of activities, and were being turned away," he said.

"I do believe that transit is a step in the right direction for these really popular locations in terms of reducing overall volumes on some of these roads that travel through really important wildlife corridors."

LISTEN | Jed Cochrane with Parks Canada explains how first day of shuttle service went:

The shuttle service costs $8 for adults, $4 for seniors and is free for those 17 and under. Each group of visitors is also charged a $3 reservation fee online, or $6 if booking by phone.

Reservations must be made ahead of time. Parks Canada released 40 per cent of its shuttle tickets in April. The remaining seats open up 48 hours ahead of departure.

"You get to see both lakes. It's guaranteed. You don't have to worry about finding a parking spot. We try to make it really easy," Cochrane said.

Visitors can also use Roam Public Transit and third party transportation providers, like tour buses and registered taxis. Those with disabled parking tags can still drive into Moraine Lake.

The Parks Canada website notes the agency did consider reservable parking but ultimately decided it wasn't the best option to manage traffic. The shuttle system also reduces carbon emissions, it says.

Ways to access Lake Moraine

Cochrane says at least 80 businesses have signed up to transport customers into the area.

Christine Cook and Mark Unrau, a professional photographer, launched Moraine Lake Sunrise Shuttle in April.

Unrau runs a separate company offering photography workshops, and throughout the years, he'd found it increasingly difficult to access the area with his clients. He had tinkered with the idea of a shuttle, and when Parks Canada made its announcement, he and Cook decided to apply for a business licence.

They transported their first guests Thursday morning when the road opened up, arriving just before 5 a.m.

"It was like there was no one there, and I don't know when the last time that would have happened for anyone who's lived here for a long time or for tourists," Cook said.

It's about $75 to take the private shuttle, but the pair says they're fielding daily phone calls and emails.

Moraine Lake also experiences its fair share of hikers and cyclists. Cochrane says they see about 200 bikers a day riding up the access road.

The challenge for cyclists — besides the 25-kilometre round trip, uphill on the way to Lake Moraine — is still parking somewhere nearby, says travel writer Sue Slaght, with Travel Tales of Life.

Despite having biked the road for the past three years, she thinks it isn't particularly safe for cyclists, even with private vehicles removed. She restricts her trips to early spring before the road opens.

"That is the ultimate way to see Moraine Lake," she said. 

Karen Ung, a travel writer with Play Outside Guide, says she'll miss being able to drive to the spot. She also said costs could add up for a small family trying to visit the destination, between gas, parking fees, a park pass and the shuttle.

Visitors should time their trip carefully if they plan to hike, she said, so they're able to catch the final shuttle.

"It's a special spot. I enjoyed popping in there after hiking at Lake Louise," she said. 

"The good thing is that we can still go."