Transportation Shift Campaign: Member Toolkit

• Take transit, shuttles and tours to and around Banff National Park via:
  • Roam Transit (Canmore-Banff-Lake Louise)
  • Parks Canada Shuttles (Lake Louise area) - Reserve ahead of time to guarantee a seat.
• There is no access to Moraine Lake for personal vehicles
  • Parks Canada shuttles are a great way to see both Lake Louise and Moraine Lake on the same day.
  • Visitors must plan ahead and make reservations in advance.
  • Secure your seat and leave your car parked at the Park and Ride at the Lake Louise Ski Resort.
  • Fairview Limousine, Moraine Lake Bus Company and Mountain Park Transportation operate shuttles multiple times daily from June to October with various pick-up points available in Lake Louise.
  • Book a spot on a guided tour to Lake Louise, Moraine Lake and other iconic Banff National Park locations.
    • ABest Transport and Tour Services
    • Banff Sedan
    • Brewster Sightseeing
    • Discover Banff Tours
    • HopOnBanff
    • Mountain Park Transportation
    • Radventures
    • White Mountain Adventures,
    • WowBanff
    • Yamnuska
• In the Town of Banff, visitors can park at the Banff Train Station for free all day. Walk 8-minutes to the Roam Transit Hub and access most key attractions in and around town and Banff National Park, including Lake Louise, Moraine Lake, Johnston Canyon, Lake Minnewanka, the Banff Gondola, Banff Upper Hot Springs, and many campgrounds.
  

• Visitors can take the guesswork out of their visit by pre-booking tickets on the Parks Canada Shuttle (Lake Louise area) and on select Roam Transit routes (Canmore-Banff-Lake Louise).
  • Reservations for Roam’s route 8X (Lake Louise/Banff Express) and 8S are recommended. All other Roam Transit routes do not require reservations, but pre-purchasing tickets on the Token Transit app is encouraged.
• Registered campers (from Tunnel Mountain, Two Jack, Two Jack Lakeside) enjoy free departure from the campgrounds – including one transfer to complete departing trip onto Routes 1, 2, 4, or 6 - fares apply for all other rides.
• The following hotels provide free transit passes to their guests for the Banff local routes 1, 2, 4 & 6.
  • Banff Caribou Lodge & Spa
  • Banff Ptarmigan Inn
  • Fox Hotel & Suites, Hidden Ridge Resort
  • The Dorothy Motel
  • Moose Hotel & Suites
  • Tunnel Mountain Resort
  • Rundlestone Lodge
  • Red Carpet Inn
  • Irwin's Mountain Inn
  • The Rimrock Resort
  • The Fairmont Banff Springs
  • Douglas Fir Resort
  • HI Banff Alpine Centre

• Sit back, relax, and experience must-see attractions while someone else does the driving.
• Find a deeper appreciation for Banff National Park with the help of a knowledgeable guide.
• Providers:
  • Banff Adventures
  • Alpine Helicopters
  • Banff Sedan
  • Calgary Tours
  • WowBanff Sightseeing
  • Lake Minnewanka Cruise
  • Hop On Banff
  • Open Top Touring
  • Rocky Mountain Raft Tours
  • White Mountain Adventures
  • Rockies Heli Tours Canada
  • Discover Banff Tours
  • Columbia Icefield Adventure
  • Brewster Sightseeing

• When visiting Banff National Park you are in a protected area. We all have a responsibility to do everything we can to minimize our impact on this special environment. You can help by choosing to take transit and leaving your car parked.
• Taking transit, shuttles and tours helps to reduce the number of vehicles on the road, which reduces pollution (greenhouse gas emissions) and the chance of vehicle and wildlife conflicts.
• Albertans who take transit to and within Banff and Lake Louise are helping to protect this beautiful place and preserving the environment for future generations.

Q) Why can't I drive to Moraine Lake?
A) Very limited parking near Moraine Lake has created safety concerns and a negative visitor experience in the past years. As of June 1, 2023, personal vehicle access to Moraine Lake is no longer permitted. Parks Canada shuttle service and other commercial transportation and tour operators are the only ways to visit the lake.

Q) How do I use the Parks Canada shuttle system?
A) The shuttles take you to both lakes, departing from the Park & Ride at the Lake Louise Ski Resort & Sightseeing Gondola.

• Reservations are required online athttps://reservation.pc.gc.ca/or by calling 1-877-737-3783.
• 60% of the shuttle tickets are released at 8 a.m. MST two days before, so check back two days in advance for more availability.
• TIP: Visitors need to create an account on the Parks Canada reservation site either using their Canadian mobile banking login or by creating a GC Key if they are from outside of Canada.
• KNOW: Visitors staying in Lake Louise can take the free Village and Campground connector from the Lake Louise Campground and the Roam bus stop to the Park & Ride, located at the bus stop just outside the Samson Mall. It will depart every 30 minutes between 7 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Q) What if I do not have a vehicle?
A) Reserve the Roam Transit Super Pass for access from Banff to Lake Louise and Moraine Lake. This pass allows you to make a return reservation on Routes 8X and 8S to the Lake Louise Lakeshore departing from the Banff High School and gives you access to the Parks Canada Lake Connector Shuttle between Lake Louise and Moraine Lake.

• KNOW: The last Connector Shuttle between Lake Louise and Moraine Lake is at 6 p.m.

Q) Can I bring my pet to Lake Louise and Moraine Lake?

A) Certified assistance animals are allowed on the Parks Canada shuttle. Passenger pets are allowed but must be crated in a clean carrier and small enough to fit on a persons’ lap.

• TIP: See here for more pet friendly shuttle options https://www.banfflakelouise.com/explore-the-park/moraine-lake-shuttle

Q) Is accessible parking available at Lake Louise and Moraine Lake?
A) Yes, visitors in possession of a parking placard for persons with disabilities will be granted vehicle access to Moraine Lake and Lake Louise on a first-come first-served basis.

• The accessible parking fee at Lake Louise is $8 and $21 for all other vehicles.

Q) How do I visit Lake Louise and Moraine Lake when all Parks Canada shuttles are booked?
A) If your desired time slot appears to be sold out, remember that just 40% of tickets were released in May for pre-purchase. The remaining 60% are released on a rolling window two days (48 hours) before the departure date at 8 a.m. MST, providing ample opportunity for you to visit this summer.

Can’t get a reservation to Moraine Lake or Lake Louise on your specified date? Roam Public Transit route 8X offers daily direct service between Banff and Lake Louise and route 8S offers an indirect service to Lake Louise via the Bow Valley Parkway, with optional stops at popular attractions including Lake Minnewanka, the Banff Gondola, and Johnston Canyon. Other suggested options:

• Check out www.explorethepark.ca for other commercial transportation and tour options and visit their websites to check availability.
• Rent a bike at Wilsons Sports or the Lake Louise Ski Resort & Sightseeing Gondola
• Visit Lake Louise in the evening as days are long in the summer.

Q) Where can I park my car if I am going to take transit/sightseeing tours around Banff National Park?
A) In and around the Banff townsite, visitors can park at the Banff Train Station for free. Walk 10 minutes to the Roam Transit hub and access most key attractions in and around town and Banff National Park such as Lake Louise, Moraine Lake, Johnston Canyon, Lake Minnewanka, the Banff Gondola, Banff Upper Hot Springs and many campgrounds.

• TIP: The free Banff Gondola shuttle is available for anyone with a pre-purchased Banff Gondola ticket. You can also hop on Roam Transit’s Route 1 for free from May 20 to October 9, 2023. This service goes to and from the Banff Gondola throughout the day.
• TIP: Please note that paid parking is in effect and limited in the downtown core; park for the day at a designated long-term parking lot and use transit and shuttles to get around. See options here.