Visitor Use Management Plan for the Lake Louise Area

Banff National Park

First Phase Complete

The first phase of consultation on visitor use management planning for Lake Louise is now complete. This phase collected input on desired conditions and aspirations for the Lake Louise area.
The next phase of consultation will focus on strategies and actions or how to achieve the desired conditions.
The next phase of consultation is anticipated to take place in winter 2025.

Introduction

We need your help to shape how Parks Canada manages how visitors use and access the Lake Louise area.

Parks Canada’s mandate is to protect and share these special places. In recent years, conserving and ensuring access to Lake Louise has become more complex. Increasing congestion and crowding detract from the experience of visiting. This can make timely emergency responses difficult and also impacts wildlife, water quality, facilities, and infrastructure.

How can we best provide safe public access and high-quality experiences while conserving the ecosystems and natural splendour that make this place so special?

Parks Canada has used many tools to address this challenge such as shuttles, reservations services, paid parking, and behavioral marketing campaigns. We have learned a lot over the years—now, we would like to hear from you.

  • What experiences in the Lake Louise area are most important to you?
  • What prevents you from visiting and enjoying the Lake Louise area?
  • How do you envision the area looking and feeling in ten or twenty years?

Your input will inform future strategies and actions for visitor use management in the Lake Louise area.

How to have your say:

Step 1: Review the background information below.
Step 2: Participate in the conversation.

What experiences in the Lake Louise area are most important to you?

The first phase of consultation on visitor use management planning for Lake Louise is now complete. This phase collected input on desired conditions and aspirations for the Lake Louise area. The next phase of consultation will focus on strategies and actions or how to achieve the desired conditions.
The next phase of consultation is anticipated to take place in winter 2025.

Project engagement timelines

Project timelines - text follows

Project engagement timelines - text version

Phase 1

Summer 2024

Validate desired conditions.


Phase 2

Winter 2024/25

Engage on draft strategies and actions.


Phase 3

Spring 2025

Finalize plan.


Phase 4

Summer 2025 onwards

Implement, evaluate, adjust.


Purpose and Scope of Plan

The Lake Louise Area Visitor Use Management Plan will provide Parks Canada with a long-term approach to managing visitor use in the Lake Louise area in a way that protects nature and history, is safe for visitors and staff alike, and provides a positive experience when visiting.

The visitor use management planning process will provide Parks Canada with the tools and tactics needed to achieve these goals. The plan will promote safe and efficient visitor movement and transportation in the Lake Louise area, with a focus on peak visitor season (May to October). It will be iterative and adaptive in nature and will:

  • Articulate key attributes and values in the Lake Louise area.
  • Document key issues and concerns in the Lake Louise area.
  • Summarize current conditions in the Lake Louise area.
  • Confirm desired conditions to achieve.
  • Define strategies and actions to achieve desired conditions.
  • Outline a strategy for monitoring and assessing the effectiveness of actions in achieving desired conditions.

This plan focuses on the Lake Louise area (see map below) including Upper Lake Louise, Moraine Lake, Paradise Valley, the Lake Louise Park and Ride, and the transportation corridors that link them. The community of Lake Louise itself is addressed through the Lake Louise Community Plan. A separate process to update the community plan is also underway.

A map of the Lake Louise area outlining the boundary of the plan and 5 key visitor use nodes. More details provided in the text version below.
The Lake Louise Visitor Use Management Project Area
Map description A map of the Lake Louise area outlining the boundary of the plan and 5 key visitor use nodes: Upper Lake Louise and the surrounding trails, Moraine Lake and the surrounding trails, Paradise Valley, the Lake Louise Park and Ride, and the transportation corridors that link these key nodes. The community of Lake Louise is not included in the project area.
Download this map (JPEG, 304 KB)

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Significance of the area

Value statements express which resources and values are most important and authentic to the Lake Louise area. Some of the attributes that make the Lake Louise unique include:

  • A wide variety of recreational opportunities: The Lake Louise area is a premier destination that provides many recreational experiences. Visitors to the area stroll alongside glacial lakes, hike through golden larches, paddle through mountain lakes, and climb peaks in the backcountry. There are options for groups of all sizes and abilities.
  • Outstanding viewscapes: World renowned views of turquoise lakes, glaciers, mountain peaks and golden larches attract amateur and professional photographers from around the world.
  • Vital wildlife corridors: The Fairview and Whitehorn wildlife corridors provide critical habitat for large carnivores to travel through the area, find mates and food. Grizzly bears, wolves, and lynx are a few of the species that use these corridors.
  • Alpine and subalpine ecosystems: Ecosystems contain lakes, meadows, forest, and habitat for sensitive species. The area is home to a wide variety of plants and animals, including sensitive species such as grizzly bear, wolverine, whitebark pine, little brown myotis, barn swallow, and western toad.
  • Culturally significant area for Indigenous peoples: The Lake Louise area lands and waters have been used for millennia by Indigenous peoples for sustenance, ceremony, trade, and travel.

What experiences in the Lake Louise area are most important to you?

The first phase of consultation on visitor use management planning for Lake Louise is now complete. This phase collected input on desired conditions and aspirations for the Lake Louise area. The next phase of consultation will focus on strategies and actions or how to achieve the desired conditions.
The next phase of consultation is anticipated to take place in winter 2025.

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How we got here

Banff National Park visitation has grown 31 percent over the last decade. Banff National Park saw 4.28 million visits in 2023/24, the busiest year on record. The Lake Louise area has seen an even more pronounced increase in visitation. For more than a decade Parks Canada has been managing increasing traffic congestion, caused by rising visitation. This requires a multi-pronged approach. Each management strategy has allowed Parks Canada to make incremental progress and iterative improvements.

Key milestones of our visitor use management efforts to date include:

2013 | 2016 | 2017 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024

2013

Parks Canada shuttle to Moraine Lake begins!

High demand for access to the Moraine Lake area during larch season prompts Parks Canada to provide shuttle services to Moraine Lake over two weekends in the fall.


2016

Lake Louise shuttle route added, roadside parking difficulties

Congestion impedes emergency vehicle access on Lake Louise Drive. Parks Canada expands the shuttle service to Lake Louise over weekends in July and August. Contracted traffic control personnel are present on site daily, throughout summer months. The Moraine Lake parking lot is routinely over capacity and vehicles park along the shoulder for several kilometres.

A Park Warden vehicle is trying to drive with cars parked on both sides of the roadway and another car coming towards it.
Roadside parking on Moraine Lake Road, summer 2016.

2017

Lake Louise shuttle route expands to provide daily service, extreme congestion on Lake Louise Drive, trip planning communications take off

Parks Canada expands the Lake Louise shuttle route to 7 days/ week during summer months to address midweek congestion. Moraine Lake shuttle route continues during the fall. To help reduce the number of personal vehicles at Lake Louise, Parks Canada contracts a private, third-party bus service to connect the Town of Banff to the Lake Louise area.

During peak periods, traffic is restricted from travelling on Moraine Lake Road when the parking is full. Traffic movement is not restricted on Lake Louise Drive. However, congestion remains high during peak periods and periods of gridlock result in delayed shuttles and impeded access and egress for visitors and emergency services. Congestion also becomes a barrier to wildlife movement.

Parks Canada, Town of Banff, and Banff & Lake Louise Tourism create a joint marketing partnership to encourage visitors to plan ahead and to create awareness of transit options to and within Banff National Park. Visitors are strongly encouraged to take transit, arrive early, visit at non-peak periods, or visit alternate park locations. Communication tactics include live parking updates, trip planning tools, media exposure and advertising tactics including radio, digital and print.

Visitors stand in line along a pathway creating a long lineup, several metres wide.
Line up to board a Parks Canada shuttle at Upper Lake Louise, summer 2017.
Aerial view of a two-lane road showing cars parked on both sides and gridlocked traffic in both lanes.
Traffic congestion on Lake Louise Drive, summer 2017.

2019

Moraine Lake shuttle expands to daily summer service, visitors face 3-hour lineups, fee introduced for shuttles

From June to October, the Parks Canada shuttle runs daily to each lake, every 15 minutes. Shuttles operate on a paid, first-come, first-served system from the Lake Louise overflow parking lot, 5 km east of Lake Louise on the Trans-Canada Highway. A connector shuttle transports visitors from Upper Lake Louise to Moraine Lake. Lineups to board the shuttles reach 2-3 hours long. There are limited amenities, and parking at the Park and Ride is over capacity, creating concerns around safety on the Trans-Canada Highway.

Upper Lake Louise and Moraine Lake parking lots fill by 7 am and traffic congestion is a regular occurrence. Parks Canada partners with Roam Public Transit to launch routes 8X, 8S and 10. The routes service the Lake Louise area from the Town of Banff.

A bus and van travel along a highway through the mountains.
© Damian Blunt | Roam Public Transit bus travels along Trans-Canada Highway.
Vehicles travel bumper to bumper along a two-lane roadway with a grassy hill on one side and a mountain in the distance.
Traffic congestion on Lake Louise Drive.
Visitors line up along the perimeter of a parking lot, with a washroom building, tent and garbage can on the side.
Lineup to board a Parks Canada shuttle at the overflow parking lot.
Visitors line up along a sidewalk with a yellow bus on the left and a lake in the background.
Lineup to board a Parks Canada shuttle at Moraine Lake.

2020

COVID-19 Pandemic and Moraine Lake receives new washrooms

The Parks Canada summer shuttle is cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The shuttle resumes service to Moraine Lake in the fall. Parks Canada builds 10 new toilets at Moraine Lake.


2021

Shuttle reservation system introduced, and visitors must pay to park at Upper Lake Louise

The shuttle reservation service spreads visitation throughout the day and reduces lineups for shuttles. Parks Canada significantly increases Moraine Lake shuttle capacity by adding a direct route from the Lake Louise Park and Ride. The connector shuttle between the lakes allows visitors to see both lakes in the same day. Paid parking ($11.70/ day) is in effect in the Upper Lake Louise parking lot during the shuttle season to help incentivise transit use and offset the cost of the shuttle program. However, it remains less expensive for most visitors to park than to ride the shuttle. Visitation is still rebounding from the COVID-19 pandemic and shuttles operate below capacity.

A visitor holds their phone up to a Parks Canada staff sitting in a wooden shelter.
Visitor shows shuttle reservation at the Park and Ride.
A visitor presses a button on a pay parking terminal.
Visitor pays for parking at Upper Lake Louise.

2022

Park and Ride relocated, Moraine Lake parking filling by 4 am

The Lake Louise Park and Ride is relocated from the overflow parking area to the Lake Louise Ski Resort. This increases parking space and improves access to and from the Trans-Canada Highway. Whitehorn Road is closed to vehicles overnight to mitigate impacts on the Whitehorn wildlife corridor.

Great Divide parking lot on Lake Louise Drive and key sections of the Bow River Loop Trail are closed seasonally to help condense the human footprint and therefore limit disruptions in the Fairview wildlife corridor. This provides more space for wildlife using critical habitat patches in the Lake Louise area.

Paid parking at Upper Lake Louise is increased to $12.25/ day.

Parks Canada partners with Roam Public Transit to integrate route 8X riders with the Parks Canada shuttle service by allowing Roam Public Transit riders to connect to Moraine Lake on the Parks Canada Lake Connector shuttle.

Parks Canada shuttles sell out most days in July and August. Moraine Lake parking lot routinely fills by 3 am or 4 am Traffic control personnel are required 24 hours a day to prevent overcapacity issues. An average of 5 000 vehicles per day are turned away from Moraine Lake while only 700 to 900 vehicles per day can park at the parking lot. The unpredictability of the system results in significant visitor frustration. Abuse and violence are frequently directed towards Parks Canada traffic management staff and contractors.

A parking lot in the foreground with a wooden building, treed slopes, and mountain in the background.
Parks Canada Park and Ride at the Lake Louise Ski Area.
Two traffic flaggers redirect a lineup of traffic using their hands, pylons, and signage.
Traffic flaggers turn vehicles away from Moraine Lake Road.

2023

Personal vehicles restricted from Moraine Lake Road

After having had to turn away 85 percent of vehicles attempting to park at the Moraine Lake Road in 2022 because the parking lot was full, Parks Canada restricts personal vehicle access to Moraine Lake. Public access to Moraine Lake is provided by Parks Canada shuttles, Roam Public Transit, and commercial vehicle operators. The Moraine Lake parking lot now operates at or near capacity, with minimal congestion. Commercial buses must have a minimum 11 seats. This is a requirement for guided services, tour buses and third-party shuttles.

Paid parking at Upper Lake Louise increases to $21/ day. This makes the fee slightly higher than the cost for a family to ride the shuttle.

These actions result in a 23 percent reduction in traffic volumes on Lake Louise Drive compared to 2019 levels and a reduction of vehicle traffic on Moraine Lake Road during sensitive wildlife hours. Despite the significant reduction in traffic, the Upper Lake Louise parking lot operates over capacity from 8 am to 6 pm most days during June to September. Congestion on Lake Louise Drive continues. Approximately 1 800 vehicles are turned away from Upper Lake Louise every day during the summer. Parks Canada shuttles run every 15 minutes between 6:30 am and 8 pm and sell out every day from mid-June to mid-September.

A new wildlife underpass on Whitehorn Road funded by the Lake Louise Ski Area in accordance in its Long Range Plan improves the safe passage of wildlife through the Whitehorn wildlife corridor.

A sandwich board and electronic message board sign indicate that the parking lot is full.
Full parking signs at Upper Lake Louise.
A bus pulls into a parking with mountains in the background.
Parks Canada shuttle pulls into Moraine Lake.

2024

Alpine start route added and pay parking increases again

A new alpine start shuttle departing for Moraine Lake at 4 am and 5 am facilitates access for early morning users (e.g. climbers, mountaineers, sunrise seekers). Paid parking at Upper Lake Louse increases to $36.75 per day. This brings it in line with comparable parking fees in the region and creates a clear financial incentive to take the shuttle, as recommended by the Expert Advisory Panel on Moving People Sustainably in the Bow Valley. On-it Regional Transit begins offering a direct route from Calgary to Lake Louise. Lake Louise Drive undergoes a rehabilitation and modernization project. This includes road resurfacing and the redesign of key intersections to improve traffic flow, wayfinding and pedestrian safety.

The current Parks Canada shuttle system has a daily capacity of 2 860 inbound riders per day. Shuttles are expected to sell out during June to September. Roam Transit and private shuttle operators are adding significant additional capacity daily. The parking at the Lake Louise Park and Ride is expected to reach capacity.

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Current context

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Need for the Plan

What prevents you from visiting and enjoying the Lake Louise area?

The first phase of consultation on visitor use management planning for Lake Louise is now complete. This phase collected input on desired conditions and aspirations for the Lake Louise area. The next phase of consultation will focus on strategies and actions or how to achieve the desired conditions.
The next phase of consultation is anticipated to take place in winter 2025.

Managing visitor use in the Lake Louise area is complex. Many challenges have emerged in the past 10 years as Parks Canada has managed growing demand. Parks Canada has made progress on visitor use management in the Lake Louise area but key challenges remain.

Key Issues

Visitor Experience | Facilities and Operations | Natural and Cultural Resources | Staff and Visitor Safety

Visitor Experience:

Congestion due to rising visitation (31 percent over the last decade) and changing ways visitors use the area have impacted the experience of visiting Lake Louise and Moraine Lake. Access challenges, displacement of certain user groups, cleanliness of facilities, long lineups and difficulty with trip planning can make it increasingly challenging to meet the expectations of many visitors.

The area continues to see large numbers of regional day trippers who plan their visits last minute and without reservations. Sold-out shuttles, full parking lots, and roadway congestion result in disappointment and frustration for these visitors. They turn to alternate commercial options or move on to other destinations. It is estimated that between 1 800 to 2 500 private vehicles are turned away from Upper Lake Louise each day during the summer.

Commercial vehicle operators have been able to work alongside Parks Canada to increase capacity and serve visitors with special needs that are not met by Parks Canada shuttles. However, private commercial options can be significantly more expensive and are also often sold out. Parking within the vicinity of Lake Louise is extremely limited, and there are not enough parking stalls in the Lake Louise community to meet the potential demand from commercial shuttle operators. Limited space at Moraine Lake and Upper Lake Louise does not guarantee parking for commercial operators.

Facilities and Operations:

Managing the impacts of high visitor use on park operations and facilities is increasingly expensive and demanding. Operating for longer days and seasons, and in a continually busier setting stretches the park’s resources.

Roads, trails and facilities require more frequent maintenance cycles. Infrastructure was not built to handle the level of use that is currently occurring. Parks staff take longer to access busy sites to perform their regular duties. This includes maintenance and cleaning, ecological surveys, restoration, or educational programming.

Washroom facilities at key nodes require constant maintenance. In the case of Moraine Lake, human waste is pumped out at least once a week. At the teahouses in the Upper Lake Louise area, 6-10 barrels of human waste are flown out every week. All human waste ends up at the Lake Louise wastewater treatment centre which currently processes 3 500 to 4 500 cubic meters per day during peak season.

The growing traffic and shuttle program has seen significant increases in costs over the years and is not currently self-sustaining. The program budget was $9.9 million in 2023/24. Paid parking fees and shuttle fares brought in $5.22 million in revenue, leaving a $4.68 million shortfall. Revenue collected from the shuttle fees stays in Banff National Park and goes directly towards offsetting the cost of providing of providing visitor transportation services within the Lake Louise area. Fees never exceed the cost of delivering the service. They only serve to recover costs.

Natural and Cultural Resources:

The Fairview and Whitehorn corridors run through the Lake Louise area on either side of the Trans-Canada Highway. High traffic volumes can cause wary species to avoid using the area or crossing the roadway during busy periods, which would impede their movement through these key wildlife corridors.

Busy times are also increasing earlier and later into the day. High use trails such as Bow River Loop, Louise Creek, Tramline, and various unofficial trails are also within the Fairview wildlife corridor. Parks Canada has taken measures to mitigate the impacts on wildlife in these corridors. Since 2022, seasonal trail closures and restrictions have been implemented from May 15 to October 15 in the Lake Louise area, aimed at concentrating visitation in areas with high levels of human use, while allowing wildlife to move through other areas with minimal disturbances.

With an increase in visitation, there is also an increased threat of invasive and non-native species. The risk of introduction of invasive aquatic species (e.g., zebra mussels, whirling disease) increases as use levels rise. Increased off trail use in alpine areas can impact sensitive species, such as mountain goats.

Parks Canada has observed an increase in littering, feeding wildlife and entering restricted areas (e.g. fish spawning habitat located at Moraine Lake). The opportunity for learning appropriate park behaviours may be missed due to crowding and congestion.

Staff and Visitor Safety:

Traffic congestion can hinder emergency response. Congestion impedes emergency vehicles from accessing and exiting busy areas. It also makes the safe and efficient evacuation of visitors, in the case of emergency such as wildfire, more challenging.

Some visitors also arrive unprepared for outdoor experiences in the Lake Louise area. Parks Canada responded to an average of 56 incidents in the Lake Louise area from May to October (2017-2023). Incidents ranged in severity from mild to critical. Summer incidents included sprained ankles, lost hikers, cardiac arrests, heat exhaustion, falls and other incidents.

Extreme visitor frustration, especially at the Moraine Lake Road intersection prior to 2023, has led to frequent negative interactions with Parks Canada employees and, on occasion, hostile and even violent interactions between visitors and between visitors and park staff. This negatively impacts both visitor satisfaction and the morale of employees.

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Visitor use data

Amount of visitor use

Daily snapshot
  • The Upper Lake Louise area saw approximately 9 000 daily visitors during the 2023 operating season. However, accuracy of commercial use at Upper Lake Louise is limited to observations and estimates, so this number could vary.
  • The Moraine Lake area saw approximately 5 000 daily visitors during the 2023 operational season. This number is based on recorded averages throughout the season. It can fluctuate depending on the level of commercial use on any given day.
  • In 2023, we estimate that the Parks Canada shuttle transported 24% of all visitors to Upper Lake Louise, and 51% of all visitors to Moraine Lake. 87% of shuttle riders visited both lakes in the same day.
Graphic of Estimated Daily Visitation at Upper Lake Louise by Mode of Travel – 2023 Operational Season. More details provided in the text version below.
Estimated Daily Visitation at Upper Lake Louise by Mode of Travel (2023 Operational Season) - text version
Mode of transport Average # of visitors per day % of total
Parks Canada shuttle 2122 45%
Commercial bus 1120 24%
Roam Public Transit 735 15%
Personal vehicle 3444 72%
Active transport 225 5%
Hotel guests 1095 23%
Graphic of Estimated Daily Visitation at Moraine Lake by Mode of Travel – 2023 Operational Season. More details provided in the text version below.
Estimated Daily Visitation at Moraine Lake by Mode of Travel (2023 Operational Season) - text version
Mode of transport Average # of visitors per day % of total
Parks Canada shuttle 2600 1%
Commercial bus 2100 41%
Roam Public Transit 254 51%
Personal vehicle 40 5%
Active transport 33 1%
Hotel guests 78 2%
Level of use over the years

Visitation at Moraine Lake and Lake Louise has changed over the past ten years as various traffic management tools have been implemented. The introduction of the Parks Canada shuttle increased the number of visitors at these sites. However, as the shuttle system was expanded, further efforts were made to reduce the use of personal vehicles and shift towards a mass transit system. The graph below shows estimated visitation by mode of transport from 2009 to 2023 at Moraine Lake.

Graphic of Daily Estimated Moraine Lake Visitation over the Years, by Mode of Transit. More details provided in the text version below.
Daily Estimated Moraine Lake Visitation over the Years, by Mode of Transit - text version
2009 2010 2014 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
Personal vehicles 2976 2896 3584 4312 3401 3555 3113 2988 3145 118
Parks Canada shuttles 0 0 511 877 755 866 365 686 1490 2600
Commercial buses 845 975 1053 1287 1300 1300 13 13 689 2100
Roam Public Transit 0 0 0 0 0 55 68 56 157 253
All modes of transit 3821 3871 5148 6476 5456 5776 3559 3743 5481 5071

Traffic volumes on Moraine Lake Road peaked in 2017. During that year, the parking lot was overflowing, and vehicles parked for several kilometres down the roadway. Since then, traffic volumes have declined 80% and the number of visitors using mass transit has increased.

Graphic of Annual Traffic Volumes along Moraine Lake Road, June to September. Counter located 2.1km east of Lake Louise Drive. More details provided in the text version below.
Annual Traffic Volumes along Moraine Lake Road (June to September. Counter 2.1km east of Lake Louise Drive) - text version
2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011-2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
Two way traffic volumes 242,982 243,083 234,131 244,041 241,434 242,923 258,619 248,290 245,412 241,804 No data 302,412 No data 359,945 396,481 311,681 324,713 242,529 253,248 195,595 81,177

Due to data constraints, estimating the number of visitors over the years for Upper Lake Louise is complex. However, we can still look at traffic volumes, shuttle ridership, parking permits and trail use to infer visitation levels.

The graph below shows annual two-way traffic volumes along Lake Louise Drive from 2001 to 2023. Traffic volumes spiked in 2019 and have since seen a 17% decrease.

Graphic of Annual Traffic Volumes along Lake Louise Drive, January to December. Counter located 2.2km south of Trans-Canada Highway. More details provided in the text version below.
Annual Traffic Volumes along Lake Louise Drive (January to December. Counter 2.2km south from TCH) - text version
2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
Two way traffic volumes 1,423,068 1,341,850 1,281,676 1,308,298 1,298,712 1,315,475 1,332,416 1,249,326 1,214,759 1,217,721 1,236,934 1,309,458 1,330,746 1,421,190 1,610,759 1,794,183 2,021,921 2,062,692 2,071,838 1,348,444 1,399,480 1,824,200 1,729,639

The graph below shows average daily shuttle ridership to Lake Louise and Moraine Lake from 2013 to 2023. Daily ridership has increased significantly over the past 3 years.

Graphic of Average Daily Shuttle Ridership to Upper Lake Louise and Moraine Lake in 2023. More details provided in the text version below.
Average Daily Shuttle Ridership to Upper Lake Louise and Moraine Lake in 2023 - text version
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
To Upper Lake Louise - - - 400 1,182 992 1,265 - 469 1,303 2,122
To Moraine Lake 447 767 789 994 877 755 866 365 686 1,490 2,600

Using active transportation (e.g. hiking, biking) to access Lake Louise and Moraine Lake has increased over the years. Trail use around Lake Louise Drive (which is bisected by the Fairview wildlife corridor) saw a substantial increase in 2023.

Graphic of Estimated Daily Trail Volumes (May to October) through the Lake Louise Drive Transportation Corridor. Note: Tramline Trail counter is missing data for 2015, 2017 and 2018. More details provided in the text version below.
Annual Estimated Trail Volumes through the Lake Louise Drive Transportation Corridor - text version

Note: Tramline Trail counter is missing data for 2015, 2017 and 2018.

2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
Louise Creek trail 4,498 6,903 4,652 4,205 11,017 6,017 2,379 17,310 62,770
Tramline trail - 9,765 - - 32,219 14,765 44,141 20,383 135,161

Timing of use

Throughout the year

Visitation in the Lake Louise area mirrors trends for Banff National Park as a whole. Visitation peaks during July and August. The shoulder season (April, May, and October) has become busier over the past 10 years. The exception is the Larch Valley Trail in the Moraine Lake area which sees peak use during the fall larch season.

Graphic of Banff National Park Average Monthly Visitation, 2013-2022 compared to 2023. More details provided in the text version below.
Banff National Park Average Monthly Visitation, 2013-2022 compared to 2023 - text version
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 Average 2013-2022 2023
January 165,053 170,989 184,908 196,594 201,728 203,653 208,102 199,069 207,272 210,293 194,766 212,800
February 159,943 164,645 188,618 212,236 201,596 186,355 177,911 210,041 190,117 216,405 190,787 205,379
March 198,479 184,119 203,779 239,106 228,398 229,060 236,808 155,230 239,551 239,529 215,406 237,440
April 193,102 231,318 246,723 242,624 267,780 250,481 262,067 - 246,884 278,486 221,946 283,215
May 253,100 258,265 296,369 300,463 319,958 319,266 317,797 - 225,915 321,116 261,225 327,200
June 211,404 300,022 325,953 349,514 370,563 370,162 389,145 271,296 298,464 361,655 324,818 393,564
July 512,139 560,860 630,456 680,360 688,295 681,753 688,544 581,202 653,888 694,127 637,162 718,191
August 603,812 633,025 631,288 659,540 674,789 642,871 723,828 638,928 647,908 685,408 654,139 696,030
September 388,979 397,853 433,022 475,233 491,712 452,706 472,335 465,503 504,913 534,378 461,663 534,099
October 129,081 140,611 145,819 141,951 154,252 144,185 149,681 147,043 157,134 164,404 147,416 164,677
November 101,375 103,512 116,665 131,456 123,190 125,268 126,018 124,894 125,101 117,864 119,534 130,184
December 125,262 141,692 148,117 146,365 148,136 153,390 151,422 135,719 140,679 143,765 143,455 163,303

After the relocation of the Lake Louise Park and Ride to the Lake Louise Ski Area, there was a shift in traffic patterns on Whitehorn Road. Peak use on this road is now during July and August, similar to peak ski season in January through March.

Graphic of Monthly Traffic Volumes Along Whitehorn Road, 2013-2023. More details provided in the text version below.
Monthly Traffic Volumes Along Whitehorn Road, 2013-2023 - text version
January February March April May June July August September October November December
2023 81,073 88,195 101,742 69,998 32,203 99,895 121,934 124,909 114,000 44,036 53,470 88,911
2022 103,934 102,604 111,209 70,835 27,351 66,178 112,634 109,667 94,772 36,107 50,429 75,727
2021 105,979 90,028 103,241 74,115 13,504 11,213 22,841 26,094 21,001 15,840 59,787 90,781
2020 80,522 92,617 52,834 5,552 6,619 11,192 21,714 29,196 19,429 15,669 75,136 100,719
2019 89,429 71,524 93,259 54,891 21,331 30,471 44,260 42,986 30,164 17,247 54,476 93,020
2018 85,672 85,677 99,947 69,057 24,513 30,141 44,563 38,842 29,638 22,162 47,124 82,636
2017 79,170 88,662 95,060 69,290 26,075 30,323 55,785 41,796 32,206 16,222 52,202 75,148
2016 83,057 86,940 91,089 49,630 18,763 27,896 39,034 37,823 28,767 13,836 35,593 80,368
2015 80,809 81,887 74,918 59,359 23,850 26,315 37,472 38,277 26,835 15,727 62,061 87,641
2014 73,375 66,256 91,704 68,003 30,201 21,975 31,814 36,096 25,849 16,110 38,606 77,345
2013 70,300 75,579 94,853 52,126 22,112 18,586 31,892 34,124 25,891 13,139 42,676 71,544
Throughout the day

The amount of time visitors spend at Moraine Lake and Lake Louise is highly variable. Visitors stay anywhere from 30 minutes to over 16 hours depending on their activity. Parks Canada estimates that the average length of stay is 2.5 hours at Upper Lake Louise, and 1.5 hours at Moraine Lake.

Traffic volumes can help determine the busiest times of visitation throughout the day. In 2023, visitor use began in the Upper Lake Louise area around 6 am and lasted until 9 pm (May to October). Peak use occurs around 1 pm to 3 pm. During July and August, peak visitation extends even further into the dawn and dusk hours.

Graphic of Traffic Volumes Along Lake Louise Drive Throughout the Day, Summer 2023. More details provided in the text version below.
Traffic Volumes Along Lake Louise Drive Throughout the Day, Summer 2023 - text version
Two way traffic Southbound traffic (towards Upper Lake Louise) Northbound traffic (towards community)
1 AM 11 5 6
2 AM 5 3 2
3 AM 4 2 1
4 AM 6 4 2
5 AM 23 18 5
6 AM 80 70 10
7 AM 195 166 29
8 AM 259 183 76
9 AM 369 219 150
10 AM 464 249 215
11 AM 556 289 267
12 PM 634 325 309
1 PM 681 339 341
2 PM 688 345 343
3 PM 697 338 359
4 PM 686 324 362
5 PM 667 301 366
6 PM 600 255 345
7 PM 506 209 296
8 PM 390 164 226
9 PM 261 98 163
10 PM 136 51 85
11 PM 63 27 36
12 AM 28 12 16

During the 2023 shuttle season, visitor use began at the Lake Louise Park and Ride between 6 am and 7 am and declined after 8pm. This aligned with the seasonal overnight restrictions along Whitehorn Road. Mornings are the most popular times for shuttle departures so incoming traffic began to decrease around 2 pm.

Graphic of Traffic Volumes Along Whitehorn Road Throughout the Day, Summer 2023. More details provided in the text version below.
Traffic Volumes Along Whitehorn Road Throughout the Day, Summer 2023 - text version
Two way traffic Southbound traffic (towards community) Northbound traffic (towards Park and Ride)
1 AM 4 2 2
2 AM 4 2 2
3 AM 1 0 1
4 AM 1 1 1
5 AM 1 1 1
6 AM 24 3 21
7 AM 137 16 121
8 AM 181 30 151
9 AM 223 42 181
10 AM 258 57 200
11 AM 289 87 203
12 PM 315 115 200
1 PM 328 140 188
2 PM 327 163 164
3 PM 342 189 153
4 PM 347 214 133
5 PM 378 273 105
6 PM 333 276 57
7 PM 244 206 38
8 PM 171 143 28
9 PM 47 32 15
10 PM 12 6 6
11 PM 9 4 5
12 AM 6 3 3

During the 2023 shuttle season, visitor use began in the Moraine Lake area around 5 am and lasted until 9 pm. Parks Canada shuttles began operating at 6:30 am and the last return shuttle was at 8 pm.

Graphic of Traffic Volumes Along Moraine Lake Road Throughout the Day, Summer 2023. More details provided in the text version below.
Traffic Volumes Along Moraine Lake Road Throughout the Day, Summer 2023 - text version
Two way traffic Westbound traffic (towards Lake Louise Drive) Eastbound traffic (Towards Moraine Lake)
1 AM 0 0 0
2 AM 0 0 0
3 AM 0 0 0
4 AM 0 0 0
5 AM 4 2 3
6 AM 8 2 6
7 AM 12 3 9
8 AM 23 12 11
9 AM 36 17 18
10 AM 50 20 30
11 AM 58 26 32
12 PM 71 36 34
1 PM 59 33 27
2 PM 63 33 30
3 PM 61 31 30
4 PM 71 36 35
5 PM 63 37 27
6 PM 46 28 18
7 PM 32 19 13
8 PM 17 11 6
9 PM 8 5 3
10 PM 4 2 1
11 PM 3 2 1
12 AM 1 0 0
Over the years

Timing of visitation has shifted earlier in the day over the years, shown in traffic volumes and trail counter data. In certain places, such as Whitehorn Road, Parks Canada manages the timing of use with overnight restrictions to ensure a quiet period for wildlife. The shift in visitation to the dawn and pre-dawn hours at Moraine Lake was one of the reasons why personal vehicles were restricted on Moraine Lake Road in 2023.

The graph below displays estimated vehicle accumulation throughout the day, year over year, in the Upper Lake Louise area. Traffic volumes in the Upper Lake Louise area have shifted earlier in the day as the years have gone on. The parking lot is filling earlier than in prior years.

Graphic of Estimated Vehicle Accumulation West of Great Divide Lot, Summer Average Year over Year. More details provided in the text version below.
Estimated Vehicle Accumulation West of Great Divide Lot, Summer Average Year over Year - text version
1 AM 2 AM 3 AM 4 AM 5 AM 6 AM 7 AM 8 AM 9 AM 10 AM 11 AM 12 PM 1 PM 2 PM 3 PM 4 PM 5 PM 6 PM 7 PM 8 PM 9 PM 10 PM 11 PM 12 AM
2023 0 1 2 4 17 87 223 329 381 384 382 374 370 368 354 328 291 230 168 117 50 4 -10 -15
2022 -2 -2 0 6 44 127 221 334 386 400 403 401 407 408 383 362 329 273 199 123 55 8 -1 -7
2020 1 1 2 3 4 10 57 160 298 387 426 431 423 404 388 355 293 197 113 49 13 -3 -3 -3
2019 0 0 0 2 6 44 214 399 479 494 498 496 486 481 466 433 386 314 224 122 50 15 -3 -11
2018 -1 -1 0 0 1 16 96 280 480 532 547 551 557 564 543 509 451 356 240 123 47 14 -2 -8
2017 0 0 0 2 3 20 53 156 377 539 560 568 573 570 550 506 443 325 212 125 59 16 -3 -8
2009 0 1 2 2 2 5 5 14 39 106 210 311 377 414 434 414 349 261 170 103 73 66 66 64
2001 2 0 0 0 1 4 14 38 94 171 283 410 484 499 490 439 341 227 128 64 29 4 -4 -7
# Parking stalls at ULL post-2022 420 420 420 420 420 420 420 420 420 420 420 420 420 420 420 420 420 420 420 420 420 420 420 420

The graph below displays estimated vehicle accumulation throughout the day, year over year, in the Moraine Lake area. Traffic volumes in the Moraine Lake area have shifted earlier in the day over the years. In summer 2022, the parking lot was filling between 4 am and 5 am. In 2023, the Moraine Lake parking lot operated at or below capacity. There was minimal congestion due to the restriction of personal vehicles and the move towards mass transit.

Graphic of Estimated Vehicle Accumulation at Moraine Lake, Summer Average Year over Year. More details provided in the text version below.
Estimated Vehicle Accumulation at Moraine Lake, Summer Average Year over Year - text version
1 AM 2 AM 3 AM 4 AM 5 AM 6 AM 7 AM 8 AM 9 AM 10 AM 11 AM 12 PM 1 PM 2 PM 3 PM 4 PM 5 PM 6 PM 7 PM 8 PM 9 PM 10 PM 11 PM 12 AM
2023 0 0 0 0 2 6 11 9 12 23 30 29 22 19 18 15 4 -6 -12 -17 -19 -20 -21 -21
2022 4 14 35 74 91 95 94 97 102 103 109 107 104 99 99 92 87 83 73 85 53 4 1 1
2020 1 1 1 5 28 107 140 149 168 183 189 192 193 189 182 177 163 164 143 108 55 8 -7 -7
2019 1 1 2 5 44 161 160 155 156 163 165 159 152 153 156 161 154 150 169 183 154 52 0 1
2018 1 1 2 3 19 110 162 169 166 168 174 166 159 166 163 169 165 156 151 163 129 48 1 0
2017 0 -1 -1 0 2 22 116 262 338 296 300 297 292 286 284 272 271 297 259 153 55 0 -6 -6
2014 0 0 0 1 2 9 14 25 63 137 215 272 296 292 289 276 229 162 96 46 20 4 0 0
2010 0 0 1 1 2 5 8 20 48 105 169 218 251 265 261 234 191 134 83 42 20 6 1 0
2001 0 0 0 0 1 2 6 16 41 92 154 208 238 257 258 230 185 127 80 43 23 9 2 0
# Parking stalls at ML pre-2022 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160
# Parking stalls at ML post-2022 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100

Type of use

Recreation opportunities

Most people visit over the course of a single day. Multi-day trips though still make up a sizable portion of visitors in the Lake Louise area. These multi-day visitors include both frontcountry (residents, hotels, campground) and backcountry (Paradise Valley campground, Neil Colgan ACC Hut, or bivouacs).

Visitors come to the area to participate in many recreational activities between May and October. These include sightseeing, hiking, mountaineering, rock climbing, trail running, paddling, and cycling. Many commercial opportunities also exist. These include boat rentals, guided hikes and climbs, horse tours, and photography tours.

Age and group size

Although only a portion of visitors take the Parks Canada shuttle, it offers a representative snapshots of visitor ages and party size in the Lake Louise area. Shuttle reservations in 2023 consisted of 80 percent adults, 10 percent youth, 6 percent seniors and 4 percent children. The average number of people per group was three.

Origin

Lake Louise remains a popular place with regional travellers, as well as international visitors. Parks Canada shuttle data is one of the best sources of visitor origin data for Lake Louise. Approximately 50 percent of shuttle riders in 2023 were from Canada, with two thirds of those from Alberta, British Columbia, or Saskatchewan. Data from Banff & Lake Louise Tourism indicates that 60 percent of visitors to Banff National Park in 2023 were from Alberta, British Columbia, or Saskatchewan.


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Draft desired conditions

Desired condition statements describe how the Lake Louise area will look, feel, sound, and function in an ideal future. They focus on what the area should be like and not how to achieve the vision. Draft desired conditions are below.

Visitor Experience | Facilities and Operations | Natural and Cultural Resources | Staff and Visitor Safety

Visitor Experience:

Desired condition Where does this apply?
Traffic congestion on roadways and within parking areas is minimal and traffic flow remains efficient. Throughout the project area
Visitors find it simple to plan their trip to the Lake Louise area and have the tools to help them understand how to access their intended destination. Throughout the project area
Commercial operators help Parks Canada protect the environment while providing positive experiences to visitors. Commercial operators are considered when visitation levels are set. Strategies to manage visitation are clearly communicated to commercial operators in a timely manner. Throughout the project area
Commercial opportunities do not adversely impact the natural environment or the experience of other visitors. Visitors understand the distinction between Parks Canada and commercial operations. Throughout the project area
Visitation to the area is managed and remains within sustainable levels. Visitation varies depending on location, season, and time of day. Acceptable visitation levels will be set is in a fair and transparent way. Throughout the project area
The mass transit system in Lake Louise integrates seamlessly with other key nodes in Banff National Park through a regional transportation system. Throughout the project area
Promotion of the area sets realistic expectation for accessing and visiting the area. Parks Canada National Office, Destination Management Organizations and Provincial Marketing Organizations support this in their promotion campaigns. Throughout the project area
Mass transit options are the main mode of transportation in the Lake Louise area. The mass transit system is simple to use, convenient, and cost-effective. It provides certainty to visitors about accessing their planned destination and can accommodate people of all ages and abilities. Throughout the project area
The Lake Louise Park and Ride located at the Ski Area remains the long-term transportation hub for the Lake Louise area. The Park and Ride:
- Is easy to find and safe to access from the Trans-Canada Highway.
- Meets the needs of shuttle providers.
- Has an efficient flow vehicle traffic, while prioritizing the safety of pedestrians and cyclists.
-  Has sufficient facilities, including washrooms and seating, for the number of people using the transportation hub.
Lake Louise Park and Ride
There is a convenient and clearly communicated location for visitors to park and bike or walk to Upper Lake Louise or Moraine Lake. Throughout the project area
Day use in the Paradise Valley does not increase from historic levels. Managed access to Paradise Valley remains easy and convenient for visitors. Paradise Valley
Safe biking routes and hiking trails encourage cycling and walking throughout the Lake Louise area. The routes and trails do not contribute to additional habitat fragmentation in the wildlife corridors. Transportation Corridors
The area offers a large variety of both frontcountry and backcountry recreational opportunities that suit the desires and skills of a wide variety of visitors. Throughout the project area
Upper Lake Louise and Moraine Lake continue to support large numbers of visitors during daytime hours. Encounters with other visitors are frequent, however opportunities exist to get away from the crowds at certain times of the day or further into the backcountry. Upper Lake Louise, Moraine Lake
Guided commercial operators provide visitors with appropriate guided recreational activities, like hiking, mountaineering, and climbing that may be otherwise intimidating or unattainable, with a focus on wilderness values and wilderness safety. Throughout the project area

Facilities and Operations:

Desired condition Where does this apply?
Signs throughout the area effectively communicate information. They are seasonally appropriate, clear, and universal. Throughout the project area
Infrastructure in the Paradise Valley is minimal and is consistent with other backcountry areas of Banff National Park. Paradise Valley
Roadways support efficient travel throughout the Lake Louise area. They are designed to favour alternative and mass transportation. Roads:
- Facilitate smooth traffic flow on streets and in parking lots.
- Key intersections and day-use areas are reconfigured where required to allow for transit, walking and cycling.
- Are well-signed and easy to navigate.
- Prevent vehicle access in active avalanche zones.
Transportation Corridors
Infrastructure in the area supports safe and enjoyable cycling and walking throughout the Lake Louise area. Throughout the project area
Visitor facilities are clean and adequate for the number of people who use them. Main day-use areas provide an accessible experience to visitors. Upper Lake Louise, Moraine Lake

Natural and Cultural Resources:

Desired condition Where does this apply?
Visitors have the appropriate knowledge, skills, and attitudes to care for the environment. They have an opportunity to develop a deep understanding and appreciation for the unique ecosystems that exist in the Lake Louise area. Throughout project area
Humans and wildlife are able to co-exist. Wildlife attractants and habitat fragmentation are minimized. Trail sightlines and footprint of visitor use areas are maintained. Throughout project area
Water quality in the area's lakes and streams is maintained and supports native aquatic species. Human sources of water pollution are minimized, and the spread of aquatic invasive species is prevented. Throughout project area
Designated and hardened viewpoints along lakeshore trails exist to provide visitors the opportunity to get close to the water's edge, while protecting sensitive shoreline ecosystems and preventing erosion. Upper Lake Louise, Moraine Lake
The spread of non-native plants is prevented. Native plants thrive away from areas used by people and competition with invasive species is minimized. Visitors understand the importance of remaining on trail. Throughout the project area
Views in the area are dominated by a natural landscape with little visual intrusion of vehicles, roads, or parking lots. Throughout the project area
Green house gas emissions are reduced, and visitors know how to reduce their impact. Throughout the project area
Wary carnivores like grizzly bears have areas to live and feed without being disturbed by humans. These secure habitats are maintained or improved by carefully managing visitor use. Paradise Valley
The health of the Fairview and Whitehorn wildlife corridors is not further compromised by human activity. Wildlife movement through both corridors is supported by limiting human activity during sensitive periods, traffic mitigation efforts, and wildlife crossing structures. Transportation Corridors
Visitors understand the Indigenous history in the area and the role of Indigenous Peoples as stewards of the area since time immemorial. Throughout the project area
Culturally significant resources are protected, and Indigenous groups can easily access a dedicated space to hold ceremonies or other cultural activities with privacy. Indigenous people can easily obtain information about access and experience an environment where staff, guides, businesses, and contractors are well informed, respectful, and culturally competent. Throughout the project area

Staff and Visitor Safety:

Desired condition Where does this apply?
Health and safety of staff and visitors is the top priority. Congestion is managed in a manner that does not compromise safety or emergency response. Throughout the project area
Visitor and staff interactions are pleasant and respectful. Conflicts between visitors or between visitors and staff rarely occur. Throughout the project area
Visitors understand the knowledge, skills and equipment required for different activities and destinations. This leads to increased responsible behavior and safe decision making. Throughout the project area

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How to Participate

Parks Canada wants to hear from you! We are interested in learning about what you value most about the Lake Louise and Moraine Lake areas. Let us know what you think are the biggest issues currently facing the area, what you envision as an ideal future, and your thoughts about what current management strategies have worked well so far.

The first phase of consultation on visitor use management planning for Lake Louise is now complete. This phase collected input on desired conditions and aspirations for the Lake Louise area. The next phase of consultation will focus on strategies and actions or how to achieve the desired conditions.
The next phase of consultation is anticipated to take place in winter 2025.

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