If you’re visiting the Lake Louise – Moraine Lake area in Banff National Park and you’re keen to do an easy hike, then it’s well worth the hour it takes to hike three kilometres to the Consolation Lakes.
You’ll be rewarded with views of high alpine meadows, the lakes themselves, steep talus slopes below Mount Babel, and the Quadra Glacier. The Consolation Lakes hike combines well with the short 0.8 kilometre hike up and around the Rockpile – the must do hike to see Moraine Lake from above.
The downside to the Consolation Lakes hike is that some boulder scrambling is required to get close to the lakes. But, even if you don’t do that, you can enjoy the scenic setting in Banff National Park.
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Consolation Lakes hike summary
Distance: 6 km round trip.
Elevation gain: 120 metres.
Difficulty: Easy and kid-friendly.
Time needed: 2 hours
Dogs: In theory allowed on a leash. However, you can only take dogs in a carrier that sits on your lap if you’re taking the shuttle. Some paid private services to Moraine Lake might allow dogs.
Wildlife: Chances of seeing bears are slim, but I’d still recommend carrying easy to access bear spray. You may hear or see hoary marmots in and around the large boulders by the Consolation Lakes. Do not feed them, even if they come begging.
Don’t forget: Pack the 10 hiking essentials for the Consolation Lakes hike – even though you’ll probably not need them.
Map: Organic Maps is a great offline hiking app. For a paper map pick upGemTrek Lake Louise and Yoho.
Getting to the trailhead for the Consolation Lakes hike
The Moraine Lake Road usually opens sometime in late May but that date varies from year to year depending on snow pack in Banff National Park. It’s usually open until the Thanksgiving long weekend in October.
Unfortunately, Moraine Lake Road is no longer open to private vehicles. Now you’ll need to book and take a shuttle or use one of the private transfer services to get to the trailhead for the Consolation Lakes hike.
Once off the shuttle bus head for the Rockpile on the far side of the washrooms. It’s hard to miss as everyone goes there to get a great view of Moraine Lake. The Consolation Lakes trail takes off to the left from the bottom of the stairs you take if you were hiking to the Rockpile – which I recommend you do. It’s all well signed.
Recommended reading: How to Get to Lake Louise and Moraine Lake
Description of the hike
It’s a straightforward, hard-to-get-lost hike to the Consolation Lakes. The trail starts off easily enough, but in short order you must negotiate a 200-metre boulder field, remnants of a rockslide from the Tower of Babel. The trail through the boulder field is obvious and easy to follow.
Next up is 2.5 km of easy walking on a well-maintained trail through the forest. Some patches can be muddy, but PLEASE stick to the Consolation Lakes trail, to avoid making it bigger. It’s wide enough that you can walk two abreast.
Babel Creek
When you make a sharp turn to the southeast, you might see or hear Babel Creek on the eastern side of the trail. Parallel Babel Creek for the final 1.4 km of the Consolation Lakes hike to reach a boulder field on the shoreline of Consolation Lake.
On the final stretch to Consolation Lakes, the trail flattens out to reach a pretty meadow alongside Babel Creek – filled with wildflowers, should you be hiking in summer.
The Boulder Field
The Consolation Lakes hike ends at the boulder field. To get to the water requires some coordination as you must hop or scramble from boulder to boulder and many of them are large. Some will move, so always test them before committing.
If you don’t feel like hiking across big boulders to get to the first of the Consolation Lakes, find a big flat boulder beside Babel Creek, sit down and enjoy the view. To the east is Panorama Ridge and to the north at the end of the Consolation Lakes is Bident Mountain. You’ll recognize it by its pyramid shape. Mount Babel is one of the craggy-looking peaks south and west of the lakes.
Consolation Lakes hiking tours
Parks Canada offers a Consolations Lakes guided hike. It starts at 8 AM and finishes by 12:30 PM. It’s only offered in English. Kids must be older than 5, and ideally older than 8. You cannot take a stroller on the Consolation Lakes hike. The hikes are available every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from July 15 – September 11, 2025 and daily from September 16 – 21, 2025.
Reservations open on January 21, 2025 online or by calling 1-877-737-3783.
There is also the option ofbooking a guided hiketo Consolation Lakes that includes lunch.
Where to stay near Lake Louise
For a splurge stay at Lake Louise in winter at theFairmont Chateau Lake Louise. Then you can walk out the door and hike – and take in the beauty of your surroundings.
A short drive away on the Bow Valley Parkway isBaker Creek by Basecamp– with individual cabins in the woods. They have fat bikes, fire pits by the river, and quick access to great hiking.
For budget-friendly accommodation, theLake Louise Hostelis a great option.
TheMountaineer Lodge, conveniently located near the village, provides comfortable and well-appointed rooms.
For an upscale experience, thePost Hotel & Spasituated along the Pipestone River near Samson Mall, features elegant rooms, a beautiful pool and hot tub, and multiple dining options.
More hikes in the Moraine Lake and Lake Louise area you’ll love
Moraine Lake area hikes
In addition to the Consolation Lakes hike, try to fit in one or two of these hikes that all start at Moraine Lake. The Rockpile is short and easy and offers the view you see below. Eiffel Lake is a beauty and the trail up to it passes lots of wildflowers. Larch Valley and Sentinel Pass is one of the premier hikes in the Canadian Rockies and is at its most popular during larch season.
Lake Louise area hikes
The hike up Fairview Mountain affords magnificent views looking down on Lake Louise.
If you’d like to eat lunch at a tea house with a view, check out either the Plain of Six Glaciers hike or the Lake Agnes Tea House hike. From Lake Agnes you could do easily add on the Big Beehive hike or the Little Beehive hike.
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