Banff: What to Know Before You Go

Short answer: personal vehicles are strictly banned from driving to Moraine Lake (you must book the Parks Canada Shuttle or Roam Transit), Lake Louise and Moraine Lake stay frozen white until late May or early June, every vehicle stopping inside the park needs a daily Parks Canada Pass, and you should always carry bear spray on hiking trails.

The 4 Golden Rules for Visiting Banff Without Stress

1. Personal Cars Are Banned on Moraine Lake Road (And Lake Louise Parking Fills early in the morning): Parks Canada permanently closed Moraine Lake Road to private vehicles. To visit Moraine Lake and Lake Louise effortlessly on the same day, book the Parks Canada Park & Ride Shuttle . Missed the spring advance booking? 60% of all shuttle seats are held back and released online early in the morning MDT sharp exactly 48 hours before each day.
2. When Do the Turquoise Lakes Actually Thaw? (Early June to Mid-October): because Lake Louise (1,731m) and Moraine Lake (1,885m) sit at high alpine elevation, they remain frozen under snow and ice until late May or the first week of June. For the famous unfrozen neon-turquoise reflections, visit between 10 June and 10 October (note that Moraine Lake Road closes for winter snow after Canadian Thanksgiving on the second Monday of October).

3. You Need a Parks Canada Entry Pass (Daily Pass vs Discovery Pass): every vehicle entering Banff, Yoho or Jasper and stopping at any viewpoint, trailhead or town must display a Parks Canada Pass (~standard fare per adult/day, ~standard fare per vehicle/day; if staying 7+ days across Canadian parks, buy the annual Discovery Pass).
4. Wildlife Safety & Bear Spray: Banff is home to both grizzly and black bears. Never approach elk or bears for photos (stay 100m from bears, 30m from elk), hike in groups of 3+, and rent or buy a canister of EPA-approved Bear Spray in Banff Town.