RISING EARLY //
It was our first morning in Banff, we got up around 4:30am and were out the door by 5:30am to get on the trails before things got crowded. We had a 35-minute drive from Johnson Canyon to Moraine Lake. We knew in advance that we'd be up early and there weren't many options for food. The night prior we stopped at the grocery store to stock up on apples, bananas, muffins, jerky and granola bars. Parking wasn't an issue since we were so early. We took the stairs up the back of the rock pile and watched the sunrise over Moraine Lake and the Valley of the Ten Peaks. The air in the valley was cold and the higher we got up the rocks, the more turquoise the water got. It was absolutely magical!
THE TRAIL //
DIFFICULTY: EASY - OUT & BACK TRAIL
DISTANCE/ELEVATION GAIN: 3.6 Miles round trip/ 863 feet
TIME: 1.5 hours (We took our time, had lunch, explored and took about 3 hours on this trail)
BEAR SPRAY: Not required. Hiking in groups of 4 or more is required.
We chose the Consolation Lake Trail because it's an easy hike on nicely maintained trails. It leads out to a beautiful lake with fantastic views of Mount Quadra Glacier. The trail ends before you get to the base of the Upper Consolation Lake, from there you can climb the large boulders to get a much better view. It took us about a half hour to get to the edge of the lake. We each went over some big loose rocks that were a little scary, but if we moved slowly, it wasn't too difficult.
To get to the trail follow signs for the rock pile, cross over the beautiful babbling brook and turn left just before the steps to the rock pile. The rocky trail first takes you through a short section of boulders. If you listen carefully, you'll hear the water flowing under the rocks.
LUSH FOREST //
The majority of this trail leads you through a lush forest, where dense moss-covered each side of the trail. The stream to the right can be heard at various points and is just a short walk through the woods from the trail. We broke up the stretch by spending a couple of minutes down by the stream, climbing and jumping over the logs like children. Once back on the trail, we tried to stick together while constantly making noise to potentially scare off any bears. Hiking in groups of 4 or more is required, and they recommend making loud noises. I'm sure this wouldn't be a problem during peak hours, but we knew there weren't many people on the trail with us at this time. In fact, we only saw a handful of hikers before we made it to the open meadow, just before the lake.
ROCK SCRAMBLE //
As we walked through the open meadow, there was a point in which we realized the trail just kind of ended. I thought that it would have stopped at the shoreline at the lake, but that wasn't the case. In front of us stood endless, giant boulders. We spoke to another group, and they said the view awaiting on the other side was lovely. We took our time and slowly maneuvered across the rocks. Just as I felt comfortable, I'd step on a loose rock that would suddenly shift and scare the crap out of me. It took us about 20-30 mins before we reached the edge of Consolation Lake and oh my goodness, TOTALLY WORTH IT!
STOPPING FOR AN EARLY LUNCH //
What a perfect place to stop and enjoy your lunch. We sat with our PB & J sandwiches and beef jerky and soaked up the endless views. It was so quiet and peaceful just starring into the water that mirrored the clouds and mountains in the distance. We laid back on the warm rocks, closed our eyes and felt the warmth on the sun beating down on us.
There are some places I wish I could stay for 24 hours to observe how the light changes throughout the day, this is one of them. Right there on the rocks at the edge of the lake. But when in Banff you need to keep moving, because there's SO much to see.
IF I HAD ONE PIECE OF ADVICE //
If you want to make the most of your time in Banff and enjoy nature and trails without the crowds, get up early! How early? As early as possible. We had no problem parking at 6am, but when we were leaving around 11am, there was absolutely no parking. The lots were full of tour buses, and the line to get in was backed up to Lake Louise. They were letting one car in as one left. I couldn't imagine getting taking photos or having nearly the experience we did if things were that busy. Moraine Lake and Lake Louise are going to be two of the busiest spots, so plan those on different days and as early as possible.
FINAL THOUGHTS //
We knew nothing about Consolation Lake when we arrived at Moraine that morning. Instead, we picked a random trail off the suggested trails, and it ended up being one of the most memorable experiences. Coty still talks about this being his favorite location in Banff. The scenery is just so diverse and continuously changing. It's more of a one-stop shop, where you can see all the beauty Moraine has to offer, then take an easy-moderate hike through the forest, along the river, and over the rocks to end up at another lake. This one can't be missed!
Have you hiked here? Do you have any tips or advice for those that have never been? I'd love to hear from you! xx ASH
