Parks Canada is significantly hiking paid parking fees at Upper Lake Louise this year in a bid to get more people taking shuttles and public transit to deal with congestion and overcrowding.
The new rate will be $36.75 per vehicle per day, up from $21, and will be in effect from 3 a.m. to 7 p.m. from May 17-Oct. 14. Paid parking, along with fees charged for shuttles, helps Parks Canada offset costs of its traffic management plan for the busy area.
Parks Canada officials say an average of 1,200 vehicles per day parked at the Lake Louise lakeshore in 2023, adding between 2,000 and 3,000 vehicles per day were turned away because the parking lot was at capacity.
“Parking at the Lake Louise lakeshore is extremely limited,” according to a statement from Parks Canada.
“During the summer months, parking fills before sunrise and remains full throughout the day.”
This summer, Parks Canada will continue to offer a frequent shuttle service from the park-and-ride lot at the Lake Louise ski hill to the Lake Louise lakeshore, Moraine Lake, and between the two iconic lakes. Youth under 18 ride for free, seniors’ fares are half price, and fares for adults are $8.
In addition, an Alpine Start shuttle service will run this year to Moraine Lake, which was closed to private vehicles year-round starting in 2023.
The two daily departures – one at 4 a.m. and one at 5 a.m. – are set up with climbers, scramblers and hikers in mind, who need earlier start times to safely complete their planned trips.
This early morning sunrise shuttle will depart from the Lake Louise lakeshore and reservations must be made by 5 p.m. the day prior to departure.
In addition, Lake Louise Drive is under construction this summer to upgrade infrastructure for transit, vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians on the road that now sees more than one million vehicles each year.
“We ask visitors to plan ahead, be flexible with their timelines and remain patient during these improvements,” according to the statement.
Reservations are required to use the shuttle service for Lake Louise and Moraine Lake and can be made on the Parks Canada reservation system, starting April 18.
Parks says reservations fill up quickly due to increased demand.
“Visitors are strongly encouraged to make reservations in advance,” according to the statement.
