Banff shuttles saw massive demand
When Parks Canada opened shuttle reservations for Lake Louise and Moraine Lake this week, roughly 75,000 people queued and about 40,000 bookings were made by the end of opening day. (cbc.ca) The scale of the queue underscores fast‑moving reservation windows for peak summer access. (cbc.ca)
About 75,000 people lined up online within the first hour when Parks Canada opened 2026 shuttle reservations for Lake Louise and Moraine Lake on April 15. (cbc.ca) By the end of opening day, Parks Canada had logged roughly 40,000 bookings, up from about 30,000 on the first day of the 2025 launch. Parks Canada released 40 per cent of the season’s seats in that first drop. (cbc.ca, parks.canada.ca) The reservation launch began at 8 a.m. Mountain Daylight Time on Wednesday, April 15, 2026. Parks Canada says the remaining 60 per cent of seats will be released at 8 a.m. Mountain Daylight Time, two days before departure. (parks.canada.ca) The crush reflects how Banff now handles access to two of its busiest summer destinations. Moraine Lake Road has been closed to personal vehicles since 2023, and Parks Canada says a shuttle reservation is the best way to guarantee access to both lakes in one day. (cbc.ca, parks.canada.ca) Lake Louise still allows some lakeshore parking, but Parks Canada says spaces are limited and visitors without a shuttle, Roam Public Transit, or commercial booking are unlikely to find parking in peak season. Moraine Lake access is limited to shuttles, licensed commercial operators, and guests of Moraine Lake Lodge. (parks.canada.ca) The 2026 shuttle season is scheduled to run May 15 to October 12 for Lake Louise Lakeshore and June 1 to October 12 for Moraine Lake, weather permitting. Parks Canada says visitors should expect waits of at least 30 minutes for a shuttle, and up to an hour during periods of heavy ridership. (parks.canada.ca) Parks Canada spokesperson Natalie Fay told CBC that the agency expected strong demand and said awareness of the shuttle system has grown since the Moraine Lake road closure. Fay also said free admission to national parks in 2026 may be contributing to the surge. (cbc.ca) For travelers who missed the first release, the reservation window has not closed so much as shifted. Most of the remaining seats will appear in the rolling two-day release, which now matters as much as opening day for summer access. (parks.canada.ca, cbc.ca)
