Moraine Madness & Canmore Charm

Day 5 of our Alberta Adventure

We woke before the sun, and left at 4 am to be exact. We left our cozy Airbnb in Canmore for the 1.5 hour drive to Moraine Lake. Nearly every blog swore that sunrise here was unmissable, spiritual, even. What they didn’t say is that you won’t be alone.

We arrived by 5:30 a.m., and the parking lot was already full—pitch dark, headlights everywhere, and a quiet scramble of sleepy travelers jostling for the best viewpoint. Most people arrive in cars and vans, others on foot, all with the same goal: capture the shot.

Despite the chaos, we got some great photos. Moraine Lake is truly majestic with its turquoise waters so vivid it feels like you’ve stepped inside a painting. Framed by sharp peaks and the soft glow of a waking sky, it earns its reputation. But if you're hoping for a quiet, reflective moment, brace yourself. There were hundreds of people jockeying for the same photo, the same rock, the same patch of morning light.

We soaked in what we could, let the view imprint itself in memory, and left just after sunrise, grateful for the glimpse but happier to return to the rhythm of Canmore.

Canmore was our kind of perfect

Back in town, the vibe was everything—slow, quiet, and charming. We wandered quaint little shops, picked up a few local treasures, and chatted with shopkeepers who had stories to tell. Lunch was unhurried. The air was crisp and pine-scented. And best of all? No tour buses.

To close out the day, my husband and I saddled up for a mountain bike ride, our favorite way to explore a place. With the Rockies rising like old gods around us, every turn of the trail felt like a benediction. There’s no better way to spend your last day in Alberta than pedaling through its beauty, breathing it in one last time.

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