Moraine Lake was one of the main goals of my trip through the Canadian Rocky Mountains. I only knew that surreal turquoise, the craggy peaks, and their reflections from photographs – now I wanted to experience the moment when the first light transforms the landscape.

Moraine Lake is located at an altitude of 1,884 meters in the Valley of the Ten Peaks in Canada's Banff National Park. The world-famous mountain lake is fed by meltwater from the surrounding glaciers. 

Its unmistakable turquoise-blue color is created by the finest rock particles in the water, which refract the incoming sunlight. As the water level rises, the turquoise becomes increasingly intense throughout the month of June.


Since private vehicles are not allowed to drive up to the lake, a seat on the shuttle must be booked long in advance, without knowing what kind of weather awaits you. This time, a clear morning was forecast.

I got up at three o'clock. Camera, lenses, and tripod were prepared; as a precaution, I had also packed a headlamp. 

I took the first shuttle from the Mountaineer Lodge in Lake Louise to Moraine Lake. There was only one seat left, so my partner had to take the next bus.

For a moment, I forgot everything – even taking photos.

In the early dawn, I stood at a fork in the road in the almost deserted parking lot: to the right, the path led across to the canoes at sea level; straight ahead, up stone steps to the viewpoint; and to the left, a narrow trail led downhill into the woods. 

There, a sign warned urgently of bears and advised against entering the left-hand forest path alone. Suddenly, the silence no longer felt just peaceful, but wild and unpredictable.