New water activity rules at Lake Louise and Moraine Lake
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If you are planning to paddle, fish, or get in the water at Lake Louise or Moraine Lake this season, there are new rules in place as of April 1, 2026 that are worth reading before you go.
Parks Canada has formalized a permit requirement for non-motorized water activities across Banff National Park. The two lakes sit in different zones, so what is allowed at one is not necessarily allowed at the other.
Lake Louise is in the Water Recreation Zone. Paddling, fishing, and wading are permitted with a self-certification permit.
Moraine Lake is in the Water Preservation Zone, which is more restrictive. Paddling, wading-based fishing, and scuba diving are all prohibited. Fishing without waders and snorkeling are allowed with a self-certification permit.
The clean, drain, dry requirement applies at both lakes and is now a formal condition of access, not just a recommendation. Everything that touches the water must be free of mud, sand, plant, and animal material, fully drained before you leave, and dried for at least 48 hours if it has been used anywhere in Alberta, BC, or the territories. Gear coming from further away requires 30 days. This ties directly to the whirling disease confirmation at Lake Louise earlier this year, and the protocol is the same one behind the existing closures at Bow Lake and Lake Minnewanka.
The full permit details and zone breakdown are in the Parks Canada water activities bulletin.