Planning to park near Lake Louise?

Feds say it'll cost you $37 this year

Those choosing to use the Lake Louise lakeshore parking lot this summer will have to fork out nearly $40, Parks Canada said Thursday.

From May 17 to Oct. 14, a daily parking fee of $36.75 per vehicle will be charged at the lot, which ushers visitors to the iconic glacier-fed lake from 3 a.m. to 7 p.m.

That's nearly double the $21 fee charged last summer.

The move is in response to a massive influx of private vehicles flocking to the internationally renowned lake, Parks Canada said in a news release.

“Parking at the Lake Louise lakeshore is extremely limited. During the summer months parking fills before sunrise and remains full throughout the day,” the agency said.

Last year, an average of 1,200 vehicles used the lot each day, with Parks Canada staff turning away from 3,000 to 5,000 daily, Parks Canada said.

The organization said this change and others were based partly on public feedback.

“Parks Canada is committed to providing a safe, accessible and predictable experience for visitors using sustainable transportation in Banff National Park,” the federal agency said.

Officials pointed to the existing Parks Canada summer shuttle from the Lake Louise park and ride to the lake and Moraine Lake that costs $8 for adults, half that for seniors and is free for those under 18.

Fees from parking and shuttles cover the cost of traffic management in the Lake Louise Area, Parks Canada said.

Federal officials and conservationists have grown increasingly concerned about the growing human pressures weighing on Banff National Park, which attracts more than four million visitors a year.

Parks Canada also said Lake Louise Drive will be upgraded to handle vehicular and bicycle traffic on an artery used by one million vehicles a year.

“We ask visitors to plan ahead, be flexible with their timelines and remain patient during these improvements,” the agency said. “Visitors can expect significant traffic disruptions throughout the summer due to construction.”

An early morning shuttle to Moraine Lake is also being added for hikers and scramblers.

The Alpine Start Shuttle will leave the Lake Louise lakeshore lot at 4 a.m. and 5 a.m., and will have the same fares as the daytime shuttles, said Parks Canada.