Table of Contents

• Best Banff National Park Proposal Locations
  • Lake Louise
  • Moraine Lake
  • Bow Lake
  • Peyto Lake
  • Two Jack Lake & Lake Minnewanka
  • Banff Gondola
  • Helicopter Proposals
• Plan a Hiking Proposal in Banff National Park
• How to Plan Your Banff National Park Surprise Proposal
• Banff National Park Proposal Packages
• Real Surprise Proposal in Banff National Park

You’ve planned that perfect trip to Canada and picked out the perfect ring and now it’s time to plan the proposal of your partner’s dreams. You want to make sure that you pop the question in the most beautiful place imaginable and you also want to make sure that the moment is captured in stunning photos so you can remember it forever. Keep reading to find out how to plan that perfect surprise Lake Louise proposal as well as at other spots around Banff National Park. Also, I’ve helped plan and photograph many proposals in the area, so reach out to me to find out how I can help you bring your vision to life.

Best Banff National Park Proposal Locations

There are no shortage of beautiful places to propose in Banff. There are the well known options like Moraine Lake and Lake Louise and then you can also get further off the beaten path (which also means less people around). We will start below with the most popular locations.

1. Lake Louise

Lake Louise is an incredible place to propose to your partner. The parking area is pretty large but does tend to fill up around 7AM most days. I do recommend only planning your proposal for either sunrise or sunset here because of the volume of tourist traffic it sees. In the early morning or later in the evening it is easier to find some privacy. The first two photos below were taken during sunrise in July (she didn’t even know he was in the country!). The next four photos were taken one evening this past May.

One thing to note is that Lake Louise is open year round, but the ice on the lake doesn’t break up until June, so something to keep in mind if you wanted open water for your proposal.

2. Moraine Lake

Moraine Lake is that picture perfect place that I’m sure everyone has seen a photo of. It’s a beautiful place to visit and certainly one that a lot of people want to propose at. It does, however, come with some logistical challenges. The road to the lake is only open from June-October. It is possible to bike or ski the 13km road to the lake, although there is significant avalanche risk in the off season. Starting in the 2023 season, the road to Moraine Lake is closed to personal vehicles. Parks Canada shuttles, Roam Public Transit, and commercial buses are permitted from June to mid-October.

If you want to watch the sunrise and propose at Moraine Lake, there are a few options.

1. You could stay at Moraine Lake Lodge. This allows you up the road and then you could get up early the next morning and take a few steps out your cabin and up the rockpile and you are all set! You will have to arrange commercial transportation to ensure you photographer can make it up to the lake for sunrise.
2. The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise offers a Moraine Lake Sunrise Experience Shuttle (for hotel guests) for $90+GST per person that will get you there just before sunrise. As a bonus, if the shuttle isn’t fully booked they will let you get a ticket for your photographer also.
3. You could book commercial transportation or rent e-bikes and head up that way (I have a truck to help with transport!). There are a few companies that run sunrise shuttles: Moraine Lake Sunrise Shuttle and Fairview Limo are my faves.

One thing to note is that sunset at Moraine Lake is always a nice option and the buses and shuttles will be running at that time. The photos below were taken during sunrise in August.

Banff has many other beautiful lakes that see less tourist traffic than Moraine or Lake Louise. If privacy is important to you, I recommend chatting with your photographer about other options. Below are some of my favourites.

3. Bow Lake

Bow Lake is just up the Icefields Parkway, about a half hour north of Lake Louise townsite. It is a large lake nestled in the mountains with a lot of space to find your own private spot. There are also multiple locations around the lake to chose from so you get a great variety of images.

4. Peyto Lake

Peyto Lake is also up the Icefields Parkway, a bit further north than Bow Lake. There is about a 10-15 minute walk uphill to the viewing area. The lake is shaped like a howling wolf and offers that epic landscape that you come to Canada to see. This is my favourite spot for more private proposals. Check out a blog featuring the sweet Peyto Lake proposal you see below for some inspiration!

5. Two Jack Lake & Lake Minnewanka

Two Jack Lake is the first of two really pretty lakes close to Banff townsite that I love to shoot proposals at. It is a busy spot during the day but it’s much quieter at sunrise and sunset, as you can see below for this sunrise Two Jack Lake proposal.

Just up the road from Two Jack Lake is Lake Minnewanka. This is a really large and beautiful lake. While it is also a busy spot, it’s large enough that we can always find some privacy. There is a lot of variation in scenery here. I love these two lakes near Banff because we can have the proposal at one lake and then take a short drive down to the next lake for different scenery in your photos. Only thing better than one pretty lake is two!

6. Banff Gondola

Planning a surprise proposal at the top of the Banff Gondola is such a great idea. There are stunning 360 degree views, lots of space so you can find a private spot, and then after, you can grab a coffee or have a delicious meal at the Sky Bistro. This proposal on top of the Banff Gondola was early June and so sweet, she didn’t know he was in the area and was so surprised when he appeared behind her and proposed!

7. Helicopter Proposals in Banff

There are a few helicopter companies in Banff and the surrounding area that would make for an absolute epic proposal. Imagine this, you book a helicopter tour and land on top of a stunning mountain where you can explore around together (and be guaranteed the only people there besides myself and the pilot!). I will pretend to work with the helicopter company and just be along for the ride and when I offer to take your photo for you, you can turn to your partner and proposal and we can have those memories captured forever! We can then spend some time getting some stunning engagement photos around the area. Talk about a once in a lifetime experience.

Plan a Hiking Proposal in Banff National Park!

For the people who really want to get off the beaten path, planning a hiking proposal can accomplish just that. There are a ton of hikes in the area suitable for all fitness levels. The photo below is from a surprise proposal at Lake Agnes in Banff National Park. I hiked up before the couple and waited for them to come up, staying hidden while he proposed. After the proposal, they enjoyed some hot beverages from the Tea House to warm up and we took some engagement photos around the lake. Talk about a memorable hike!

How to Plan Your Banff National Park Surprise Proposal

Make sure that you and your photographer have planned things out beforehand so that you can get those perfect shots while also not having other people in the photos. There are so many ways to coordinate with your photographer so that your partner has no idea, from “winning” a couples shoot, having your photographer blend in with the tourists and pop out to capture the moment, or booking a just because adventure session and then popping the question. I love to help couples plan proposals, so don’t hesitate to reach out and let’s do this thing!

Banff National Park Proposal Packages

Hey, I’m Dom, your Banff Proposal Photographer, and I will help you find the perfect location for this special moment and help with all of the logistics surrounding this so it can be as stress free and seamless as possible. After you inquire, we will set up a phone call to talk through your plan and get all of the details sorted out. I will send you detailed maps of locations and examples from other proposals at that spot so you can pick out the best one for you.

• 1.5 hours of coverage
• 1 location
• Location suggestions and maps throughout the planning process
• High resolution digital photos in an online gallery to view, download, print, and share your photos
• Travel anywhere in Banff National Park, Canmore or Kananaskis is included
• Gallery delivered in 4-6 weeks (with 5-10 previews sent within a couple days for you to share with friends and family)
•3+ GIFs (moving photos) uploaded to your final gallery

Starting at $1250 CAD + GST

Fill out my contact form and we get the process started.

Below you’ll find an example of a surprise Lake Louise proposal

Real Surprise Proposal in Banff National Park

Bode and Sabrina were spending a couple of days in Banff National Park on vacation and Bode booked a couples session with me to commemorate the trip… little did Sabrina know that him and I had planned a surprise Lake Louise proposal.

We started the session by chatting for a bit, taking a couple of photos in front of Lake Louise, and then Bode grabbed the ring that was surely burning a hole in his pocket. Sabrina was so surprised to turn around to see Bode down on one knee. After an insanely heartfelt speech about how much she means to him, he popped the question and her answer was of course yes! They had gathered quite the crowd around them on this warm summer evening also, which led to a chorus of congratulations after!

We meandered around the shores of Lake Louise for some engagement photos after. It was so amazing to hear how they met each other (in a grocery store!) and hear more about their relationship. Congrats you two!

Need helping planning your surprise Banff National Park proposal?
Get in touch with me!