Morant’s Curve is a railway viewpoint on the Bow Valley Parkway near Lake Louise in Banff National Park. The tracks bend beside the Bow River, with forested banks and Rocky Mountain peaks behind them. The scene is worth a stop even without a train; if one passes, the curve makes a striking foreground for photographs. The spot takes its name from Nicholas Morant, a Canadian Pacific Railway staff photographer whose pictures helped make it famous. Sunrise and sunset bring softer, warmer light.
The railway curve beside the Bow River
Morant’s Curve is a stretch of Canadian Pacific Railway track along the Bow Valley Parkway, near Lake Louise. From the roadside viewpoint, the line sweeps beside the Bow River, with forested banks and mountain peaks in the distance. The bend gives photographers a clear composition: tracks in the foreground, river through the valley and the Rockies beyond.
A passing train adds movement to the view, but the landscape is visible whether or not one comes by during your stop. Train timing can be unpredictable, so plan for the possibility of waiting without a train passing.
Why it is called Morant’s Curve
The viewpoint is named for Nicholas Morant, a staff photographer for the Canadian Pacific Railway. His photographs of trains travelling through the Canadian Rockies helped bring this section of track to wider attention. The curve remains a popular place to photograph the railway against the river and mountains.
Light and timing for photographs
Early morning and sunset are useful times to visit for softer light and fewer people. The midsummer golden hours around sunrise and sunset can add warmth to the scene. If photographing a train is your priority, check train schedules online or ask locally, but allow for uncertainty: a train may arrive quickly or not during your wait.
Bring your camera if you want to frame the railway with the Bow River and the peaks behind it. The viewpoint is a short stop from the road, and the scenery is still worth seeing if the tracks are empty.
Getting there from Lake Louise
Morant’s Curve is on the Bow Valley Parkway, also known as Highway 1A, near Lake Louise. The viewpoint is about a 10-minute drive from Lake Louise and about a 40-minute drive from Banff. It is a roadside stop on the parkway, so it fits into a drive between the two areas.
Perguntas frequentes
Where is Morant’s Curve?
It is on the Bow Valley Parkway, or Highway 1A, near Lake Louise in Banff National Park.
How long does it take to visit Morant’s Curve?
Plan for about 1 to 2 hours, especially if you are waiting for a train.
Can you see a train at Morant’s Curve?
Trains pass along the railway, but their timing is unpredictable. Check schedules before you go and allow time to wait.
When is the best time to photograph Morant’s Curve?
Visit early in the morning or at sunset for softer light. Sunrise and sunset can be especially warm in midsummer.
