On the trails radiating from the single Moraine Lake trailhead — Larch Valley, Sentinel Pass, Eiffel Lake, Wenkchemna Pass, plus nearby Paradise Valley and Consolation Lakes — Parks Canada can impose a mandatory "tight group" restriction during grizzly berry and larch season, historically from about mid-July through mid-October. (The Rockpile viewpoint is not included.) This isn't advice — it's a legal order, issued by the Superintendent under Section 7(1) of the National Parks General Regulations of the Canada National Parks Act. When active, the standard wording requires that all hiking parties travel in a minimum group of four, the maximum distance between any two people is 3 metres, and everyone carries bear spray. Bicycles and dogs are typically banned in the zone while it's in effect, and the bulletin states plainly: violators may be charged, with a maximum penalty of $25,000.
The purpose is twofold — keep people noisy and grouped so bears hear them coming, and avoid displacing grizzlies from prime food at a critical time of year. The minimum group size was actually reduced from six to four in 2007. What this means in practice: if you're a solo hiker or a pair, you team up at the trailhead or you turn back — there's no Parks Canada group-formation service, but hikers just band together, which is easy on trails this popular, or you join a licensed guided group. Staff check compliance on patrol. Two nuances worth knowing: the restriction isn't guaranteed every year at Moraine Lake — it depends on bear activity, and in some seasons it's been "recommended" here while posted as a hard order elsewhere — and because it changes daily, the only authoritative source is the Parks Canada Banff bulletins page, checked the morning of your hike (parks.canada.ca/pn-np/ab/banff/bulletins).
