20 Most Beautiful Lakes In Alberta To Visit

Alberta has some of the most beautiful lakes. The mountains have some breathtaking lakes due to the glaciers carving their way through the mountains leaving bowls that fill with melted glacier water. These glacier-fed lakes vary in color from bright blue to turquoise.

Many other lakes are formed from the folding and faulting of the earth’s layer filled by flowing streams and rivers creating all sizes of lakes.

All of them have a story of their own leaving us to admire the beauty left behind.

#1 Moraine Lake

Moraine Lake is 14 km from Lake Louise Village and by far the most popular lake in Alberta. Due to its serene turquoise blue water, it attracts visitors from all over the world. Nestled in the valley of 10 peaks makes for some stunning photo ops from sunrise to sunset.

The lake is 300 m long with a depth of 24 m. Hike the 2.9 km trail that surrounds the lake or plan a romantic getaway in the Moraine Lake Lodge overlooking the lake.

Moraine is seasonal, open from June to Oct depending on weather.

#2 Lake Louise

Lake Louise is located 5 km west of the hamlet of Lake Louise. The lake is a popular tourist attraction much like neighboring Moraine Lake. 2 km long with a depth of 230 ft has lots to offer such as hiking, boating, or staying at The Mountaineer Lodge for a weekend getaway. The Lake Louise ski hill is just a hop skip and jump away as well.

The beautiful turquoise water is produced from the glacier melt which carries rock flora into the lake creating the stunning color that it’s most famous for.

Lake Louise is open and full of activity year-round.

#3 Herbert Lake

Herbert Lake is a nice little lake just off HWY 93, Ice-fields Parkway route. One of the first of many lakes along this route. It is a small lake or some may say pond but is a significant lake non the less. Best known for its reflection and nightscapes giving some of the best photo ops in the night skies. A great place to view the stars and the Milky Way under perfect conditions.

Also known for hiking, swimming, fishing, and boating.

#4 Bow Lake

Bow Lake is located 38 km from Lake Louise. It is 3km long and great for fishing, boating, and day use. It has a really rustic-looking lodge The Num-Ti-Jah Lodge which is a great place to stay or have a nice meal with views of the lake.

Bow has great fishing, boating, and hiking.

#5 Peyto Lake

Peyto Lake is situated near the Ice Fields Parkway of HWY 93. Peyto is another glacier-fed lake nestled between many mountain peaks. It is popular with tourists due to its bright unique turquoise watercolor viewed from the bow summit. Today the viewpoint is under construction until 2021. Not accessible to vehicles.

#6 Barrier Lake

Barrier Lake is located along HWY 40 in Kananaskis County. The lake is used for hydroelectric power in which a dam was developed at the north end of the lake. Most are used for boating, fishing, day use, hiking, and many recreational activities.

#7 Quarry Lake

Quarry Lake is a small little lake situated beneath the famous Ha Ling Peak. Once an old quarry site, it was reclaimed and is now a family-friendly area for fishing, hiking, swimming, boating, and picnicking. A great place to cool off in Canmore. Grassi Lake is close by for some views and hiking.

#8 Upper Kananaskis

Upper Kananaskis Lake is one of two lakes, Upper and Lower Day use. The lake has a surface area of 7.8 km and a depth of 354 ft. Popular for boating, hiking, fishing, and day use.

The Lake Louise Lodge is about 45 min from Lower and Upper Kananaskis Lakes

#9 Johnson Lake

Johnson Lake is a small lake on the way up to Two Jack and Lake Minnewanka. It has a great family-friendly beach and is great for swimming, boating, hiking, and day use.

The lake is popular with teens as there is a tree rope swing at the East end of the lake. The lake is mostly shallow as when kayaking the bottom can be seen although deeper is swimming sections. The lake is under construction at this time.

#10 Two Jack Lake

Two Jack Lake is another family-friendly lake. Due to its frigid temperature swimming may be discouraged although boating, fishing, and hiking are some of its popular uses.

#11 Lake Minnawanka

Lake Minnewanka (“Water of the Spirits” in Nakoda”) Situated 5 km from Banff, it has a history dating back 10,000 yrs by aboriginal people. Known to have a submerged village, bridge pilings, and a dam from 1912 makes for a popular scuba divers heaven. It also has a ghost town close by to explore called The Bankhead which was the old coal mine area.

Great lake for scuba diving, fishing, boating, and hiking. Lots of camping in the vicinity as well. The Lake is approximately 22.5 km and is 466 ft deep. Also great for boating, hiking.

#12 Lillian Lake

Lillian Lake is located 42 km down HWY 40. You access it via Galatea Trailhead as it is a lake 6.3 km in on the way to Lower and Upper Galatea Lake. The lake is a popular rest stop along the way as well as an overnight stay with 15 campsites to pitch a tent along with fire pits. Throw in a fishing line and enjoy the tranquil lake and the views that surround it.

#13 Lower Galatea

A beautiful creek-side hiking trail leads to Upper and Lower Galatea Lake in Kananaskis Country. Unfortunately not accessible by car it is a popular 14 km hiking trail with a 600m elevation up to Lower Galatea Lake. These upper lakes are stunning and very picturesque.

#14 Spray Lakes

Spray Lakes can be found high atop the town of Canmore Ab up a winding gravel road HWY 742 which is the Spray Lakes route through Kananaskis Country. The view is spectacular with many hiking trails and viewpoints.

#15 Chain Lakes

Chain Lakes runs along the famous Cowboy Trail South of Long View bordering the foothills of the Rockies. The Lake itself is 9.9 km long and 34 ft deep and most popular for fishing and day use as well as camping, and water sports.

#16 Maligne Lake

Maligne Lake is the largest lake in Jasper located 44 km South of the townsite. Approximately 22.5 km long and 318 ft at its deepest it is popular for hiking, fishing, and camping.

#17 Lesser Slave Lake

Lesser Slave Lake is a lake situated in central Alberta. A large lake is 100 km long with a depth of 67 ft. It drains downward to the Athabasca River by way of the Lesser Slave River.

5 Aboriginal reserves border the lake as well as numerous campgrounds that promote fishing.

#18 Cold Lake

Cold Lake is located Northeast of Edmonton. The lake itself is on the Alberta/ Saskatchewan border. It is one of Alberta’s largest and deepest lakes at 373 km with a depth of 325 ft deep.

Cold Lake was home to the Chipewyan First Nation and began fur trading after the first trading post was built in 1871.

Home to The Canadian Air Force, the base is used as an air-force fighter jet training facility. I really enjoyed visiting here.

Known for great fishing, boating, and camping to name a few.

#19 Waterton Park

Waterton Nation Park is located in the southwest corner of Alberta bordering the Glacier National Park Montana border. Rich in history dating back to the 1800s. Waterton is popular for tourism with plenty of hiking, horseback riding, camping, boating, and quaint shops.

#20 Horseshoe Lake

Horseshoe Lake is located 25 km south of Jasper. The lake is 40 ft deep and most popular for its crystal clear water where visitors come to swim, boat, and hike. Although the water is Cold it doesn’t stop the people from jumping off the cliffs into this beautiful water. So clear you can actually see the fish you are swimming with.

I hope you enjoy these 20 Most Beautiful Lakes In Alberta as much as I did. There are so many others to enjoy so go out and explore and find a lake that you love.

If you are hiking remember to bring some hiking essentials to stay safe and have a comfortable experience.