In Western Canada you will find some of the most beautiful lakes in the world! Canada is known for its breathtaking landscapes and pristine wilderness, but the beautiful glacial lakes in the Canadian Rocky Mountains complete the picture. Canada is home to no less than 3 million lakes, making it the country with the most lakes in the world. So lots of choice, with each lake looking like a beautiful painting! From the iconic lakes in Banff and Jasper National Park to hidden gems in Kananaskis Country. Below are the 10 most beautiful lakes in Western Canada you must have seen and how to get there.
1) Moraine Lake
We begin this list with perhaps the most beautiful lake in the world: Moraine Lake. Thanks to its turquoise blue color, numerous pine trees and surrounding snow-capped mountain peaks, it feels like you’ve stepped into a painting. This iconic lake is located in Banff National Park and the best time to visit this lake is during sunrise! Then you have a beautiful reflection of the Valley of the Ten Peaks on the water and that beautiful orange glow on the mountains. Upon arrival, turn left toward the boulders and find a nice spot to enjoy this spectacle. Several hikes depart from Lake Moraine. The easy hike Lakeshore Path takes you back and forth along the lake in about 45 minutes and is ideal for enjoying the beautiful mountain scenery all around.
How to visit Lake Moraine
Since 2023, you can only reach Lake Moraine by shuttle, public transportation from Banff or an organized organization. Self-driving is no longer allowed unless you bike there. Therefore, book your shuttle on time through the official website of Parks Canada or book your organized tour here. This shuttle runs daily from early June to early October and costs $8 CAD per person. Conveniently, this price also includes a shuttle to take you to or from Lake Louise.
2) Lake Louise
Lake Louise is Lake Moraine’s big sister and is also in Banff National Park. This lake is also known for its beautiful turquoise blue color and when the sun shines on it again, you won’t believe your eyes at all. Let the pictures convince you! Around Lake Louise, there are several hikes you can do. Our favorite is the Plain of the Six Glaciers trail. This 14.6-mile hike takes you along the lake all the way to the surrounding mountain range where you’ll have ever-improving views of Lake Louise. The nice thing about this walk is that it takes you past a teahouse built in 1927. A nice alternative is the 3.5 km hike to Lake Agnes Teahouse. Not much of a hiker? Then you can also rent a canoe at the Fairmont Chateau and explore the lake from the water.
How to visit Lake Louise
Lake Louise is a 45-minute drive from the town of Banff in Banff National Park. Get there in time to secure one of the few parking spots, as it gets quite crowded during the day. Or play it safe by booking a shuttle through Parks Canada, which will also get you to Lake Moraine from Lake Louise for free. Want to be able to enjoy the view of Lake Louise a little longer? Then you can also book an overnight stay at the beautiful Fairmont Chateau, the only hotel on Lake Louise!
3) Peyto Lake
This lake was perhaps our personal favorite in this list of most beautiful lakes in Western Canada. Chances are you’ve also seen it pass by on social media. Peyto Lake is world famous for its intense azure color and shape reminiscent of a wolf or fox. The typical color of the water comes from a mixture of clear glacier water that has mixed with the grit of the eroded rocks. Peyto Lake is easily reached after a short 10-minute walk from the parking lot. You have a viewing platform over the lake there. Just before the viewpoint, you can also turn left into the forest and come out under the viewing platform on the rocks. The ideal spot to take beautiful photos.
How to visit Peyto Lake
Peyto Lake is also located in Banff National Park, an hour’s drive from Banff. The lake is located along the world-famous Icefield Parkway, or Highway 93, which goes from Banff to Jasper. It is well marked on the Highway, so you certainly can’t miss it! Get there early to be sure of a spot in the parking lot. Those who wish can hike further from the viewing platform for other views of the lake.
4) Maligne Lake
Maligne Lake is the largest natural lake in the Canadian Rockies. This 22 km long lake extends into Jasper National Park and is surrounded by magnificent snow-capped mountain peaks and glaciers that feed the lake. In the middle of the lake you will find the photogenic Spirit Island that you can only reach by boat. There is only one organization that can take you to Spirit Island, so buying tickets early is the message! If you want to enjoy the beauty of Spirit Island a little longer, you can also rent a canoe for the day. Just keep in mind that it quickly takes you more than 3 hours to reach the islet by canoe (and then you have to go back). For the truly adventurous, you can paddle further across Maligne Lake and spend the night at one of the backcountry campsites around the lake.
How to visit Maligne Lake
Maligne Lake is an hour’s drive from the town of Jasper, but the road there is certainly not a punishment. Chances are you’ll spot one of the many animals along the way that Canada rich, such as bears, moose or bighorn sheep. On the way to Lake Maligne you will also pass Medicine Lake which is definitely worth stopping for a photo. To reach Spirit Island you best go along with this organized boat trip.
5) Emerald Lake
The name of this lake certainly lives up to it, because because of its beautiful emerald green color, Emerald Lake is a picture to behold. Rent a typical red canoe and explore the lake from the water while enjoying the snow-capped peaks of the Kicking Horse Valley. You can also hike all the way around the lake via an easy 5.2-kilometer trail. We went there in the late afternoon so it was already much quieter around the lake. Want to enjoy Emerald Lake a little longer? Complete the experience by booking an overnight stay at the cozy Emerald Lodge overlooking the lake.
How to visit Emerald Lake
Emerald Lake is located in Yoho National Park in Western Canada and you can easily reach it by car. There is a large parking lot at the lake, so you can find a spot at any time of day. From Banff it is about an hour’s drive, but it is well worth the drive.
6) Lake Minnewanka
At 28 kilometers, Lake Minnewanka is the largest lake in the Canadian Rocky Mountains. Surrounded by spectacular mountain scenery, it offers views you just can’t get enough of! Along the lakeshore, you can hike the 7.6-mile out-and-back Shore Trail that takes you as far as Stewart Canyon. Here you have a great view of the Cascade River that passes through the ravine and flows into Lake Minnewanka. After Stewart Canyon Bridge, you can continue hiking, but this is grizzly territory! Between July 10 and September 15, you may only continue this hike in tight groups of four people and you must carry bear spray with you at all times (this applies to all hikes in Canada). Another fun way to explore Lake Minnewanka is by taking a cruise across this lake in western Canada.
How to visit Lake Minnewanka
Lake Minnewanka is a 15-minute drive from the town of Banff and can be reached via the Lake Minnewanka Scenic Drive. The road to the lake is quite an experience in itself, as this is the ideal place to spot wildlife. The area around Lake Minnewanka is full of animals such as black bears, grizzlies, deer, elk, bighorn sheep and even pumas and wolves. Go early in the morning, keep your camera at the ready and look around carefully because chances are you’ll see something!
7) Two Jack Lake
A 15-minute drive from Banff you will find another beautiful lake: Two Jack Lake. This lake is especially worth seeing at sunrise, when you have a beautiful view of Mount Rundle reflecting in the water. You won’t find real hiking trails around Two Jack Lake, but it is the ideal place for water sports. You can kayak, canoe, supp, fish or just enjoy the beautiful view. As in most national parks in Canada, you will find the typical Adirondack chairs where you can feel free to take a seat to enjoy the scenery. You can also find these regularly at the many lakes in Western Canada.
How to visit Lake Minnewanka
Like Lake Minnewanka, Two Jack Lake is also located on the Lake Minnewanka Scenic Drive. So you can easily visit both lakes in one day. On this road you’ll also find the Cascade Ponds, definitely a fun stop to make as well, as far as we’re concerned! It is one of the most fun things to do in Banff.
8) Pyramid Lake
One of the best things to do in Jasper National Park is to rent a canoe and explore Pyramid Lake at sunrise. This lake is located at the base of Pyramid Mountain, an unusual mountain that stands out with its reddish tones. During sunrise, you get a beautiful reflection of the mountain in the water. Also located in this lake is a small island called Pyramid Island, which you can easily reach via a wooden bridge and walk around on.
How to visit Pyramid Lake
Pyramid Lake is just 5 km from the town of Jasper and is easily accessible by car or RV. There are several parking lots around the lake. Several hiking and biking trails also depart from Jasper toward Pyramid Lake.
9) Kinney Lake
Kinney Lake is another real hidden gem in the Canadian Rocky Mountains as far as we are concerned. Located in Mount Robson National Park, this lake is often unfairly skipped during a tour of Canada. From the visitor center, you can take the Mountain Lake Trail that takes you to Kinney Lake in 7 km. As you get closer and closer to the lake, you get a better view of the largest mountain in the Canadian Rocky Mountains: Mount Robson. At Kinney Lake you can hike further if you wish. The truly athletic can hike the entire Mountain Lake Trail which totals 42 km round trip. You can also split up the hike by sleeping at one of the backcountry campsites along the way.
How to visit Kinney Lake
This lake can be found in Mount Robson National Park which lies between Jasper and Clearwater. When you tour Western Canada from Calgary to Vancouver, chances are you will pass through here. Near Mount Robson National Park, you can stay overnight at one of the campgrounds such as Robson River Campground or at one of the lodges near the park.
10) Rawson Lake
We end our top 10 most beautiful lakes in Western Canada with another hidden gem in Kananaskis Country. This is one for those who like to still have nature to themselves, because here you will find only a few hikers! This 7.8 km hike starts at Upper Kananaskis Lake and takes you slowly up through the Canadian forests. At the end of the hike you will arrive at Rawson Lake, a beautiful alpine lake tucked away on Mount Serrail. Bring a lunch to picnic by this emerald lake and prick up your ears because around the lake you will find pikas, a rodent found only in Alpine terrain. Rawson Lake is also in grizzly territory, so be sure to bring bear spray and always make plenty of noise while hiking to announce that you are there.
How to visit Rawson Lake
Rawson Lake is located in Kananaskis Country near Upper Kananaskis Lake. This area is an hour’s drive from Banff and if you have the time, it is something you should definitely include during your tour of Canada! It is not yet as popular as Banff or Jasper, but the nature is at least as beautiful. For Kananaskis Country, you need a $15 CAD day pass that can be purchased at the visitor center as you drive toward the lake.
Before you travel to Canada
All of these lakes in Western Canada, with the exception of Rawson Lake, are in Canada’s national parks. To visit the national parks, you are required to have a Parks Canada Pass. If, like us, you are going to travel around Canada it is best to buy a Discovery Pass. You buy this per vehicle and it costs $151.25 CAD. Afterwards, it remains valid for another year. If you travel around with an RV, we also recommend that you secure all your campsites in advance. The best campsites are often sold out weeks in advance. Through the official Parks Canada website, you can find all the campsites in the national parks and reserve a place.
Finally, we want to remind you that there is a lot of wildlife in Canada! Chances are you will encounter an animal when you visit one of Canada’s many lakes. For all animals, always keep a sufficient distance and never approach them! Canada is also home to many black bears and grizzlies. So be sure to buy bear spray before you start your trip and make plenty of noise during your hikes. That way the animals know you’re around and you won’t get an unpleasant surprise yourself.
Still have questions about traveling to Canada? Let us know in a comment below! Looking for more information about your next trip? Please do not hesitate to contact us contact or send an email to info@snoezelsontheroad.com
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