When I think of Canada, two things come to mind: (1) big cities like Toronto or Vancouver and (2) the natural beauty of its natural parks.
Banff is by far one of my favorite places to visit in the world. And luckily it’s only a 3 hour flight from San Diego plus a one hour time change.
There’s so much to love about Banff. You can go hiking, skiing, canoeing, and a bunch of other activities.
If you haven’t been to Banff yet, I would highly recommend it.
One thing you’ll soon realize about Banff is just how many lakes there are! There are dozens of lakes in Banff and they’re all beautiful. I wish I had time to visit them all.
While this is by far not a complete guide of all the lakes in Banff, it is a quick guide to help you visit the best lakes in Banff!
1. Lake Louise
Lake Louise is probably the most iconic lake in Banff. In fact, I think its one of the most beautiful lakes in Banff and certainly the Canadian Rockies.
It is named after the Princess Louise Caroline Alberta, the fourth daughter of Queen Victoria.
There’s just so much to say about this gem in the Rockies. Let’s start with the water. You’re going to see a beautiful emerald water as far as they eye can see.
The color comes from the rock flour carried into the lake from the glaciers in the distance.
In the distance, you can see the Victoria glacier and a backdrop of mountains. It is an incredible view that everyone should experience.
Lake Louise is also where the Fairmont Lake Louise is located. This is one of the Grand Railway Hotels in Canada.
It is one of the most famous hotels in Canada and worthy of a visit. If you have the time, hike all the way around the outer banks of Lake Louise and you’ll be able to take breathtaking pictures of the iconic hotel.
Even if you’re not staying there, be sure to check out the Fairmont Lake Louise. The hotel has served many famous guests, including royalty.
And I would be crazy if I didn’t mention canoeing on Lake Louise. You can rent a canoe from the hotel, which operates a small boat house.
Canoeing on Lake Louise is a bucket list thing to do. It’s so peaceful and beautiful. As you float on the emerald water, you’ll get an incredible view of the mountains and glaciers.
2. Lake Minnewanka
Lake Minnewanka is the only lake in Banff where the use of motorized boats is allowed.
If you want to go boating in the summer, this is the lake to go in Banff! First of all, the lake is HUGE! Much bigger than the famous Lake Louise.
And it’s really close to the town of Banff (less than a 15 minute drive).
There are so many things to do at Lake Minnewanka. You can hike, go boating, and even enjoy a picnic at one of the lovely tables. I would say Lake Minnewanka has some of the best hikes in Banff.
One of my favorite hiking trails was hiking to the old bridge over Steward Canyon. Here you can get a great view of the river and even hike down to the banks that flow into the lake.
Also, I would highly recommend driving along Lake Minnewanka Scenic Drive.
The drive is a 13 km scenic loop. Parts of the road are closed in the winter, but it’s open throughout the summer.
The loop takes you past Two Jack Lake, Johnson Lake, Lake Minnewanka and the ghost town of Bankhead.
3. Peyto Lake
Peyto Lake is another iconic lake in Banff. The lake is best known for its beautiful turquoise color.
It is one of the most beautiful lakes in Banff National Park.
If you have never visited the lake, you would think that all of those pictures you see on Instagram are photoshoped. But it’s real!
Yes, the water IS really that color!
The lake gets its signature color from the glacier rock flour that flows into the lake during the summer months. You can get to Peyto Lake from the Icefield Parkway.
It’s basically a large viewing platform that overlooks the lake.
While there is no trail that heads down to the banks of Peyto Lake from the viewing platform, you may be able to hike down yourself.
I made it about halfway down myself, but didn’t want to go further as some parts looked pretty steep and I didn’t want to run into a bear as I didn’t have any bear spray.
4. Two Jack Lake
I’ll be the first to admit…when I first went to Banff I had never even heard of Two Jack Lake.
And now I’m ashamed of myself! I think this is one of the most peaceful lakes around Banff as it is generally emptier than the ones I have already mentioned.
The lake can be accessed through the Minnewanka Scenic Drive. That’s exactly how I stumbled onto the lake.
I saw the signs and decided to pull up. It was around 8 or 9 at night and the sun was just about to set in the summer. This is the ideal lake to just kick back and relax along the water.
You can even watch the ducks swim in the water!
And it’s actually a pretty romantic spot for a picnic in case you wanted to plan something special with your partner.
The views are absolutely breathtaking. One of my favorite parts of the lake is you can take great pictures of the trees and mountains through the reflection from the water.
5. Rock Isle Lake, Laryx Lake, & Grizzy Lake.
Okay, this one is a little out there. I’ve seen a lot of posts about the best lakes in Banff and this one is rarely on any of them.
But I think this is one of the coolest lakes in the Canadian Rockies just because of where they are. Well…this is actually 3 different lakes, so bear with me as I try to explain!
Sunshine Village is one of the big ski mountains in Banff. You have to take a Gondola to get up to the mountain. The Gondola ride is incredible and you’ll get an awesome view of the mountains in the distance.
Once you get up to the base camp you’ll see the Sunshine Mountain Lodge (a hotel), a few coffee shops, and some restaurants.
From there, you can take an open air chairlift (the Standish Express Chairlift) to the top of the mountain. After that, walk 2,400 meters straight to the Standish Viewing Deck.
From the viewing platform, you will get a breathtaking view of the three lakes on top of Sunshine Village.
The lakes are Rock Isle Lake, Laryx Lake, and Grizzy Lake. It is truly an Instagram worthy place to take pictures!
My favorite lake there had to have been Rock Isle Lake. Like the name suggests, there is a tiny rock island in the middle of the lake.
And if you’re feeling up to it, you can hike around all three lakes. Unfortunately, I was not able to do that as the park had blocked off the trails due to a bear sighting. Oh well! Next time I go, I’m definitely going to hike along the lakes of Sunshine Village.
