29 Most Stunning Lakes Canada has You’ll Love

With volcanoes, mountains, and forests, Canada’s not short on natural landmarks, but there’s something particularly special about its serene lakes. They stretch on for miles and miles and offer a fantastic spot for adventure.

Canada boasts an incredible two million lakes and the highest number of freshwater lakes in the world. So, I understand if you’re having a hard time deciding which of the lakes of Canada to visit.

That’s why my super informative guide is here. With my insights, you’ll soon be on your way to one of these stunning lakes Canada has on offer in no time.

29 Stunning Lakes Canada has to offer

Here are some of the most beautiful lakes in Canada you won’t want to miss!

1. Lake Louise, Alberta

Lake Louise is a highlight of many tourists’ Canadian holidays and one of the Canadian landmarks. This famous lake in Canada is an unforgettable sight: tall alpine trees line the slopes of snow-capped Mount Victoria, framing the sparkling topaz water.

The glacial lake is part of Banff National Park, one of Canada’s top landmarks. The park offers a host of activities, including skiing, hiking, ice climbing, and boating.

Banff National Park is so vast that you can even take a hop-on-hop-off bus tour from the town of Banff in the reserve. This is a convenient way to take in all the natural attractions in the reserve.

2. Garibaldi Lake, British Columbia

Lake Garibaldi oozes mystery and adventure, with many fallen tree trunks just beneath the surface of the teal water. The lake extends for 990 hectares, so there’s plenty to admire. This beautiful lake in Canada is a fantastic destination for photographers and winter sports enthusiasts.

You’ll find Lake Garibaldi within the Garibaldi Provincial Park in British Columbia. The lake is only accessible by taking the five and a half-mile long Garibaldi Lake Trail, so make sure to pack your hiking boots.

3. Emerald Lake, British Columbia

The picturesque Emerald Lake is the standout attraction in Yoho National Park. Appropriately, ‘Yoho’ means ‘awe’ in Cree, a local language. The President mountain range surrounds the lake, which has an elevation of 3937 feet.

You can experience this superb landscape by following the almost three-kilometre-long hiking trail on the lake’s edge. Alternatively, go canoeing on the lake’s surface. Just be aware that the lake is frozen from November until June.

4. Moraine Lake, Alberta

There are plenty of lakes in Banff National Park, but Moraine is likely the most enchanting. It’s one of the most photographed lakes around, appearing in video games, adverts, and log-in screens. Visit the real thing for an unbelievable experience.

Moraine Lake covers about 120 acres and reaches a depth of 15 meters. Hiking in the encircling forest is a great way to return to nature. One trail, the Perren Route’s starting point, involves an eight- to ten-hour mountain climb.

⇒ Explore Lake Moraine on an informative day trip.

5. Peyto Lake, Alberta

Peyto Lake makes this list because it’s incredibly photogenic from a high angle, which is easy to get to (read: no hiking needed). The lake is small, only five kilometres square, but beautiful.

You can drive up to Icefields Parkway (Highway 93), Bow Summit, where there is a viewing platform over the body of water. It can get busy in the summer months, but the vista offered is worth braving the crowds for.

6. Spotted Lake, British Columbia

Spotted Lake is relatively tiny: just under one kilometer long and 400 meters wide. So, why should you go to Spotted Lake? It’s all in the name: when the water evaporates, crystalized ponds appear, making the water surface resemble a gigantic polka-dot pattern.

This is also a sacred place for local indigenous groups who have used the waters as a healing center for centuries. The lake certainly looks other-worldly, thanks to the spots and the colors that change through the seasons.

Make sure to visit in the summer months to see the spotted pattern on the lake’s surface. The rest of the year, it’s a regular lake. You’ll get good views of this natural attraction by driving along Highway 3.

7. Lake Superior, Ontario

At 128 000 square kilometers, this is the largest of the Great Lakes and the largest freshwater lake globally. Lake Superior also boasts sublime beauty: the azure waters spill onto sandy shores, surrounded by lush forestry and low-lying mountains.

You’re spoiled for choice when it comes to activities at this famous lake in Canada. It’s one of the few lakes where you can swim, as well as chill out on the shore, fish, kayak, and hike. If you’re interested in history, learn about the 550 shipwrecks concealed beneath the water — there’s even a museum on the American side.

8. Waterton Lake, Alberta

Waterton Lake borders Canada and the US. The deep lake, which twists itself around the green mountains, is a spectacular sight.

The rich flora and fauna of the landscape make Waterton Lake a top destination in Canada. In fact, it’s a part of the Waterton Lakes National Park, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and one of the most beautiful lakes in Canada.

Look out for deer, elk, moose, and black bears when traversing the park. Apart from spotting wildlife, watersports like kitesurfing, windsurfing, and sailboating are all available in the park.

9. Lake Ontario, Ontario

Lake Ontario stands out as it is right in the capital of Toronto. It’s one of the Great Lakes, stretching out for miles in both Canada and the US. This is a fantastic landscape to explore if you don’t want to leave the city.

Since it’s not as remote as other lakes, Lake Ontario feels safe enough to visit as a solo traveler. It’s picturesque and offers plenty of activities like paddle boarding and canoeing. Of course, no holiday in Toronto would be complete without a boat trip on Lake Ontario.

10. Maligne Lake, Alberta

Maligne Lake is the starting point for the popular Skyline hiking trail in the stunning Jasper National Park. Maligne Lake is also home to little Spirit Island, which is easily visited and ridiculously photogenic. Plus it has three glaciers – what a lake!

Unlike some of the other lakes in this post, it is very easy to access Maligne Lake by car or on a shuttle bus from the town of Jasper. If you’re super keen, hike the 44-kilometre Skyline Trail from Jasper to this beautiful lake in Canada.

11. Great Slave Lake, Northwest Territories

The Great Slave Lake dates back over 8,000 years and is the deepest lake in North America. Despite these impressive statistics, it isn’t a tourist mecca as it is pretty much unaccessible eight months of the year – although you can rent a snowmobile and drive over it.

The capital city of the Northwest Territories, Yellowknife, sits on Great Slave Lake and it is home to some fantastic views – and brilliant reflections – of the Northern Lights.

You might enjoy reading my article about places to visit in Surrey BC.

12. Berg Lake, British Columbia

Berg Lake is located in Mount Robson Provincial Park in British Columbia. The highest peak in Canada, Mount Robson, sits behind the lake providing some rather stunning photographs. Like quite a few of the lakes in Canada, you will need to earn those photos by hiking 19 kilometers along the Berg Lake Trail. But along the way, you will pass the Valley of 1000 waterfalls and you’ll see icebergs around Berg Lake even in summer (thus the name!).

13. Abraham Lake, Alberta

This artificial lake was created in 1972 and sits in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains on the North Saskatchewan River. This lake is well known for its intense blue color caused by rock flour that the mountains create.

Abraham Lake is also known for the frozen bubbles that sit beneath its iced-over surface in the winter. The bubbles are actually methane gas that has been set off from rotting plants in the lake – I can’t imagine it is terribly pleasant to be there when these melt!

14. Lake Minnewanka, Alberta

This beautiful mountain-lined lake is only 3 miles from Banff. Minnewanka means Water of the Spirits. But note this is a glacial lake, so the water is cold. Lake Minnewanka is 5 kilometers wide, 13 miles long and best known for its outdoor activities like canoeing, paddleboarding, kayaking, and hiking off the water. This lake in Canada is also home to quite a bit of wildlife, including bighorn sheep and deer.

15. Red Lake, Ontario

Red Lake is both a municipality and a lake. The lake is known for being rich in game. Visitors may see grouse, deer, moose, duck and even bears. Its name comes from a local legend involving the Chippewa tribe. The red is from the blood spilled by a moose that two members of the tribe killed.

This lake in Ontario is popular with fishermen in the summer as it is home to lake trout, northern pike and many other types of fish. The area is also popular with birds, deer, beavers, red foxes and other Canadian wildlife.

16. Cold Lake, Alberta

Like Red Lake, Cold Lake is both a city and a lake. The lake is known for its clean water, world-class fishing, being home to hundreds of bird species and general abundance of wildlife. Unsurprisingly, European settlers called it cold lake because, well, it was cold. It isn’t actually the coldest lake in Canada – that honor belongs to Watson Lake in the Yukon.

17. Lake Muskoka, Ontario

This popular lake is located between Port Carling and Gravenhurst in Ontario. Lake Muskoka is known for the many cottages that line its shore. The area of Muskoka is the most popular cottage country area in Ontario.

Muskoka is one of three large lakes in the area – the other two are Joseph and Russeau lakes. Some parts of Muskoka are known as the Malibu of the north but many others are still accessible as summer homes for the middle-class Canadians.

18. Medicine Lake, Alberta

Twelve miles south of Jasper are the glacier waters of Medicine Lake. Medicine Lake is located at quite a high altitude but still has quite a bit of wildlife. When you visit Medicine Lake, you may well see moose, bears and deer. This rather shallow lake has 4.3 miles of lakeside to explore. Inside the lake, there are loads of brook and rainbow trout and up in the air are osprey, eagles and more birdlife.

19. Horseshoe Lake, Alberta

Horseshoe Lake is one of the lesser-visited lakes of this region and tends to be popular with locals possibly because they are the only people who can handle the freezing cold temperatures! For more sensible visitors there are some great trails along the lakeside that offer some great views.

20. Lake Memphremagog, Quebec

Lake Memphremagog sits between Quebec and the US state of Vermont, although nearly 3/4 of its water is in Quebec. That long name means where there is a big expanse of water. This lake in Canada has 21 islands (15 of which are in Canada) and is surrounded by beautiful hills and mountains.

21. Lake Annette, Alberta

This beautiful lake is very close to the town of Jasper and even has a beach. However, the water is still very cold I am afraid. However, there are some fantastic places for picnics and walks. This is another Canadian lake hidden gem.

22. Kootenay Lake, British Columbia

One of the largest lakes in British Columbia, Kootenay Lake sits in between the Selkirk and Purcell mountain ranges. The lake is unsurprisingly part of the Kootenay River and much of its shoreline is undeveloped and raw. This is one of the largest lakes in British Columbia and the free Kootenay Lake Ferry travels between Balfour and Kootenay Bay.

23. Upper Arrow Lake, British Columbia

Upper Arrow Lake is part of the Columbia River and is known for its beautiful pine forests. This is a big lake with several ferries that can take you from shore to shore. Boating is also an option if that’s your thing.

24. Kluane Lake, Yukon

This beautiful lake is, of course, located in the mountains near Kluane National Park. It is another Canadian lake that shimmers with an extraordinary shade of blue thanks to nearby glaciers feeding it. Kluane Lake is well known for its fishing and local wildlife like caribou. The Alaska Highway runs along the southern side of the lake.

25. Okanagan Lake, British Columbia

This 84-mile long lake is located in the heart of British Columbia’s wine country. Unlike many other lakes in this post, Okanagan Lake is located in quite a Mediterranean climate and even surrounded by vineyards. This Canadian lake is well-known for watersports and features kayaking, paddleboarding, canoeing, and snorkeling.

26. Lake Huron, Ontario

This is Canada’s second-largest Great Lake at 23,000 square miles. It is a freshwater lake and was originally known as La Mer Douche by French explorers in the region. This huge lake is also home to nearly 1,000 shipwrecks. Lake Huron has coves, beaches, port towns, all types of watersports and lots of lovely walks.

27. Bow Lake, Alberta

This ridiculously pretty lake is 30 minutes north of Lake Louise in Banff National Park. Bow Lake is very popular with hikers, and the snow on the mountains behind it tends to intensify the blue of the water. Autumn can be the best time to visit to get the most beautiful vistas of bright blue water, leaves changing color and snow-topped mountains.

28. Wedgemount Lake, British Columbia

Wedgemount Lake sits between two glaciers in British Columbia, the Wedgemount and the Armchair. This is another stunning Canadian lake where you need to earn your view – this lake can only be reached after a fairly intense 7-kilometre climb. At its deepest point, it is said to drop as low as sixty meters.

This is an insanely beautiful lake – some have even compared it to a glacial moonscape. Its isolated position also means that it can be a great place for overnight star spotting – make sure to pack warmly!

29. Bennett Lake, Yukon

Bennett Lake is located just north of the border between Canada and Alaska. The southern part of the lake is part of British Columbia but the northern part is in the Yukon. In the past, the lake was visited by gold seekers on their way to the Yukon River. Today, Bennett Lake hosts sailing and swimming in the summer and ice fishing and snowmobiling in the winter.

Final Thoughts on the Most Stunning Lakes in Canada

Whether you enjoy photographing rugged landscapes or taking a dip in the water, the magnificent lakes in Canada have lots to offer. These natural features are scattered around the country and, with one right in Toronto, there’s no excuse not to visit at least one gorgeous Canada lake. And once you’ve admired one lake, it’ll be hard not to explore the others!

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