Road tripping around Alberta is an experience of a lifetime. The majestic Rocky Mountains offer extraordinary views while driving and especially when you hike the trails.
Or while seated in a canoe or kayak, visiting jaw-dropping gorgeous lakes.
In this post you’ll find 15 beautiful lakes in the Canadian Rockies that you should visit.
You’ll find several of these gorgeous lakes in Alberta’s National Parks. Jasper National Park has over 2,000 lakes, but only around 100 are named lakes.
Keep reading for travel inspiration for your Alberta road trip vacation. Plus, there is a map of these prettiest lakes in Alberta at the end of the article so you can plan your route.
1. Lake Louise
The stunning turquoise color of Lake Louise makes you wonder if it’s real. To get the best view of Lake Louise you should hike up one of the trails.
Or hop in a canoe or kayak and paddle around Lake Louise; it’s only 2 km in length, so it’s an easy paddling trip.
Even if you hike to the back of the lake and up towards the Plain of Six Glaciers trailhead, you’ll enjoy an excellent view of the lake.
Go on a sunny day for the most brilliant turquoise color, and you’ll see why it’s also on our list of famous Canadian landmarks.
LEARN MORE: 12 Best Things to Do in Banff in Winter
2. Lake Minnewanka
When the sun is shining on Lake Minnewanka it’s another of the turquoise gems in Banff. You can take a boat tour around Lake Minnewanka, hike the shoreline, or enjoy a lakeside picnic.
Lake Minnewanka is a large glacial lake at 21 km (13 miles) in length and 142 m (466 ft) deep.
The Stoney people named the lake Minn-waki, which translates to ‘Lake of the Spirits’.
The perfect place to relax and soak in the beauty of the Rocky Mountains
3. Vermillion Lakes
A short drive west of Banff brings you to a serene view of Mt Rundle and marshlands abundant with birds.
Vermillion Lakes is the only place I have seen a moose in Banff National Park. He stood in the water while munching on the greens of nature’s buffet.
Will you see a moose at Vermilion Lakes? I don’t know, but you should let me know if you do.
Mt Rundle on view from Vermilion Lakes in Banff
4. Medicine Lake
On the scenic roadway to Maligne Lake you must stop at Medicine Lake. Hopefully, the sun is shining and a few puffy clouds float overhead, reflecting a mirror image in the water.
You can kayak at Medicine Lake. If you don’t have your own kayak, you can rent one in Jasper.
Medicine Lake in the Maligne Valley of Jasper is a nice picnic spot
5. Talbot Lake
Another beautiful lake in Jasper National Park, Talbot Lake, is 30 km northeast of Jasper town. If you love fishing, then drop a line for lake whitefish and northern pike.
Talbot Lake has amazing views of the Rocky Mountains, and it’s a superb place for kayaking in Jasper National Park.
Talbot Lake is an ideal place to enjoy nature
6. Bow Lake
Bow Lake and Bow Glacier are well worth adding a stop on your Icefields Parkway itinerary (highway 93 north) on the way to Jasper from Lake Louise.
In wintertime, when the water is frozen, you can snowshoe or cross-country ski across the lake to Bow Glacier Falls. In summer, there is a trail along the shoreline.
Beautiful Bow Lake in Banff National Park
7. Peyto Lake
The famous fox-shaped lake in Banff National Park is a joy to see.
While there is a viewing platform (crowded with tour bus tourists), you are much better off hiking up to Bow Summit for a better view of Peyto Lake.
Bow Summit Peyto Lake Overlook is a short, easy hike, but the tour buses don’t set foot on the trails, so you will have more elbow room.
Bow Summit is the place to see Peyto Lake
8. Herbert Lake
Along the Icefields Parkway in Banff National Park, Herbert Lake is one of the first lakes on this scenic and world-renowned roadway.
Hike to the lake and wander around the lakeshore. Herbert Lake is lovely and serene.
Herbert Lake is one of the best places to stop on the Icefields Parkway
9. Waterfowl Lake
Waterfowl Lake is a vibrant blue with a side order of smashingly gorgeous Rocky Mountains. This is a great place to stop and stretch your legs while on a road trip and soak up the views.
Waterfowl Lake is one of the shimmering bright blue lakes along Icefields Parkway
10. Pyramid Lake
Sunset is beautiful at Pyramid Lake in Jasper. Park by Pyramid Island and walk across the pedestrian bridge to the island. Watch the changing light and beautiful reflections of the mountains in the water.
Another great way to experience the lake is to get out on the water, rent a kayak, and paddle around Pyramid Lake to the little beach. Have a picnic lunch and paddle back.
Watch for birds, muskrats, and moose around Pyramid Lake.
Discover more fun things to do in Jasper National Park.
While in Jasper visit Pyramid Lake
11. Upper Kananaskis and Lower Kananaskis Lake
Two classic beauties in the Kananaskis Country, Upper Kananaskis Lake and Lower Kananaskis Lake, will take your breath away.
Rawson Lake Trail from Upper Kananaskis Lake is an excellent hike in summer or winter. During summer you can continue from Rawson Lake to Sarrail Ridge for a longer hike.
Upper Kananaskis Lake in early winter
12. Maligne Lake
Where else can you go kayaking and see a moose in the lake? I’m sure a few places, but Maligne is the one place I’ve seen a moose from my kayak.
You can rent a canoe, kayak, or rowboat at the boathouse. Or you can take a boat tour of Maligne Lake and see Spirit Island without paddling 14 km (9 miles) to get there!
Camping is the ultimate Maligne Lake experience. Kayak to your lakeshore campsite and enjoy the peaceful sunrises and sunsets in paradise.
On the way to Maligne Lake, stop and hike the magnificent Maligne Canyon trail.
Rent a kayak or take a boat trip on Maligne Lake in Jasper
13. Moraine Lake
One of the most spectacular views in the Rocky Mountains is the lookout at Moraine Lake. Planning is required to get to Moraine Lake because Moraine is one of the most popular lakes in Banff.
Note that personal vehicles are no longer allowed on Moraine Lake Road—year round. You have a few options for getting to Moraine Lake: shuttle bus, hike, or bike.
Book a ticket for the shuttle bus to Moraine Lake from June 1 to Thanksgiving weekend.
In the fall you can take the Roam Transit shuttle bus from Banff to Moraine Lake.
Several excellent hiking trails at Moraine Lake make it a perfect place to spend the whole day. Especially popular during fall larch season are the Larch Valley Trail and Sentinel Pass.
Biking is another option to get to Moraine Lake.
Stunning view of Moraine Lake in Banff National Park
14. Abraham Lake
Once you set eyes on Abraham Lake, you can’t stop staring. The color is unreal. It looks like Berry Blue Jell-o or Kool-Aid.
Abraham Lake is Alberta’s largest reservoir, so it is a manmade lake, and it’s 32 km (20 miles) in length. It’s a popular place for fishing. You could catch rainbow trout, bull trout, lake trout, cutthroat trout, or mountain whitefish.
Abraham Lake (also known as Lake Abraham) is located along the North Saskatchewan River in western Alberta.
Take a winter visit to Abraham Lake to see the frozen air bubbles. January and February are usually the best months to see the bubbles.
Abraham Lake shows off in stunning brilliant blue
15. Upper Waterton Lake
Did you know that Waterton Lakes National Park in Alberta and Glacier National Park in Montana formed the first International Peace Park in 1995? It is called the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park.
You can take a boat trip on Upper Waterton Lake that crosses into Montana.
Take a day trip to Waterton Lakes or spend a few days and stay at the Prince of Wales Hotel overlooking Waterton Lakes. There are camping options at Waterton too; check the Parks Canada website for the info.
View of Prince of Wales Hotel from Upper Waterton Lake Alberta
Map of 15 Pretty Lakes in Alberta
Below is a map with all the lakes marked so you can find them easily. You can use this to start planning a road trip to some of the most beautiful places in Alberta.
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