| Our eastern neighbour, Saskatchewan, always flaunts its lakes. And maybe it should – over 12 per cent of that province’s surface area is watery goodness. Here in Alberta, we have fewer lakes, but there are still some nice choices for water sports, fishing and lovemaking in canoes. We’re already familiar with Sylvan Lake and Chestermere, but so is everyone else. For a change of pace, here are a few other great Alberta lakes nearby that also deserve some summer love.
BARRIER LAKE
Alberta’s mountain lakes aren’t for the faint of heart. Indeed, the waters of Kananaskis lakes are cold enough to freeze your heart (and everything else).
Hike the 14-kilometre Prairie View trail loop at Barrier Lake and after four and a half hours (and a 450-metre ascent), the water will look very inviting. However, you may be alone in the water should you choose to take the plunge.
"You really don’t see people swimming. The kids might get their feet wet, but that’s about it because it is just so cold," says Wayne Grams, a Kananaskis information officer.
Water-skiing is permitted as well (there’s a boat launch), but Grams says not too many people do that either. He warns would-be water-skiers to keep their eyes open for logs.
There are two day-use areas on the lake: Barrier Dam and Barrier Lake. The Barrier Dam spot is mainly used as a starting point for trails and can get a bit windy. The Barrier Lake spot has more trees and is nicer all around.
If you want to camp on the lake, you can stay at the Jewell Bay Backcountry Campground. To get there, park at Barrier Dam, walk across the dam and then keep going along Stony Trail for four kilometres until you come to the site.
GETTING THERE
Exit the city heading west on Highway 1. Go about 75 kilometres until you hit Highway 40 where you head south. The first day-use area, Barrier Dam, is eight kilometres down the road. Go two more kilometres if you want to go to the nicer Barrier Lake area.
CAMERON LAKE
A Canadian, said the late Pierre Berton, is someone who can make love in a canoe without tipping it. There’s no better place to test your citizenship than Cameron Lake, a beautiful glacier lake in Waterton Lakes National Park.
If you should fail – well, it will be cold. It would be wise to heed the advice of an old Jedi master: Do or do not. There is no try.
Canoes and other boats can be rented near the parking area. Once you’ve proved that you are, in fact, Canadian, enjoy the walking trail around the lake and take in the beautiful mountain scenery of the country you can now legitimately call your own.
Mule deer, elk and bighorned sheep are just a few of the animals that can be seen around the lake, and sometimes grizzlies are spotted on far slopes.
GETTING THERE
Go south out of town on Highway 2. Turn west on Highway 5. When you get to the Waterton Lakes townsite, follow the signs.
GLENNIFER LAKE
This fine lake near Innisfail is perfect for watersports.
"It’s cold, but really clean," says Laurel Alder, owner of the Dickson Leisure campground on the south side of the lake. "It’s not all weedy or full of algae."
There are about 23 species of fish in the lake, including mountain whitefish, northern pike and white suckers.
On the northwestern part of the lake there is a trout pond for fishing (small fishing boats are allowed), and there are three boat launches at different parts of the lake where you can drop your trusty craft.
The water level is a bit unpredictable since the lake supplies water to nearby Red Deer. Depending when you go, there may be a lot of beach or there may be very little. A natural lake is probably a better choice for a weekend on the beach.
GETTING THERE
Go north on Highway 2 and exit west onto Secondary Highway 587 at Bowden. Drive for 17 kilometres and turn north (right) at range road 25. Nine kilometres more and you’ll be there.
LAKE NEWELL
Located near the Alberta metropolis of Brooks, Lake Newell is one of the largest non-natural lakes in Canada.
There’s an island on the lake – called Pelican Island – where pelicans reign free of human interference. Boats aren’t allowed near the island, but there are plenty of other places to spot different bird species like double-crested cormorant, Caspian tern, eared grebe and great blue heron. In the Kinbrook Marsh around the lake, there’s a 4.5-kilometre pathway for hikers.
"It’s a nice walk around there," says Dyanne Laplante, manager of the Kinbrook Island Provincial Park. "Nice for hiking, nice for birdwatching. It’s a real bird paradise."
The lake’s nicely treed campground is located on an island just under a kilometre out on the water.
If you don’t have a boat, that’s no problem; the island is linked to the mainland by a road. But if you do have a boat, it’s a great place for water-skiing.
GETTING THERE
Head east out of Calgary on Highway 1. Drive for about two hours until you come to Brooks, and then go 13 kilometres south on Highway 873.
CHAIN LAKES
Like so many other southern Alberta lakes, Chain Lakes is non-natural.
This is the place to go if you’re looking for a quiet, low-key lake getaway. Water-skiing and other water sports that require a boat to go faster than 12 kilometres per hour are not permitted. The lake is stocked with rainbow trout, making it a choice fishing destination. A few years ago the lake was also stocked with bull trout (they are catch-and-release only).
The campground has very secluded sites with a lot of willow bushes, but the close proximity of the trees means individual fires aren’t permitted – there are community firepits instead. One park official says many aren’t thrilled about the "community campfire" idea before they get there, but she says everyone usually ends up enjoying it, strumming guitars and meeting new people. A definite plus is that the firewood is free.
GETTING THERE
Head south on Highway 2 to Nanton. At Nanton, head west on Secondary Highway 533. The lake is at the intersection of highway 533 and highway 22. |
Copyright ©2005 FFWD. All rights reserved.