Just a short drive from Banff, Lake Minnewanka is the largest lake in Banff National Park, stretching over 21 km through a dramatic mountain valley. The lake you see today is actually a man-made reservoir that was expanded in the early 1900s when a dam was built to generate hydroelectric power for the town of Banff. Beneath the deep blue water lie the remains of an old resort village called Minnewanka Landing, which was flooded when the lake level was raised. Today, the lake sits surrounded by towering peaks like Mount Inglismaldie and Mount Girouard, making it one of the most scenic drives and viewpoints in the park.

Right near the parking area you’ll find a large lakeshore viewpoint, picnic areas, and the marina, where visitors can relax by the water or rent boats and kayaks. One of the most popular ways to explore the lake is the Lake Minnewanka Boat Cruise, a guided one-hour trip that travels deep into the lake while sharing stories about the area’s wildlife, history, and the submerged village below.

For those wanting to explore further, several trails start from the lake. The Stewart Canyon Trail is an easy 7 km return walk following the Cascade River to a scenic canyon, while the Lake Minnewanka Trail stretches for over 30 km along the shoreline, leading backpackers into the remote eastern end of the lake where wildlife sightings, including bears and bighorn sheep, are common.