The 5 most beautiful lakes in Canada

Canada is a beautiful country with amazing and diverse nature. You can find almost every possible type of landscape here, including beautiful lakes. Often the lakes have a beautiful blue color and are surrounded by the immense snow-capped mountains or the huge green forests. In a country with more than two million lakes, more lakes than any other country in the world, you can bet Canada has some gems in store for you. Which lakes are really the most beautiful? We have made a list of our favorite 5 beautiful lakes in Canada.

Lake Louise (Alberta)

Lake Louise is a stunning turquoise glacial lake nestled in the heart of Banff National Park, Canada. This magnificent lake in the Canadian Rockies was first discovered by Tom Wilson in 1882. It's named after Princess Louise, Queen Victoria's daughter, as it draws life from the glacier that stretches across its expanse. This symbiotic relationship is poetically symbolic—where the lake springs forth from the glacier, the glacier, in turn, sustains the lake.


The lake's ethereal blue-green color undergoes seasonal transformations. A hike around the lake takes about an hour. The more challenging trails, including the highly popular Teahouse Hike, traverse beautiful forests, crystal-clear lakes, and provide scenic vistas of the Bow Valley. After a few hours, you'll arrive at the Lake Agnes Teahouse, a charming establishment dating back to 1925, where you can enjoy refreshments and homemade cookies.

If you are looking for a spectacular place to stay we recommend the Fairmont Château Lake Louise. This stands as an impregnable fortress beautifully positioned on the shores of Lake Louise. Don't forget to step inside the lobby and perhaps partake in a traditional "high tea" to honor old English customs. From your room you can relish the splendid views.

Lake Superior (Ontario)

With an area of over 80,000 square meters, Lake Superior is the largest freshwater lake in the world. The lake is known to be turbulent: countless ships wrecked on the lake and hundreds of sailors found their sailors' graves here.


Lake Superior Provincial Park begins about a hundred kilometers (62 miles) northwest of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario's oldest city. The rugged landscape of the provincial park is forested with a mix of coniferous and deciduous trees. The mostly rocky coastline is punctuated by sandy beaches.


The park is home to a large population of moose. The best time to view these elk are the months of April, May and June. Other large animals that live in the park are the black bear and the gray wolf.

Maligne Lake (Alberta)

Maligne Lake is located at the end of Maligne Road in Jasper National Park. This Maligne Lake is the second-largest glacial lake in the world and, according to many, the most beautiful in the Rocky Mountains.


The drive to Maligne Lake from Jasper takes about 1 to 1.5 hours. You'll feast your eyes. A scenic route takes you past numerous photo stops and viewpoints. Want to see the lake even better? Then book a Maligne Lake Cruise .

Maligne Lake offers some of the most interesting and spectacular scenery in the world. The most beautiful spot on Maligne Lake is Spirit Island, a small island with trees. Some people claim these are the most photographed trees in Canada. Spirit Island, so named by the Indigenous people of the Stoney Nation because of the experiences their ancestors had in this place centuries ago, is a tiny grove of trees and pristine nature. Spirit Island becomes a real island in the summer for a few short days.


Spirit Island's real attraction is its backdrop: a ring of impressive peaks and glaciers circling the south side of Maligne Lake, and the deep turquoise color of the water. A short trail forms a loop from the docks to vantage points overlooking Spirit Island. To preserve the area in its natural state, trespassing on the island is not allowed.

Boat tours are conducted only when the lake is not frozen. This is generally from early/mid-June through early October. It is highly recommended to book your tickets in advance. Be sure to arrive on time; the parking lots around the lake can be crowded. The total cruise takes about 1.5 hours.

Emerald Lake (Yukon)

Hidden somewhere in the heart of the Canadian Rockies, Emerald Lake is a true hidden treasure. Surrounded by the high peaks of the Kicking Horse Valley in Yoho National Park, British Columbia, in a beautiful setting lies Emerald Lake, a lake that seems straight out of a fairy tale. When we first arrived we fell silent and we had to blink at first, it just didn't feel realistic, so beautiful.


The vegetation at Emerald Lake consists of sensitive plant species due to the different micro climates. In addition, there are many wild orchids that can survive in these balanced conditions. In addition, Emerald Lake is a great place to spot wildlife. In fact, these are attracted to the important water source.


The lake truly lives up to its name. The lake's emerald glitter welcomes visitors from June to November, before frost turns the area into a winter wonderland during the long winter.

Summer is the most popular time to visit the lake, but Emerald Lake is also a picturesque place to visit in winter. Put on your snowshoes, go cross-country skiing or enjoy the wonderful tranquility of the area. Compared to popular destinations like Lake Louise, Emerald Lake, especially in winter, is truly a piece of paradise on earth.

There are several hiking trails in the area and the opportunity to explore the glistening jade waters by canoe.

Lake Okanagan (British Columbia)

In southern British Columbia you will find one of the warmest regions in Canada, the Okanagan Valley, where you will find the similarly named lake, Lake Okanagan. Beautiful sand and boulder beaches surrounded by pine trees make this park a perfect place for swimming and other water activities. You can also play great golf and in winter the area lends itself to good skiing. In addition, this region is known for its excellent wines.


When you think of where a good wine comes from, you don't immediately think of Canada, but Okanagan Valley changes everything. It is particularly popular among wine enthusiasts. Not only is the setting, with its rolling hills and golden desert prairies, beautiful, but the wine tastes outstanding. You can visit one of the many wineries in this region.

The Okanagan Valley is tucked between the rugged Canadian Rockies and coastal rainforests. A region where recreational lakes are surrounded by vineyards and orchards. Around Kelowna you can visit some very upscale wineries. Good ones are: Mission Hill Winery, Quails Gate Winery and Tantalus Vineyards. Be sure to book in advance, the winery tours are highly popular amongst Canadians and American tourists.

Okanagan Valley is a welcome contrast to Western Canada's glacial lakes, mountain peaks, waterfalls, rainforests and wildlife safaris. It completes your experience. Cheers!