Discover Canada's Top Lakes

With around two million lakes, Canada offers a select few that stand out as the best. These include glacier-fed beauties and ideal spots for canoeing, skating, or simply enjoying the view.

Some of these lakes are not suitable for swimming due to their icy temperatures, but they offer other attractions that make them worth visiting.

Plan your sightseeing with our list of the best lakes in Canada.

1. Lake Louise

Lake Louise in Banff National Park is known for its stunning aqua blue waters and scenic location beneath the Rocky Mountains. While swimming might be off the table due to the cold, the lake is perfect for paddling and ice-skating, depending on the season. Hiking trails like the Lake Louise Lakeshore trail and Fairview Lookout offer great views and the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise provides luxurious accommodations.

2. Moraine Lake

Close to Lake Louise, Moraine Lake is smaller but equally impressive with its sparkling green waters. Access can be challenging, especially in winter, but the lake is ideal for canoeing, hiking, or simply relaxing by its shores. Seasonal accommodations are available at the nearby lodge.

3. Lake Superior

Lake Superior, the largest of the Great Lakes, is known for its vast size and rugged beauty. Its waters can be calm and inviting or stormy and wild. Visitors can swim, fish, kayak, or hike in the surrounding parks like Lake Superior Provincial Park and Pukaskwa National Park.

4. Emerald Lake

In Yoho National Park, Emerald Lake is the largest and owes its name to the sparkling green hue of its waters. Activities include canoeing, cross-country skiing, and hiking around the 5.2-kilometer trail. The Emerald Lake Lodge offers a cozy stay right by the lake.

5. Spotted Lake

Spotted Lake in British Columbia is known for its unique polka-dotted appearance due to mineral deposits. While swimming is not allowed, it's a fascinating site to visit, especially in summer when the spots are more visible.

6. Garibaldi Lake

Garibaldi Lake in British Columbia requires a strenuous 9-kilometer hike to reach, but the views of the alpine lake are rewarding. Visitors can camp by the lake and explore further trails like Black Tusk and Panorama Ridge.

7. Peyto Lake

Peyto Lake in Banff National Park is another glacial lake with stunning blue waters. Despite its popularity, visitors can find quieter times to visit in the late afternoon or early evening.

8. Lake of Bays

Lake of Bays in Ontario's Muskoka region offers a mix of developed and untouched shorelines, with activities like boating, swimming, and ice fishing in winter.

9. Kathleen Lake

Kathleen Lake in Yukon's Kluane National Park is ideal for a refreshing swim, kayaking, or hiking. The nearby campsite is a great base for exploring the park.

10. Lake of the Woods

Straddling Manitoba, Ontario, and Minnesota, Lake of the Woods is vast with over 14,550 islands. It's a paradise for boating, fishing, and houseboat vacations.

11. Berg Lake

Berg Lake in British Columbia is a turquoise glacial lake reached by a 23-kilometer hike. The trail passes by Kinney Lake and Emperor Falls, leading to the breathtaking lake below Mount Robson.

12. Lake Athabasca

Lake Athabasca, shared by Saskatchewan and Alberta, is Canada's 8th largest lake. The Athabasca Sand Dunes Provincial Park offers a unique wilderness experience.

13. Rainy Lake

Rainy Lake in Ontario is vast with over 2,000 islands and is perfect for boating, swimming, and fishing, especially for bass and walleye.

14. Great Slave Lake

Great Slave Lake in Northern Canada is the world's tenth largest body of water, known for fishing, birding, and even sailing during the long summer days.