Lake Minnewanka – Banff’s Lakefront Playground
On a frosty fall day, I made my way out to Lake Minnewanka. This is an unfortunate time of the year where the glacial lake is not yet frozen for recreational use nor is it warm enough to swim. What this time of year does provide is the beginnings of frost on the glacial tips of the surrounding mountains and a dark blue lake water that could make a queen blush at its majesty! In fact the best time about this part of the year is that the lake is practically devoid of tourists!
This is stub of my Banff post that can be found here.
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Driving Around the Lake
Lake Minnewanka is a long and slim creation, slithering though the snow-capped mountains and nestled between them. One can drive its shores along Lake Minnewanka Drive. Following this road to its south you have both Two Jack Lake and Lake Johnson, offshoots of its bigger cousin that are popular for recreational users. Johnson in particular is disconnected from Lake Minnewanka and is popular in the summer with swimmers. The drive follows a channel of water leading from the lake to the beautiful Bow river. The glacier lake is controlled by a sluice gate leading into Two Jack Lake, one of the more scenic parts of the drive.
Lake Minnewanka
From the mountain town of Banff, you will arrive at the lake’s western approach. The road in (Lake Minnewanka Scenic Drive) is closed from April to November. The lake is flanked by the imposing Mount Giroux to the South and Mount Aylmer to the north.
There is a parking lot near the dock and boat tours of the lake are offered from here. You will also find the Lake Minnewanka trail heading along the river before crossing the dramatic Stewart canyon that feeds into the lake.
The pathway continues until you come across the Aylmer lookout, offering a fabulous view of the Aylmer Pass and the lake, if you wish to climb up to the Aylmer lookout. From here you will get to see the spectacular bend in the river along with Mount Giroux!
