Go fishing, tramping, or get out on the water at the “Lake of the Spirits”, the largest in Banff National Park.
Visit the hugely popular Lake Minnewanka for the best in outdoor life, from hiking to fishing, scuba diving to boating, or just a quiet picnic along the shoreline. It's also just a short drive from Banff, five kilometres away.The lake's name is taken from the Stoney Native American language and means “Lake of the Spirits”. This name was bestowed by the indigenous peoples living in the area who believed that the lake was inhabited by spirits. By way of contrast, early European settlers called it “Devil's Lake”.Lake Minnewanka has long been a popular tourist destination, and a summer town was built here in the 19th century, complete with hotels, piers, restaurants and plentiful other buildings. The decision to build a dam, completed in 1941, changed things drastically. The water level rose 30 metres when the dam was filled, and the existing small town was submerged. This underwater town is still largely in place, and has become very popular with exploring scuba divers in more recent times.Even in this vast landscape, the lake is impressive it is 142 metres deep in the middle, and stretches for 28 kilometres. You can appreciate its scale on one of the many boat tours available around the lake, or try a fishing tour to catch some lake trout. These tours can be booked on the day you arrive at Lake Minnewanka, and don't forget your camera!Walkers can choose between gentle lakeside strolls and full-day tramping trips into the mountains. Visitors can also rent bikes. This land belongs to the animals living here as much as to the people, and you're likely to meet deer, bears, mountain sheep and eagles during your stay. Quieter winter is a good time for spotting wildlife. Keep your distance from the bears though, and don't go tramping by yourself.This area is very popular in the summer, so it's recommended that you come early before the car parks are full and all of the sheltered picnic spaces have been snapped up.
