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In the hotel, you’ll find a hot tub, steam room, and sauna, as well as a restaurant and bar. Unfortunately, for safety reasons, we are unable to accommodate for a stroller on the boats. We're Cameron and Natasha, and have been writing about travel for the last decade. In 2018, we settled in one of the most beautiful places, The Canadian Rockies.
The History of Lake Minnewanka
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Best time for Boat Cruises in Toronto 2024 - Best Season.
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Lake Minnewanka has approximately 25 picnic tables scattered around the day use area. Many of the picnic tables have good lake views, but some are tucked away in the shade of the evergreen forest or in a pleasant picnic area with a grass lawn. For a chance to see the underwater ghost town of Minnewanka Landing. From as early as 1886, Minnewanka Landing attracted visitors to its lakefront hotels, restaurants and cottages. SUP enthusiasts can bring their boards to Minnewanka, but to be honest, there are better lakes for stand-up paddle boarding in Banff than Lake Minnewanka.
How long is Lake Minnewanka tour?
It offers various activities including finishing, boating, and swimming and the stunning mountain scenery is something you have to see for yourself. You have a wide range of boating options on Lake Minnewanka, including canoes, motorboats, kayaks, or even stand-up paddleboards. If you’re seeking more of a challenge or to experience canoeing on open water, head to Lake Minnewanka. You have several options, though, for easy access to the lake. You can park at the Minnewanka Park & Ride or the Banff Train Station and hop on the Roam Transit (route 6), which will take you to the lake. The bus only operates in the summer from May 19th to September 15th (season dependent).
Lake Minnewanka Cruise & Combination Tours
Lake Minnewanka has a small café where you can order food and drinks for your visit to Lake Minnewanka. Offering picnic-friendly food and drink such as coffee, ice cream, or a hot dog, the Black Anchor is a fun place to treat yourself on your visit to Lake Minnewanka. Other popular Lake Minnewanka winter activities are cross country skiing at Lake Minnewanka and fat biking at Lake Minnewanka. Increase your odds of a sighting with these tips for spotting Banff wildlife from a local wildlife photographer.
As far as lakes in Alberta go, there are quite a few facilities at Lake Minnewanka. The bathrooms have flush toilets, which may be closed during winter. Lake Minnewanka is always busy in the summer, but you should take note of the following holidays as they’re even busier. It’s really packed on Canada Day when everyone heads to the picnic area for a BBQ in the park.
Accessibility and Parking at Lake Minnewanka
We were glad we had an extra layer so we could stay comfy and warm while enjoying the views. I think the turquoise water and jagged mountain peaks really do belong on a postcard, and the Devil’s Gap is just spellbindingly beautiful. The cruise is also a fantastic (and safe) way to spot wildlife and learn about the history of the lake. This place is significant to the Stoney Nakoda people, and I learned so much about the lake’s history from the commentary on board.
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My number one tip is to go to the bathroom before you board the cruise, especially if you are on the beer cruise. We were given four large beers on our journey, and by the time our 1.5-hour cruise had finished, I was sprinting to the toilets. Within Devil’s Gap lies a glacial path meandering through the eastern extremity of Lake Minnewanka, near Ghost Lakes near Cochrane. Here is also the lake’s deepest point, plunging 152 meters beneath the surface. To explore this hidden gem on foot, one must embark on a 30-kilometer journey into the remote Canadian Rockies.
However, I still love visiting the lake and snowshoeing some of the nearby hiking trails. This is also a great spot to go ice skating, so really visiting during the winter is just as fun as visiting during the summer (minus the cruise, of course!). However, Lake Minnewanka is a very popular destination, so it fills up quickly during the summer. If you’re visiting the lake in summertime, it’s best to go either early in the morning or later in the afternoon. We typically try to avoid the peak time from around 10 am until 3 pm.
Cruise further, see more and dig deeper into the wonders of Lake Minnewanka with our Premium Cruise. Set off on the Premium Cruise and connect with Lake Minnewanka like never before. An adventure athlete currently living near the Canadian Rockies with my partner in crime Michal.
Prices can be as low as $650 CAD or upwards of $1,000 CAD depending on when you book. You can check prices and room availability for Fairmont online here. Then, we headed back to shore – with a full camera roll on both our phones! The cruise lasted for about an hour, so it was easy to fit into our Banff sightseeing itinerary, and we definitely enjoyed it. Our cruise boats are covered, but there may be a bit of water spray if the windows are open when the boat picks up speed. Our boat capacity in normal times ranges from 38 to 60 passengers, depending on which boat you're on.
However, he did say that the Banff Gondola was his favorite thing to do in Banff (the gondola is always a hit with everyone). So if you’re choosing between only a few activities, read about Banff’s gondolas. This is by far the easiest option if you’re visiting in summer. The parking lot at Lake Minnewanka fills up fast, and if you don’t arrive early in the morning, it might take a while to find a spot. If you’re visiting from Calgary, it’s a 1.5-hour drive and a great Calgary day trip option we’ve done lots of times. Those with cruise tickets can board the ROAM bus for free from Downtown Banff.
The cruise only lasts an hour, so it’s not too long for little ones, and kids under 5 are free. Plus, the lake is calm, so there’s no need to worry about anyone getting seasick. If you’re going at a quieter time of year, like May or late September, you should be okay. But during the peak summer months (June through early September), we highly recommend booking your tickets in advance. We took a cruise on Lake Minnewanka and found that it was the best way to truly enjoy the lake. From the stunning scenery to the chance to spot wildlife and its unique history, this is your ideal Banff activity.
All of the same pros and cons mentioned in the paddle boarding section apply to kayaking at Lake Minnewanka. If you’d prefer to stay along the shores of the beautiful Banff lake, another very popular Lake Minnewanka hiking trail is the area’s signature hike, the Lake Minnewanka Trail. The Roam Route #6 bus travels from the Town of Banff to the Lake Minnewanka parking lot. Learn more about the Banff Roam bus in Getting Around Banff Without a Car. Imagine spending a day enjoying the best things to do at Lake Minnewanka, the biggest lake in Banff National Park. The Lake Minnewanka Cruise boathouse has a limited number of boats and guides available.
There are tons of great hotels right in Banff town, but if you prefer somewhere a little outside of town, we’ve got you covered too. Below are some amazing hotels we recommend for all budget types. Of course, we had to check out the Lake Minnewanka cruise for ourselves after hearing all of the hype. We arrived well before our cruise, but it’s recommended to get here and check in at least 15 minutes before. There is a 72 hour cancellation policy, which allows you to change/cancel or refund your booking up to 72 hours outside your booked tour (up to 10 days for group bookings).
All these sights are combined with insights into the region’s history to enhance the overall experience. For over 13,000 years, Devil’s Gap has served as a vital corridor for both human and wildlife movement. We know connection takes many forms, which is why we offer a range of unique cruises — along with guided fishing trips and rentals — to experience Lake Minnewanka your way. No matter how you choose to take in the beauty of Minnewanka, our goal is to share all that is special about this incredible place with you. Kids don’t mind though as the shoreline of Lake Minnewanka is filled with rocks perfect for kids to chuck into the icy waters. Most kids will throw rocks into the water for hours if you let them.
After our cruise, we hit one of the hiking trails for a full day at the lake. If you’re looking for a longer hike around Banff and want to escape the crowds, the Lake Minnewanka Trail is a great option to spot wildlife and see more of the area. It takes you along the northern shore from the day-use area near the dock to the east side of the lake. It’s 29 km (18 miles) each way, but you can turn back at any point to shorten the hike (otherwise it’s a very long one!). It’s a wholesome experience with pretty views and many chances to see animals grazing on the shore.
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