Kananaskis Lakes Information

Kananaskis Lakes Information

The Kananaskis Lakes are in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park and make up part of Kananaskis Country in the south west of Alberta about 140 km (87 miles) from Calgary. The lakes consist of the Upper Kananaskis and the Lower Kananaskis lakes and cover an area of about 13 square kilometres of water. The lakes formed in a natural valley and all around are the towering peaks of the Canadian Rocky Mountains, several of which are more than 3,000m (around 10,000 feet) in height, and capped with snow for much of the year.

The lakes are fed by the Kananaskis River and are used for managing the water levels downstream via dams which are also used for generating electricity via hydro-electric power stations.  The Kananaskis Provincial Park was established in 1976 and comprises more than 500 square kilometres (195 square miles). The park was renamed in the mid 1980s to its present Peter Lougheed Provincial Park after one of Alberta's past premiers.

There are 14 campgrounds within the park offering differing levels of amenities, but only some are open year round. As well as this the William Watson Lodge offers inexpensive accommodation for senior citizens and the handicapped, and the William Watson campground is set up to cater for campers with special needs. The park provides six day-use sites around the lakes and as well as several boat ramps giving easy access to the water. At extreme low water levels, generally in spring, access to the lake via the boat ramps is very limited and sometimes impossible.

The Kananaskis Visitor Centre is located near the bottom of the Lower Kananaskis Lake and provides information on the history of the lakes and surrounding areas as well as information on the facilities available within the park. There is an impressive range of activities to enjoy within the park including hiking on well marked paths; canoeing, kayaking, boating and fishing on the lake; back country hiking and camping; rock climbing; mountain biking on maintained paths.

The vast Kananaskis Lakes area will give you the chance to experience some of Alberta's real back country while still located conveniently close to the city of Calgary. The sweet country air combined with extraordinary scenery and crystal clear waters is truly inspiring and will make for a vacation that won’t soon be forgotten.