Whether you canoe, kayak, or stand-up paddleboard, paddling is fun for the whole family! Explore the shore of a mountain lake or local lagoon, watch wildlife from the water, or head to your favorite fishing hole.
Not sure where to go? Here are five paddling spots perfect for families in and around Calgary. Many have onsite canoe/kayak/stand-up paddleboard (SUP) rentals that include life jackets and safety gear, so all you need to bring is sunscreen, water, and snacks!
Where to paddle in and around Calgary:
Glenmore Reservoir is one of the best places to paddle because it’s the largest ‘lake’ in Calgary, almost 4 square kilometers in size. There’s good trout and pike fishing and bird watching here, and if you’re lucky, you’ll see sailboats and dragon boats too!
Since Glenmore is a reservoir, there are some restrictions: no inflatable boats, no swimming, no stand-up paddleboarding, and no pets on boats. You must also access the water from designated access points only: Calgary Canoe Club, Heritage Park Marina, and Glenmore Sailing School.
Calgary Canoe Club provides hourly and half-day (four-hour) canoe rentals onsite. AQ Outdoors offers kayak rentals on select weekday evenings (6 to 8:30pm) at Heritage Park Marina.
With flat water and onsite rentals, Bowness Lagoon is perfect for beginners. See if you can spot the resident beaver as you paddle around the ponds, then paddle past the Bownessie mural, and head up the creek for a change of scenery. The creek is shallow and slow moving, so there’s no current to fight. Afterwards, get an ice cream at Seasons of Bowness Park, take the kids to the playgrounds, or have a picnic! The park boasts several picnic sites with fire pits and picnic shelters.
Canoe, kayak, and pedal boat rentals are available at the Boathouse. The lagoon and near side of the creek are also suitable for stand-up paddleboarding (bring your own SUP).
Carburn Park is a good place to learn to SUP or kayak as the lagoon and pond are calm and sheltered by trees and shrubs. Paddle in the lagoon, then walk over to the pond and do a few laps there. Keep an eye out for kingfishers and great blue herons! If you’d like to stay a while, there are pretty picnic areas and paths around the ponds. For a cool nighttime experience, rent a clear, glowing kayak from Calgary Kayaks (delivery included - bring your own child PFD(s) if needed)!
Rent SUPs from University of Calgary Outdoor Centre, Aquabatics, Sports Rent, or The Paddle Station.
For spectacular mountain views and easy paddling, head to Johnson Lake in Banff. With warm, shallow water, a small sandy beach, and picnic area, this lake is a family favorite. It’s only 1.1km across, so you can take your time (we love to just float in the middle of the lake), then hike to the red chairs, hoodoo viewpoint, or old hermit cabin.
SUP rentals are available from Banff Canoe Club.
Lower Kananaskis Lake is a gorgeous paddling and fishing spot that tends to be less windy than nearby Upper Kananaskis Lake. Start at Canyon Boat Launch or Interlakes Boat Launch and go as far as you like. You could easily spend hours here since the lake is so long (8km)! Fish for giant rainbow trout, look for bald eagles, and scan the shoreline for deer, moose, and bears.
Lakeside canoe and kayak rentals are available from Boulton Creek Rentals (pre-pay at the rental shop and pick up at the boat launch). You can also rent canoes and SUPs from Kananaskis Outfitters in Kananaskis Village.
More Lakes Near Calgary
Barrier Lake, Chestermere Lake, and Ghost Lake have onsite rentals, but tend to be quite windy, so go on a calm day after you’ve paddled a few times. For the best conditions, head out early in the morning before the wind and boat traffic pick up.
Know Before You Go
Required equipment: A personal flotation device (PFD), whistle, bailer, and paddle/throw bag (containing at least 15m of buoyant rope) are mandatory when paddling.
Karen is a mother and a lover of maps, mountains, and mochas. With her geography degree and experience leading hikes and backpacking trips in the Rockies, she is full of ideas on where to go and what to do. The mission of her blog, playoutsideguide.com, is to provide “everything you need to know to get outside and have fun.”
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