When the mercury rises, cool off at one of these beaches in and around Calgary!
On a hot day, there’s no better place to be than near water… or in it! Whether you want to sunbathe, wade, swim, or paddle, you’ll find a suitable beach spot here. We’ve rounded up the best public beaches in Calgary as well as the best beaches near Calgary. Go early to get parking and have a backup plan in case your favorite beach is busy.
Calgary Beaches
Calgary’s best beaches – manmade, sandy beaches – are at private lake communities with the exception of Sikome Lake, but there are several gravel beaches worth visiting if you just want to wade and sunbathe. Some gravel beaches along the Bow River, Elbow River, and Fish Creek include the following:
- Sikome Aquatic Facility is a manmade lake with a nice sandy beach. Located in South Calgary’s Fish Creek Provincial Park, the facility features change rooms and showers, three playgrounds, a sand volleyball court, picnic tables, a concession, and beach shop (sunscreen, swim diapers etc. for sale). Daily admission is $10/family or $5/adult and $3/child (kids under 2 are free). Note that there is no lifeguard on duty and SUPs and boats are not permitted. PDFs and floaties are ok though. Open 10 am to 7 pm daily. For more information, visit Alberta Parks.
- Edworthy Park is a fun place to play on a hot day if you don’t want to drive too far. The gravel beach is across the bridge from Angel’s Cappuccino and Ice Cream (4105 Montgomery View NW). Grab an ice cream or coffee, throw rocks in the river and wade, then hike the forested Douglas Fir Trail to the lookout (2.2 km return) or bike the Bow River Pathway (east to downtown, or west to Shouldice Park). There are several picnic areas in the park, but reservations are recommended on the weekend. Dial 311 to reserve (for a fee). The river flows fast here, so keep kids close to shore!
- Fish Creek Provincial Park, Calgary’s largest park, has a few gravel beaches(see the Fish Creek map here):
- From Bow Valley Ranche parking lot, head south and then turn right just before the bridge to access the creek and a small waterfall. Fun place to splash on a hot day.
- From Bebo Grove parking, head SW for river access. There is a great network of trails, a picnic area, and plenty of shade.
- Shannon Terrace also has beach access and a picnic area.
- After exploring Fish Creek Park, visit Pattiserie du Soleil Bakery & Cafe in Woodbine for delectable treats, breakfast and lunch!Sikome Lake, Fish Creek Provincial Park is a manmade lake with a sandy beach. Admissions fees are in effect.
- Mission/Roxboro* has a gravel beach on the Elbow River near 25 Ave SW and Erlton Street. Pick up coffee at Phil & Sebastian on 4th Street or try the amazing pastries at Yann Haute Patisserie at 329 23 Ave SW.
- Sandy Beach Park* does not have a sandy beach, but is a fun place to sunbathe, wade, or pop a raft in (you can float the Elbow River to Mission/Roxboro). Nearby Brown’s Socialhouse Brittania is highly recommended for elegant pubfare.
- Trout Beach, St. Patrick’s Island – bike here from East Village, Calgary Curling Club or the Calgary Zoo; visit the Bloom Art Installation and George C. King Bridge; let the kids burn off stome steam at the St Patrick’s Island or East Village playgrounds; dine at the Simmon’s Building (Phil & Sebastian Coffee, Sidewalk Citizen Artisan Bakery, or Charbar). You could also bike to Chinatown for dimsum!
*Safety Note: There have been e-coli advisories on the Elbow River for the past few years, so swimming is not advised.
City Spray Parks, Wading Pools, and Outdoor Pools
City spray parks, wading pools, and outdoor pools open in mid-June. For hours of operation and a complete list of pool and spray park locations, please visit Calgary Parks.
- Bowness Park has a few spots where you can access the Bow River (heading west from the parking lot), but the river runs swiftly by here, so we prefer paddling at the lagoon (swimming not recommended) or playing at the spray park. Paddleboat and canoe rentals and a Mini Train Ride are also available. When you get hungry, picnic at one of many shaded picnic sites or get coffee, ice cream or takeout from Seasons of Bowness Park (waterside dining also available).
- Prince’s Island Park – Lounge by the lagoon and watch the birds, splash in the Eau Claire Plaza Spray Park across the bridge (closed until further notice), throw a frisbee in the field, or bike the Bow River Pathway. River Café, located on the island, is a romantic spot for a meal.
Beaches Near Calgary (~1 hr drive)
- Anniversary Park & Beach, Chestermere: This sandy beach is only 20 minutes east of Calgary! Swim, paddle, or sunbathe, but note there is a lot of motorized boat traffic so paddling is best early or late in the day. Parking Fees are in effect as of 2021. Visit https://www.chestermere.ca/beaches for more information.
- Quarry Lake, Canmore: With a small sandy beach and spectacular mountain views, this is a hot spot in the summer. Nearby hikes include Grassi Lakes and Ha Ling Peak. There’s lots of good mountain biking at Canmore Nordic Centre too. After some outdoor fun, get ice cream at the school bus in downtown Canmore, or dinner at Rocky Mountain Flatbread Company. Parking fees in effect as of 2021.
- Barrier Lake Day Use (NOT Barrier Dam), Kananaskis: The water is icy cold, but the sand is perfect for building sand castles and there are shaded picnic sites near the lake. If it isn’t too windy, you can paddle here too! Nearby hikes include Widow Maker Trail, Mount Lorette Ponds (wheelchair-accessible trail, fishing ponds, and picnic area), Troll Falls & Upper Falls, and Prairie View & Yates Mountain.
- Johnson Lake, Banff: Swim, paddle, picnic, or hike at this pretty little lake. Get your Red Chair photo, search for the old hermit cabin built in 1910, and walk to the hoodoos viewpoint. There are picnic tables east of the beach (on the left side as you approach the lake), but if you prefer to stay close to the water, bring a picnic blanket. If Johnson Lake’s parking lot is full, you can picnic and paddle at nearby Cascade Ponds.
Going Further (Sandy beaches within 2 hours of Calgary)
The following provincial parks have swimming lakes with sandy beaches.
- Aspen Beach Provincial Park (180 km north of Calgary) – Alberta’s oldest provincial park, near Lacombe, has a long sandy beach and warm, shallow water in the “swimming” area at Ebeling Day Use (too shallow for swimming but fun for splashing/wading!). Gull Lake’s newest beach – Sandy Point – is a great alternative and can be less busy. Be sure to check out nearby Kraay Family Farm and Lacombe Corn Maze!
- Sylvan Provincial Park (160 km N of Calgary) – Sylvan Lake’s beach off Lakeshore Boulevard has a happening beach feel. Swim, paddle, sail, jetski, or play some beach volleyball. If you’d like to stay a while, camp at nearby Jarvis Bay Provincial Park. Calgary Playground Review has a great writeup on Water Fun in Red Deer here.
- Glennifer Lake’s South Dyke Beach is a fun place to play in the sand or float in the warm, clear water. Get Google Maps directions here.
- Little Bow Provincial Park (166 km SE of Calgary) has a lovely pebble beach with trees around it, and well-serviced campground (playground, concession, camp store, canoe/stand up paddleboard rentals). The little bay’s calm water is perfect for wading or learning to stand-up paddleboard. There’s also a boat launch if you’d like to get out on the Travers Reservoir and do some fishing/exploring. See our camping trip report here.
- Kinbrook Island Provincial Park (207 km SE of Calgary) is a desirable camping and beach destination. On long weekends, parks staff turn away 1,000-1,500 vehicles! Plan to camp here so you can enjoy the sandy beach, swimming area, 4.5 km wetland interpretive trail, and paddling/boating. See our story: Camping at Kinbrook Island Provincial Park for more info.
Bonus: Elkwater Lake, Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park (360 km SE of Calgary) has lovely sandy beaches, warm water, paddling, and free mini golf! There are also great hiking and mountain biking trails in the park.
Know Before You Go
A Kananaskis Conservation Pass is required to park in Kananaskis. Purchase your pass online at https://www.alberta.ca/kananaskis-conservation-pass.aspx.
A Parks Canada Discovery Pass / daily admission fee is required to stop in Banff National Park.
What to Bring
Disclosure: This section includes affiliate links through which I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting our website!
Beach essentials include a sun hat, sunscreen (this mineral sunscreen is safe for babies), sun shelter, waterproof picnic blanket, Turkish beach towel (100% cotton, quick dry, insulated water bottles, soft cooler, polarized sunglasses (to cut the glare), sand toys, life jackets, and stand up paddleboard (+ pump & paddle) or river tube (more puncture resistant than cheap floaties).
More Southern Alberta Summer Fun
- Where to Stand-Up Paddleboard In/Near Calgary
- Cool Creek Walks in Southern Alberta
- Alberta Parks’ Best Lakeside Campgrounds
- Waterfall Walks and Hikes in Southern Alberta
- 10 Fun Family Bike Rides in Calgary
- Three Urban Hikes in NW Calgary
