Calgary 
Summer in southern Alberta: when we get the heat we’ve been waiting for all year.
Johnson Lake/ Credit: To Do Canada
You can find several beaches close to Calgary if you need to beat that heat. Even if you just want to relax and read in the sand, picnic with your family, or explore the waters further by boat, you can find many places for a wicked cool day trip this summer.
Johnson Lake
Welcome to Banff National Park’s only real beach! Johnson Lake gives you a unique opportunity for some of the most beautiful swimming scenery you could ask for if you’re brave enough for the cold. This lake will be cold, but that may not matter if it is hot enough outside. When it is hot enough, you’ll notice the beach line with people catching the sun, floaties out on the water, and boats all over. If you plan your timing right with the weather, this could be your new summer swimming hole.
Drive time from Calgary: 1 to 1.5 hours
You may also like to visit:
Calgary’s Public Beach at Sikome Lake
Newcastle Beach
Drumheller is a convenient and fun-filled day trip from Calgary, no matter what activities you choose, but you can come here to simply enjoy the sandy shores of the Red Deer River. This calmer area is perfect for a hot day and has plenty of shallow spaces for splashing around and cooling down. Near the beach is a fenced-off dog park, playground structures, and picnic sites.
Where:
Newcastle Recreation Area, 10 Street West, Drumheller
Drive time from Calgary: 1 to 1.5 hours
Quarry Lake Park
The beautiful swimming oasis of Quarry Lake Park can be reached from Calgary in under an hour and provides more than just swimming to fill your day. You’ll want to come here for swimming in mid-to-late July, as that will be the warmest time. The clean and pristine waters are thanks to the lake being fed by an underground spring. Stick to the shallow ends, though, as the lake can reach up to 100m deep on the opposite side from the beach. With onsite washrooms and picnic benches, you can easily stay for the day and bring lunch or dinner to enjoy lakeside.
Where:
Quarry Lake, Canmore
Drive time from Calgary: 45 to 60 minutes
Park Lake Provincial Park Main Day Use Area
This small and shallow prairie lake offers clear waters for your swimming, paddling, floating, fishing, sailing, or powerboating fun (keep in mind the speed limit of 12km/h!). After all the time in the warmer waters, you can have a picnic on the beach, follow the trails to a concession and viewpoints, or explore the playgrounds with your kids.
Where: Park Lake Provincial Park, Diamond City
Drive time from Calgary: 2 to 2.5 hours
Red Lodge Provincial Park Day Use Area
The quiet Little Red Deer River is an estuary of the Red Deer River and offers shallow river swimming. The day-use area could also be a great place to anchor an inflatable boat! The river isn’t large enough for powerboats, so the water will stay quiet and calm as long as the weather does. There are several other attractions to stop by before or after the beach (rocky beach, not sandy), like the Bowden Sunmaze, Glennifer Lake Reservoir, and Eagle Creek Farms.
Where:
Drive time from Calgary: 1 to 1.5 hours
Chestermere Lake
Chestermere makes for one of the closest day trips from Calgary, especially if you live on the east side of the city. The manmade reservoir features a sandy beach where you can cool off in the water and enjoy floating around. There are three areas you can enjoy around the lake: find the big sandy and grassy areas at Anniversary Park; sports fields and courts, and a new playground at Cove Park; and the perfect place to end your day, Sunset Park. It is $10 to park, and spots are limited!
Where:
Drive time from Calgary: 15 to 45 minutes
Little Bow Provincial Park Day Use Area
In addition to a quiet and secluded beach, Little Bow Provincial Park also offers unique scenery for your day on the river. The beach is located where the Bow River meets the Travers Reservoir, where you’re surrounded by large grassy hills. There isn’t much for shade out here, however, so bringing a beach shelter of your own is recommended.
Beyond swimming, floating, or beach time, you can also take canoes or kayaks on the water, or speed things up with motor/jetboats.
This is an especially important wildlife viewing area as well where you might spot the threatened species of peregrine falcons!
Where:
Drive time from Calgary: 1.5 to 2 hours
Kinbrook Island Provincial Park Day Use Area
A full beach day experience awaits at this beautiful southern Alberta Park, which is an island on Lake Newell. Everything you need for a fun day in the sun is on the island, too, like a concession, washrooms, boat and hand launches, beach volleyball nets, playgrounds, and the entire lake! Launch your inflatables from the beach or take off on SUPs/canoes/kayaks from the hand launch. It is a calm lake to explore on paddle boats, too, as there are many different inlets to check out. On your drive, you will experience a vast variety of Alberta scenery, making your time in the car part of the fun.
Where:
Drive time from Calgary: 2 to 2.5 hours
Sylvan Lake
You might think Sylvan is the best option for a day trip from Calgary because of how close it is, but there are many things to look forward to this summer, all of which you can easily plan your beach day around. You can plan everything around watersports: you can rent a variety of boats from Sunsport Recreation, bring your own boat, or treat your kids to the Aqua Splash floating playground.
Where:
Drive time from Calgary: 1 to 1.5 hours
Discovery Canyon in Red Deer
This will be a perfect mini beach day for people with younger kids. Discovery Canyon is a unique beach attraction in Red Deer which gives people of all ages the chance to try lazy river floating in a safer environment. There is a sandy beach area here as well, with picturesque landscaping, a playground, and several nearby riverside trails to check out after the water.
You’ll be in the heart of the city of Red Deer, with numerous dining options nearby, including fine dining, casual, and fast food.
Where:
Drive time from Calgary: 1.5 to 2 hours
