Calgary 
You can now have a beach day at Calgary’s man-made lake.
To Do Canada
Sikome Lake, located within the Fish Creek Provincial Park, opened on June 30 for the 2026 season, with major renovation work now complete. Upgrades include the construction of two new admissions booths and a new water safety centre, the renovation of five existing buildings, site grading, and surface restoration.
Minor finishing work will continue concurrently with the operating season.
The Lake, first opened in 1978, is staffed by Alberta Provincial Parks aquatic staff.
During the season, the entire body of water is refreshed every 8 days by an on-site water treatment plant. The lake measures 0.44 sq km in area and is ~ 7 ft deep. During winter, the water is drained, and it takes about three weeks for the lake to refill every spring.
Weekly, water samples are collected from various sections of the lake. These samples are analyzed at Foothills Hospital, after which the results are shared with Alberta Health Services and the maintenance team at Fish Creek Provincial Park.
In addition to the swimming beach and lake, the facilities include change rooms and playgrounds.
The Concession, situated in the GATE A (Main) building, offers a range of food items including hot dogs, sandwiches, snacks, frozen treats, and soft drinks. It provides a convenient option for visitors to purchase refreshments.
At the Beach Shop, you can find a selection of beach supplies available for purchase. This includes towels, sunscreen, swim diapers, hats, umbrellas, assorted inflatables, and reusable water bottles.
Both the Concession and Beach Shop operate during specific hours. From Mondays to Thursdays, they are open from 11 am to 6 pm. From Fridays to Sundays, the operating hours are extended until 7:00 p.m.
A beach wheelchair is available for loan at the GATE A (Main) entrance.
Credit: Alberta Parks
If you are planning a day out, here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Sikome Lake is a swimming lake that has no lifeguards. Hence, you need to supervise children. All children under seven should be within the guardian’s arm’s reach. The current rules require a minimum of 1 adult for every five children under 12 for admission into the facility. FDA personal flotation devices are recommended and available for free onsite use through the Lifejacket Loaner Station program. There have been two drownings (a 7-year-old and a 29-year-old) at the lake.
- The park has a few picnic tables, and propane gas barbecues are allowed on grassy areas, but wood or charcoal/briquette barbecues are prohibited.
- Canoes, kayaks, motorboats, hard-bottom rafts, and paddleboards are not permitted.
The park charges admission at the gate at the rate of $19 for a family (2 adults + 4 children living at the same residence), $8 for adults (18-64), $5 for seniors (65+), and $5 for children (6-17).
Sikome Lake (22 Sikome Cir SE, Calgary) is open daily until Sunday, August 30.
Hours of Operation:
North Gate Admissions:
- Monday to Thursday: 11:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
- Friday, Weekends, and Holidays: 10:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.
South Gate Admissions:
- Monday to Thursday: Not available.
- Friday, Weekends, and Holidays: 10:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.
The beach and water close at 6 pm, and the gates lock promptly at 6:30 pm from Mondays to Thursdays. The beach and water close at 7 pm, and the gates lock promptly at 7:30 pm from Fridays to Sundays.
“man-man lake”?