Early morning sunlight on cliffs along the Lake Minnewanka loop drive; August 14, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simergphotos.
When you are visiting Lake Minnewanka, Banff National Park’s largest lake which is full of indigienous and modern stories, you are actually at the end of the Lake Minnewanka loop road. The complete loop is around 13.1 km. Going clockwise (closed from November to May), Lake Minnewanka is the first of the 3 lakes you would be visiting — the others being Two Jack and Johnson — and when you go in the anti-clockwise direction (open year round), your stops are in reverse order — Johnson Lake, Two Jack Lake and Lake Minnewanka.
But even before that, when you drive on Banff Avenue and take the fork to the Lake Minnewanka loop, the first beautiful sight that you reach is the Cascade Ponds. A wonderful feature of the Cascade Ponds is that numerous small bridges have been built through the ponds to allow you get close to the beautiful emerald waters and marvel at the majestic mountain scenery. I also came across several families doing BBQ.
A view of Cascade Ponds, located 500 metres after you exit Banff Avenue for the Lake Minnewanka loop drive; August 14, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simergphotos.
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BBQ fires burning at Cascade Ponds picnic area; August 14, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simergphotos.
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A view of Cascade Ponds, located 500 metres after you exit Banff Avenue for the Lake Minnewanka loop drive; August 14, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simergphotos.
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JOHNSON LAKE
After Cascade Ponds, you drive a few hundred metres and arrive at a T-junction. You turn right and go anti-clockwise and the next stop, a slight detour off the loop, is the beautiful Johnson Lake. I have visited it during all seasons of the year. However, I have yet to complete the easy 2.9 km trail around the lake.
Sunrise, Johnson Lake; August 8, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simergphotos.
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Sunrise reflection, Johnson Lake; August 8, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simergphotos.
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A film crew from Rocky Mountain Adaptive, a charitable organisation that creates and provides accessible adventures for individuals living with physical and/or neuro-divergent challenges, arrives at Johnson Lake to shoot a movie of two individuals facing physical challenges in order to encourage water sports such as kayaking, canoeing and paddle boating among individuals facing similar challenges; August 8, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simergphotos.
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Location at Johnson Park where a film crew from Rocky Mountain Adaptive set up their filming equipment to shoot a movie of two individuals facing physical challenges in order to encourage water sports such as kayaking, canoeing and paddle boating among individuals facing physical challenges; August 8, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simergphotos.
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A film crew from Rocky Mountain Adaptive takes a movie that will be shown during the autumn of 2023 as two individuals facing physical challenges prepare to go kayaking in Johnson Lake to encourage water-sports among individuals facing physical challenges; August 8, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simergphotos.
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An instructor, extreme left, gives lessons in paddle boating in Johnson Lake to a group of individuals new to the water activity; August 8, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simergphotos.
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Children enjoy a swim in Johnson Lake; August 14, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simergphotos.
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Beautiful Rocky Mountain scenery as visitors enjoy their time in Johnson Lake ; August 14, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simergphotos.
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CANAL: LAKE MINNEWANKA LOOP ROAD
Driving back from Johnson Lake to continue your loop drive and just before you make a right turn for Two Jack Lake, you MUST make stop at a small roadside parking area that leads you to a canal that joins Johnson and Two Jack Lakes. Literally, you can sit by the canal for hours. Watching people paddle boat in the emerald/torquoise waters against the backdrop of mountains is absolutely breathtaking. I also saw individuals relaxing in their hammocks hanging on trees and during my contemplative 30 minutes I didn’t even hear the buzz of one mosquito!
A visitor enjoys paddle boating in the beautiful canal that stretches from Johnson Lake to Two Jack Lake, along the Lake Minnewanka loop road; August 14, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simergphotos.
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TWO JACK LAKE
A stunning view of Two Jack Lake located on the Lake Minnewanka loop road; August 14, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simergphotos.
Another stunning view of Two Jack Lake located on the Lake Minnewanka loop road; August 14, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg photos.
As you continue your final loop drive to Lake Minnewanka, you have to be careful around bends! I have seeen big horn sheep as many times as I have driven through the loop. You can see them by the roadside but the most exciting part is when they climb up the cliffs to take a breather at the top . The sight of the sheep with their babies is truly wonderful.
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BIG HORN SHEEP: LAKE MINNEWANKA LOOP ROAD
Big Horn Sheep by roadside just past Two Jack Lake on the Lake Minnewanka loop road; August 14, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg photos.
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A beautiful Big Horn Sheep on road side just past Two Jack Lake on the Lake Minnewanka loop road; August 14, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simergphotos.
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Big Horn Sheep climb a steep cliff and arrrive at their resting place just past Two Jack Lake on the Lake Minnewanka loop road; August 14, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simergphotos.
Adult Big Horn Sheep resting with their baby on top of a cliff, just past Two Jack Lake on the Lake Minnewanka loop road; August 14, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simergphotos.
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LAKE MINNEWANKA
Malik Merchant captures the glory of Lake Minnewanka from the back of a cruise boat; August 8, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simergphotos.
At the Minnewanka Lake, I have taken a 1 hour cruise that takes you at least 8 kms into the lake and I have done the beautiful 1.4 km (one way) trail to the Stewart Canyon Bridge. The trail takes you through forests. But you are then challenged walking through a narrow path along the edge of cliffs, overlooking the stunning lake. These cliff paths designate the trail to be in the “moderate” category. Beyond the Stewart Canyon Bridge there are 9 other trailheads ranging from 7 kms (Aylmer Pass Junction LM8) to 28 kms (Devil’s Gap Trailhead). For these extended trails, it is mandatory to be in a minimum group of 4 people because of bear activity.
The trail to Stewart Canyon Bridge passes through foresty area as well as cliffs overlooking Lake Minnewanka; August 14, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simergphotos.
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A view of Lake Minnewanka from trail leading to Stewart Canyon Bridge; August 14, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simergphotos.
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A view of Lake Minnewanka from trail leading to Stewart Canyon Bridge; August 14, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simergphotos.
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A beautiful butterfly on trail leading to Stewart Canyon Bridge; August 14, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simergphotos.
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A family goes past the Stewart Canyon Bridge, descends down a cliff and enjoys time on the banks of the Cascade River; August 14, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simergphotos.
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A canoeist approaches the Stewart Canyon Bridge as he rows his boat from Lake Minnewanka into the Cascade River; August 14, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simergphotos.
With 2 weeks left before schools commence, I would suggest you spend a few hours or an entire day doing the Lake Minnewanka loop drive. At Johnson and Two Jack Lake I saw lots of people boating, canoeing, paddle boating and swimming, The noisy and fun loving children were particularly enjoying their swim at Johnson Lake!
Date posted: August 18, 2023.
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Simply breathtaking. Thank you
Excellent photos and a good write-up on the Minnewanka Lake in Banff National Park. Good job!
Wow, amazing!
Absolutely gorgeous!