Stand Up Paddleboarding

Moraine Lake

Stand up Paddleboarding (SUP) is one of the most popular water sports across the world today, and what better place to try it than on one of our beautiful mountain lakes? Paddlers can glide across tranquil waters with loons calling in the background at sunrise, or catch some easy waves while riding the Bow River from Banff to Canmore. For more of an adventure, try the newest craze to hit the Rockies. Rent an inflatable board and go SUP Hiking to pristine backcountry lakes.

Getting Started – Where to Rent and Get Outfitted

Before you jump on the lake, you’ll need to equip yourself with a board, paddle, and personal floatation device (pfd). A rental package will usually include an ankle leash, and includes other safety gear such as a whistle and a rescue throw bag which are both required by all paddlers in Canada.

There aren’t many lakeside rental companies operating in the Rockies so you may want to rent a board in Calgary, Canmore, or Banff and transport it to your destination. Inflatable boards are the easiest to transport, and the Banff Canoe Club rents them out by the day with a pump and all required gear. The Kananaskis Outfitters rents boards on weekends at the Barrier Lake Day Use Area in Kananaskis.

Nervous to try SUP for the first time without a lesson? Bow Valley SUP, operating out of the Banff and Canmore area, can get you set up with a lesson, rental, and guided first trip. They also offer family-friendly trips and a rental service for those wanting to head out alone.

Top 10 Lakes to SUP Across the Canadian Rockies

1. Vermillion Lakes, Banff—These three lakes are located next to the Banff townsite and provide great opportunities for wildlife viewing. Mt. Rundle provides a stunning backdrop and the water is usually calm for novice paddlers. There are docks located along Vermillion Lakes Drive at each lake and parking can be found along the side of the road. The first lake can also be reached from the Banff Canoe Club docks in town by paddling up Echo Creek. This trip offers beginners a chance to try moving water with a small current that can be paddled both up and downstream.

2. Two Jack Lake and Johnson Lake, Banff—These two lakes are located just outside of town on Lake Minnewanka Loop

Rd. Lake Minnewanka is a great place to paddle, however wind and big waves make it much more dangerous than the smaller Two Jack and Johnson Lakes. Both lakes have day use parking with beach areas for families.

3. Lake Louise and Moraine Lake—These iconic Banff lakes should be on every paddler’s bucket list. Views don’t get better than from Lake Louise with Mt. Victoria as your backdrop, or from Moraine Lake circled by the 10 classic peaks that were featured on the Canadian 20 dollar bill.

4. Bow Lake, Banff—This lake is the crown jewel for paddlers travelling along the famous Icefields Parkway. (see pg 34) It’s also one of the hardest lakes to tackle by SUP because of the strong winds. If it’s a calm day, consider it your lucky

day, seize the chance to paddle this magnificent lake! For an added adventure, paddle to the far end of Bow Lake and then proceed on foot to the beautiful Bow Falls. Just remember to bring along a pair of dry shoes.

5. Cameron Lake, Waterton—While the 3 Waterton Lakes see heavy wind and large waves, Cameron Lake is smaller, calmer, and perfect for novice paddlers.

6. Middle and Upper Waterton Lakes—If you’re experienced on a board, you’ll want to paddle from Middle to Upper Waterton Lake through the Bosporus. Pay attention to the wind and you can do the paddle one-way as an incredible down winder that just might be the highlight of your trip to the Rockies. There are many docks and day use areas available for launching, and you can set up a shuttle with the help of a bicycle using the Kootenai Brown Bike Trail.

7. Pyramid and Patricia Lakes—When visiting Jasper National

Park, these are the two lakes you want to SUP for calm water, stunning reflections, and the chance to paddle with loons at sunrise. Both lakes are located in close proximity on the Pyramid Bench and the two paddles can be broken up with brunch at the Pyramid Lake Resort. Unfortunately, there are no SUP rentals in the Jasper area at this time.

8. Emerald Lake, Yoho—this is named for the colour of the water that glows beneath you on a board. You can even stay overnight at the Emerald Lake Lodge and get out on the water at sunrise and sunset for a rare chance to be alone on this popular lake. While you can rent canoes onsite, there are no SUP rentals in the area.

9. Barrier Lake, Kananaskis Country—this Lake is a good one for paddlers and is close to Calgary if you want a day trip from the city. Kananaskis Outfitters rents boards lakeside at the Barrier Lake Day Use Area on summer weekends, making this one of the easiest spots to paddle.

10. Lower and Upper Kananaskis Lakes—If you have some experience under your belt, try either lake in Peter

Lougheed Provincial Park. The Upper Lake has several small islands that make the perfect spot for a picnic lunch and the Lower Lake has multiple day use areas if you want to set up a oneway shuttle in advance. For a real adventure, reserve a campsite at the Point Backcountry Campground on Upper Kananaskis Lake and try your first SUP backpacking trip. Recruit friends in a canoe for the outing and you won’t have to worry about how to transport your gear!

See you on the water this summer! Banff Canoe Club - banffcanoeclub.com Bow Valley SUP - bowvalleysup.ca Kananaskis Outfitters - kananaskisoutfitters.com

Photos and Story by: Tanya Koob