Upper Kananaskis Lake paddle Paddling on 29-Jul-2026
Participants: Christine, Leslie, David, guest Daryl, guest Brenda
UPPER KANANASKIS PADDLE
Upper Kananaskis Lake, located in Peter Lougheed Park, is a beautiful lake surrounded by majestic mountains such as Mount Sarrail and Mount Indefatigable. It is also quite large with a surface area of about 7.8 square kilometers and an average depth of about 32 meters. Because of its beauty and size, it is a mecca for paddlers.
When we arrived at the lake, it was a beautiful, sunny day and the waters were quite calm. There were various kayakers on the lake as well as a few fishing boats and people with paddleboards.
After paddling the initial, more sheltered area, we made our way out into the larger area. We paddled along the eastern part of the lake, staying fairly close to the shore, and enjoying the blue-sky day.
After a few hours, we decided to paddle to one of the main islands for lunch. Upper Kananaskis Lake currently has two large islands—Hawke Island and Hogue Island. Originally, the lake had six distinct islands but hydroelectric dams, built in the 1940s, flooded the valley and raised the water level by about 14 meters. The islands were heavily timbered in the past, and we could see the stumps of old trees there.
Following lunch, we paddled to the northern shore and started to make our way around the lake. However, a strong wind came up, creating large waves and whitecaps. Because the lake is located in a high-altitude valley, the wind has a funneling effect. It is difficult to paddle into high winds and waves, and travelling along the side of the lake can expose paddlers to waves hitting boats from the side, which can make it difficult to steer.
Because of the high winds and waves, we decided to paddle back to our starting point, rather than attempt to paddle around the whole lake. We may return on another day, when the weather is calm, and make another attempt.
Many thanks to Dave, Chris, Daryl and Brenda for accompanying me, Leslie (c/s) on this outing.