Last updated on March 8th, 2023 at 04:02 am
Living in the Canadian Rockies means I am blessed with a huge range of lakeside backcountry campgrounds on my doorstep! When it comes to a relaxing time in the backcountry, there is nothing I enjoy more than sitting beside a lake reading my book or trying my hand at Tenkara fishing, a truly relaxing style of fishing.
For anyone looking for an incredible lakeside backcountry campground in the Canadian Rockies, I’ve done all the hard work for you and put together my top ten favourite spots for you to enjoy too!
1. Maligne Lake
Coming in at the number one spot for lakeside backcountry campsites has to be Maligne Lake in Jasper. Only accessible by boat, you can canoe or kayak to one of three lakeside campsites along Maligne Lake. The further you paddle, the quieter the lake becomes.
A short 3.5km paddle takes you to the family friendly Hidden Cove campground, perfect for beginner paddlers. Next up is Fishermans Bay, a 13km paddle and a perfect spot for a night, paddle the extra 1km to Spirit Island to watch the sunset after all the tourist boats have left! The third campground is Coronet Creek at 21.3km, back here you won’t see anyone but the people staying at the eight tent pads.
The campgrounds are all small, come with firepits and cooking areas. Take your pick and stay at any one of these incredible lakeside campgrounds. Reservations are a necessity for these popular sites!
2. Elbow Lake
A short 1.3km hike takes you to the second lakeside backcountry campsite on the list, Elbow Lake in Kananaskis. This campground has 15 tent pads and is incredibly popular as a beginner backpacking spot due to its easy access and incredible lakeside location.
This hike is short but does involve some elevation gain. In just 1.3kms you gain 125m. The trail is wide and can be a starting point for longer hikes into other backcountry campsites.
Note, the Alberta Parks website says Elbow Lake Campground won’t open in summer 2022 due to undergoing refurbishment but is due to reopen for summer 2023.
3. Floe Lake
Number three on the list of lakeside backcountry campgrounds is Floe Lake in Kootenay National Park. The Floe Lake campground is a large site spilling off the shore of the lake, with cooking areas revealing incredible views of the lake. Morning and evening when the wind dies down and the lake goes still are a sight everyone should see.
Floe Lake campground is one of the campgrounds on the longer Rockwall Trail. It’s approximately a 10km hike from the trailhead to Floe Lake and involves a lot of elevation gain which comes in the form of steep switchbacks. This is not a trail for the faint of heart! But totally worthwhile when you arrive!
Lakeside camping at Floe Lake goes next level during the middle of September when the larch trees surrounding the lake are in their prime, an incredible time to visit.
4. Baker Lake
Baker Lake is a stunning lakeside backcountry campground in Banff National Park. A 13km hike from the trailhead near Lake Louise will get you to Baker Lake. The campground is located at the far end of the lake, with a few tent pads offering up lake views, while others have more shelter in the trees.
This campground can be part of the Skoki Loop or used as a base to explore the Skoki area without carrying your heavy backpack every day. There are many other lakes along the trails of the Skoki area, however Baker Lake is the only lakeside campground in the area. Baker Lake is also located along the Sawback Trail which runs between Banff and Lake Louise.
5. Lillian Lake
I have camped at Lillian Lake numerous times. Its approximately a 7km hike to get to this beautiful lakeside backcountry campground in Kananaskis. The campground is located at the far end of the lake, with some raised platform tent pads which provide incredible lake views.
This is a busy campground with both backpackers, hikers and fishermen. From Lillian Lake you can hike a further 1km to reach Galetea Lakes as well as hiking over Guinns Pass to reach Ribbon Lake, another incredible lakeside backcountry campsite on this list.
6. Taylor Lake
A 7km hike gets you to the five tent pad, Taylor Lake, lakeside backcountry campground. This quiet little lakeside campground is located in Banff National Park and is both a popular day hike and backpacking trip.
Taylor Lake is a popular location in larch season as the lake is surrounded by yellow larch trees come the middle of September. From Taylor Lake there is a ridge hike which can be explored or a hike to a second lake can be completed.
7. Upper Kananaskis Lake
The Point campground is located on the shore of Upper Kananaskis Lake, it is on the Upper Lake loop hike, so you can decide if you want to hike a few kilometres or 8 kilometres depending on where you park and which way round the lake you hike. It can also be accessed by boat.
This is an easily accessible lakeside backcountry campground and is popular with families as you can even wheel a chariot out here. The campground is on the larger side and very popular, you’ll want to book reservations for here well in advance.
8. Ribbon Lake
Dotted through the forest beside Ribbon Lake is the lakeside backcountry campground. The most common access to this campground is around 12 kilometres and involves some very steep climbs where chains are built into the rock to assist. This trail isn’t suitable for beginner backpackers for that reason.
There are other options to access the Ribbon Lake Campground, from Lillian lake, via Guinns Pass, as mentioned earlier and Ribbon Lake can also be accessed from Buller Pass, for anyone wanting to avoid the chain section.
The campground has easy lake access in numerous places, perfect for anyone looking to relax and do some fishing. It is quieter than Lillian Lake, due to its longer and more difficult approach.
9. Glacier Lake
Glacier Lake in Banff National Park is another amazing lakeside backcountry campground, approximately a 9km hike will get you to Glacier Lake campground. A small, 5 site campground which sits right on the lakeshore, it is perfect for those looking for some peace and quiet.
From the campsite there is a rough trail which runs alongside the lake to allow for closer views of the glacier at the far end, however I haven’t explored this trail but I have heard it turns into a bushwack and reaching the glacier is almost impossible.
10. Jewell Bay
Located on Barrier Lake, which is actually a reservoir, is Jewell Bay in Kananaskis. I paddled the short 2 kilometers to reach this site when I visited, however it is also accessible from a lakeshore trail.
With many sites at this campground having lake views and easy access to the water, this site is very popular and can be hard to get reservations for. As well as paddling and fishing, there are numerous hiking trails in the area, my favorite is Barrier Lake lookout, which provides stunning views looking out over the lake.
How To Book Your Lakeside Backcountry Campground
All of the lakeside backcountry campgrounds in this list are located in either Provincial or National parks and therefore reservations are required.
Lakeside backcountry campgrounds located in Kananaskis fall under Alberta Parks reservation system, here.
While the rest are located in Banff, Jasper and Kooteney National Parks and can be booked through Parks Canada, here.