Whether you want to swim, take out the paddleboard or just read and relax by the water, Calgary is home to several lakes that offer a summer paradise not just for you, but for the whole family. Thinking of moving to a lake community? Here are our top picks
Lake Bonavista
Bonavista was the first community in Canada to be built around a man-made lake. It is bounded by Anderson Road to the north, Macleod Trail to the west, Canyon Meadows Drive to the south, and Bow Bottom Trail to the east.
Home to two man-made lakes, Lake Bonaventure and Lake Bonavista, the community offers wonderful recreation and relaxation opportunities for residents.
Benchmark price
$1,016,100 detached homes
$332,750 apartment
Auburn Bay
This lakefront community provides easy access to Seton Boulevard, Deerfoot Trail to the west, 52 Street East and Stoney Trail to the north. Its 43-acre lake boasts floating docks, a fishing dock, boat rentals and is stocked twice annually with rainbow trout, tiger trout, and more.
In addition, Auburn Bay is home to five schools, 15 playgrounds, an off-leash dog park, two baseball fields, two large soccer fields and two ponds – making it a great fit for families. It's expected that the Green Line of the CTrain will run along the community's eastern boundary, parallel to 52 Street.
Benchmark Price
$816,116 Detached homes
$466,600 Townhomes
$366,016 Apartments
Sundance
Located east of MacLeod Trail, bounded to the north and east by Midnapore and Fish Creek Provincial Park, and to the south by Stoney Trail, Sundance is focused on residential properties, especially detached homes. Its 33-acre lake opened in 1980 and is accompanied by a 22-acre park.
The area has access to a variety of schools, including two public elementary schools, one public junior high and a one public high school. There is also one Catholic school offering kindergarten to Grade 9 education.
Benchmark Price
$769,033 Detached homes
Midnapore
This community is bounded to the north and east by Fish Creek Provincial Park, to the south by Sun Valley Boulevard and to the west by Macleod Trail. The lake is perfect for swimming in the summer or skating in the winter.
Midnapore is also home to St. Mary's University, a private elementary and junior high school and two elementary schools. The community is also served by several transit bus routes that feed Somerset-Bridlewood, Shawnessy, and Fish Creek-Lacombe train stations.
Benchmark price
$671,550 Detached homes
$458,800 Townhomes
$286,016 Apartments
Mahogany
Established in 2010, Mahogany mixes suburban and urban living in the same place. At 63 acres, Mahogany has the largest freshwater lake in Calgary and offers access to two private beaches, a beach club, walking and biking trails and an urban village filled with restaurants, shops and services.
Benchmark Price
$821,683 Detached homes
$495,416 Townhomes
$358,400 Apartments
McKenzie Lake
Bordered by Deerfoot Trail on the east, Stoney Trail on the south, Fish Creek Provincial Park on the west, and 130th Ave SE on the north, McKenzie Lake is famous for its 42-acre manmade private lake with an island at the centre of the community. Developed in 1984, McKenzie Lake offers beautiful views of the city and mountains.
This community is also recognized for its amenities, including basketball, tennis and pickleball courts, a beach, and an ice rink in the winter. The area also has two public schools and one separate school.
Benchmark Price
$754,100 Detached homes
$422,750 Townhomes
