Two Jack Lake • ULTIMATE Guide to Visiting This Classic Lake in Banff

Two Jack Lake is a picturesque emerald green lake in Banff National Park with a sweeping view of Mount Rundle. The landscape attracts both visitors and locals in search of some fresh air. Its easy accessibility from Banff makes it a great place to catch sunset or sunrise.

No matter the season, Two Jack Lake is always a great stop in Banff. In the summer, visitors can enjoy swimming, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, and hiking. In the winter, it’s a popular place to ice skate, take photographs, or snowshoe along the surrounding trails.

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A Guide to Visiting Two Jack Lake

Just a five-minute drive away from Lake Minnewanka and Johnson Lake is Two Jack Lake. Like Vermilion Lakes, it’s another fantastic lake in Banff with Mount Rundle views. Two Jack Lake is one of the most photographed lakes in the Canadian Rockies due to its proximity to Downtown Banff and easy access to the lake.

Two Jack Lake is about 10km from Banff and a 15-minute drive from the town center. You can also bike to it on the Minnewanka Lake Loop Road for a more active route in just under an hour from the Town of Banff. The lake is a great spot to spend an afternoon in the summer. However, on weekends, the lake’s banks are often crowded with people out to enjoy the sunshine, so I prefer to get out on the water in some form and escape the crowds. It’s a great spot for water sports like kayaking, canoeing, SUP, swimming, and fishing.

On a nice summer day, you’ll find a mix of visitors and locals alike who are after some time on the water. Since moving to the area, it’s the one lake we’ve spent the most time at because it’s accessible and a great spot to relax.

If you only have an hour or two free in your Banff itinerary, Two Jack Lake is a great place to come. While it’s easy to let the larger or more scenic glacial lakes like Moraine Lake, Peyto Lake, Lake Louise, or Emerald Lake steal the show, Two Jack Lake is well worth a stop for visitors.

Two Jack Lake is one of the most scenic views in Banff National Park and always makes for a great photograph, especially if you catch Two Jack Lake at sunrise or when the evening light hits Mt. Rundle. In the winter months, the lake still makes for a fantastic scene. Early in the winter, when the lake first freezes, it’s usually possible to ice skate on the lake.

Aside from ice skating, you can explore a bit on snowshoes, but in our opinion, there are far better places in Banff to snowshoe in the winter. It’s best in winter simply for the amazing landscape that makes for tremendous photographs. If you look hard at the ice, you might even spot some of the famous methane ice bubbles.

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Why is it Called Two Jack Lake?

Two Jack Lake is named after two “Jacks.” The first was Jack Stanley, who operated a boat concession on Lake Minnewanka, and the second was Jack Watters, who worked at the mines in Bankhead (at the base of Cascade Mountain).

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When Is The Best Time to Visit?

Two Jack Lake is technically a year-round destination, but to enjoy the lake, it’s best visited in the summer months. The lake remains frozen and covered in a heavy layer of snow/ice during winter. The lake begins to freeze around December and will remain frozen until the end of May when the lake unfreezes.

By mid-June, the lake is thawed, and the waters warm. By July, you’ll be able to take full advantage of everything Two Jack offers for the short summer window. We don’t get long summers in the Canadian Rockies, but we take full advantage when it rolls around.

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Facilities at Two Jack Lake

There are two parking lots at Two Jack Lake, the Lower Lot and the Upper Lot, both with a limited number of spots. On an average day, parking is not too difficult, but on a sunny weekend in the summer months, the small lots can fill up quickly.

The peak times are from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. You can still visit during these times, but be forewarned parking may be a struggle, and if you don’t get any parking, you are out of luck and should continue to Lake Minnewanka or Cascade Ponds to try your luck there.

There are drop toilets, picnic benches, trash receptacles, and a small stone beach perfect for launching a canoe, SUP, kayak, or even a pool float at the lake. There are no canoe rentals at Two Jack Lake, but you can rent a SUP for transport in Canmore at Bow Valley SUP or at the Banff Canoe Club. If you’re coming from Canmore or the area, you’ll get far better daily rates than the rates in Banff.

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Take the Bus to Two Jack Lake

If you don’t want to drive and risk being unable to park in the summer, you have several options for easy access to the lake. You can park at the Minnewanka Park & Ride or the Banff Train Station and hop on the Roam Transit Route 6, which will take you to the lake.

The bus route also stops at Lake Minnewanka, Johnson Lake, and Cascade Ponds. Rides are $2 for adults and $1 for children. The bus only operates in the summer months from May 17th to September 15th.

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Hiking Around Two Jack Lake

A small trail goes along the shoreline of Two Jack Lake, but it’s nothing to note. It’s best enjoyed as an easy walk while enjoying coffee or the views. That being said, there are several great hikes around this area. You can hike along Lake Minnewanka to Stewart Canyon, hike to the Alymer Lookout, summit Mt. Alymer on its shoreline, or make a multiday backpacking trip.

One of our favorite hikes in the area is C-Level Cirque, which is a nice challenge that provides astounding views of the Bow Valley. If you’re after an easy hike in Banff, check out nearby Johnson Lake, as it receives fewer visitors and has a really nice trail that circumnavigates the lake.

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Can You Swim in Two Jack Lake?

The question isn’t whether you can swim in Two Jack Lake, but whether you want to swim in Two Jack Lake. Like most lakes in the Canadian Rockies, Two Jack is icy cold even on the hottest August day. You’ll unlikely want to swim in Two Jack Lake for over a minute or so.

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Ice Skating on Two Jack Lake

If you’re in Banff around December, watch conditions at Two Jack Lake, as it typically freezes over enough to ice skate during this time. This is before snow builds up on the frozen lake surface so you can skate. The entire surface looks like a piece of glass, and the surrounding landscapes make for one incredible spot to go ice skating.

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Fishing at Two Jack Lake

You’re permitted to fish on Two Jack Lake. To fish in the park, you must have a Park pass and fishing permit and be aware of current regulations. This means you know fishing limits and can identify the various fish within the park. No live bait fishing is allowed in the park.

Kids under 16 can fish on their accompanied pass, but their catch is included within the permit holders’ daily limit. Please reference Park Canada’s website for the latest fishing information, as it changes seasonally.

Fishing permit price:

• Daily –  $13.50
• Annual –  $46.25

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Camping at Two Jack Lake

The Two Jack Lake Campgrounds are the second closest campgrounds to Banff town. These campgrounds have a more natural feel, and the sites are well spread out. Two campgrounds are located here: the more desirable Two Jack Lakeside Campground and the Two Jack Campground Main. The Lakeside Campground is smaller, has hot showers, and includes several choice campsites on Two Jack Lake’s banks. You’ll have to be pretty lucky to score a reservation at those sites, though; try as soon as reservations open in January.

However, the whole area is wonderful, as Two Jack Lake is gorgeous, and nearby Lake Minnewanka is good for fishing, water sports, and hiking. The Two Jack Lakeside campground also has 32 equipped campsites for $78 a night and includes everything you need for camping. These equipped campsites have a 6-person tent, 6 sleeping pads, a stove, propane, and a lantern. Visitors only need a sleeping bag, food, and hiking clothes.

For additional comfort, you can book an oTENTik, exclusive to Parks Canada, which is essentially a cross between an A-frame cabin and a prospector tent. There are 10 of these at Two Jack Lake Lakeside, and they cost $133.25 per night, but they book out well in advance.

• Operating dates: May 22 – October 5
• Amenities: Hot showers, flush toilet, sanitation dump, disabled access, fire pits, food lockers, potable water, sheltered camp kitchens
• Fees: $24-$78
• Number of sites: 455 mixed sites

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Watercraft at Two Jack Lake

Two Jack Lake is one of the best places in Banff to paddle. There is nowhere to rent canoes, paddleboards, or kayaks at Two Jack Lake. You can rent equipment at the Banff Canoe Club or the Adventure Club on Banff Ave. They offer half-day and full-day rentals.

Keep in mind that to prevent the spread of Aquatic invasive species visitors must now fill out a Self Certification Permit with Parks Canada for any nonmotorized watercraft entering the water. This includes kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards. The Self Certification Permits can be found online.

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Get a Parks Pass to Visit

You need a Parks Canada pass to visit Two Jack Lake, located within Banff National Park. You can purchase a Parks Canada pass at any park gate before Two Jack Lake or you can buy them in advance online. A Parks Canada Discovery Pass, which gets you entrance to all Parks Canada destinations for the year, is only $151.25 for a family. Day passes are $11.00 per person, so depending on how many days you are staying, you may want to consider the Discover Pass.

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Notable Holidays

Two Jack Lake is always busy in the summer, but you should take note of the following holidays as they’re even busier. It’s really packed on Canada Day when everyone heads to the picnic area for a BBQ in the park.

• Victoria Day Long Weekend (May Long Weekend) – Last Monday Preceding May 25 
• Canada Day – July 1st
• Heritage Day Weekend – 1st Monday of August.
• Labour Day Weekend – 1st Monday of September.

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Where to Stay Nearby

The closest places to stay near Two Jack Lake are in Downtown Banff. Banff has a surprising number of fantastic Banff hotels for a small mountain town.

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Other Things To Do In Banff

If you are looking for the best things to do in Banff, we have you covered! We visited this little mountain town a few years back and fell in love so much that we decided to move to the Canadian Rockies. Check out what else you should add to your visit to Two Jack Lake. Some of the best things to do near Two Jack are to see Bow Falls, cycle the Bow Valley Parkway, or hike Johnston Canyon.

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