While rain clouds may be lingering outside our windows today, summer is quickly approaching in Edmonton, and as we look ahead to the long, hot, sunny days, we\u2019re already dreaming up ways to cool off.<\/p>\n
Even though we\u2019re in a landlocked province, the Edmonton region is home to numerous lakes, many featuring sandy beaches and refreshing waters.<\/p>\n
We\u2019ve collected 10 of the best lakes to take a dip, all within a two-hour drive of Edmonton, so that you can enjoy a day trip to the beach this summer.<\/p>\n
Gull Lake<\/p>\n
Located approximately an hour and 20 minutes south of Edmonton, Aspen Beach Provincial Park is situated on the south shore of Gull Lake, making for an easy and enjoyable getaway. It features a large, sandy beach, a playground, a boat launch, and a concession stand. If you want to extend your stay, consider spending a few nights at Brewer\u2019s or Lakeview campground, which offers a separate boat launch, laundry facilities, and sites that cater to your specific camping needs.<\/p>\n
Skeleton Lake<\/p>\n
The white sands on the shore of Mewatha Beach on Skeleton Lake make for a pretty spectacular time in the water. Located less than two hours north of Edmonton, Skeleton Lake is an ideal destination for a day at the beach.<\/p>\n
Buffalo Lake<\/p>\n
This lake is a hidden gem southwest of the city. Buffalo Lake features numerous recreation areas and beaches, making it a favourite spot for boaters, swimmers, kitesurfers, and more.<\/p>\n
Lac Ste. Anne<\/p>\n
Just over an hour from Edmonton, Lac Ste. Anne is home to a sandy beach and grassy picnic areas. The lake has warm, shallow waters, and all the amenities you need for a day at the beach are right there.<\/p>\n
Hubbles Lake<\/p>\n
This gorgeous lake, with its crystal-clear waters, was once used for scuba diving lessons. It\u2019s one of the most pristine places to swim around Edmonton. It\u2019s a private beach, so you have to pay to access it, but it\u2019s worth it for the gorgeous sandy area and on-site porta-potties.<\/p>\n
Wabamun Lake<\/p>\n
Wabamun is a popular lake 65 kilometres west of Edmonton. Parkgoers can waterski, kayak, canoe, sail, windsurf, and more in Wabamun Lake\u2019s semi-clear waters. You\u2019ll want to keep an eye out for birds, as ospreys nest both here and at nearby Lake Isle.<\/p>\n
Pigeon Lake<\/p>\n
Pigeon Lake is massive, and with its quick and easy access from Edmonton, it\u2019s no wonder that this lake is a hotspot in the summer. With plenty of beaches to enjoy, it\u2019s well-equipped for a day trip, with many sites offering fire pits, picnic tables, and more.<\/p>\n
Sylvan Lake<\/p>\n
Sylvan Lake is just an hour and a half south of Edmonton \u2013 it\u2019s a popular spot, so you\u2019ll want to arrive early to secure your spot on the beach.<\/p>\n
This lake offers clear, shallow waters, along with various water sports such as boating, waterskiing, and fishing. Grassy areas, picnic tables, and volleyball courts create a fun beach experience for everyone.<\/p>\n
Long Lake<\/p>\n
Located just over an hour north of Edmonton, Long Lake Provincial Park has two beaches: one for day use and the other for the park\u2019s campground. Both beaches are shallow, with warm water and marked swimming areas, making this lake great for the whole family.<\/p>\n
You also won\u2019t need to worry about packing your own snacks, as there are many fast food concessions around Long Lake.<\/p>\n
Half Moon Lake<\/p>\n
Half Moon Lake is located inside a resort in Sherwood Park. There\u2019s lots of space to spread out a blanket and plant an umbrella to enjoy a day in the sun.<\/p>\n
The resort also features walking trails and various sports, including mini golf, beach volleyball, pickleball, and basketball.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"While rain clouds may be lingering outside our windows today, summer is quickly approaching in Edmonton, and as…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":604057,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[194294],"tags":[49,48,23752],"class_list":{"0":"post-604056","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-edmonton","8":"tag-ca","9":"tag-canada","10":"tag-edmonton"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/604056","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=604056"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/604056\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/604057"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=604056"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=604056"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=604056"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}