July 03, 2025 | CREB

Our top picks: Calgary's lake communities

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. 

Here are our top picks of lake communities if you want to beat the heat this summer.

Please note: The data provided is from July 3, 2025.

Arbour Lake

Located on the northwest side of the city, man-made Arbour Lake was established in 1992 with a liner and a carefully managed ecosystem.

Besides the lake and incredible views of the Rocky Mountains, the community also provides a diversity of housing options and access to Crowchild Trail and the Ring Road. The community can also be easily accessed on the CTrain.

Bounded by 64 Avenue N, McKnight Boulevard to the south, 68 Street E to the west and 84 Street E and Rocky View country to the east, Coral Springs was established in 1991, inspired by California's mid-century modern style. The community offers its residents access to tennis courts, basketball courts, a beach volleyball area, table tennis, boating and kayaking.

Its 20-foot deep, 16-acre lake is popular for swimming, fishing and boating, and there's even marked shallow water swimming areas with sandy beaches on both the North and South sides.

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.

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.

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.

Chaparral

With a 32-acre artificial lake and 21-acre park with two waterfalls, this community is a family-favourite. It has access to major roadways like Macleod Trail, Stoney Trail and Deerfoot Trail, making the commute to Downtown Calgary a breeze.

The community also provides access to great schooling choices for kids between kindergarten and Grade 6 and is close to elementary and high schools.

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.

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.

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 and can be accessed through public transit. The community is home to six schools, four churches and provides easy access to Deerfoot Trail, Southcentre mall, golf courses and more.

Looking for more? Click here to discover five things you might not know about Calgary-and-area lakes

Sources:

• CREB^®: https://www.creb.com/News/CREBNow/2018/July/find_your_beach/
• CREB^®:https://www.creb.com/News/CREBNow/2020/June/calgary_lake_communities_by_the_numbers/
• CREB^®: https://www.creb.com/News/CREBNow/2020/August/five_things_you_might_not_know_about_calgary_and_area_lakes/
• CREB^®: https://www.creblink.com/Housing_Data_and_Statistics/Market_Data/

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