Lac des Arcs

Lac des Arcs, located between Canmore and Kananaskis in the Canadian Rockies, offers a quiet lake escape ideal for windsurfing and paddling. Travellers will find this small lake connected to the Bow River, with calm waters that draw windsurfers, anglers and canoeists. Along the shoreline sits the hamlet of Lac des Arcs, originally developed as a seasonal cottage community in the 1960s and now a relaxed base for lake-focused getaways. The area features hiking trails, a playground and a campground, giving visitors easy ways to stretch their legs, let kids play and stay close to the water. From the Trans-Canada Highway on the southern shore, visitors can spot a tiny island with a single picnic bench, a simple landmark that hints at the lake’s unhurried, low-key charm.