Lake Windermere
Windermere Lake
A warm, shallow lake on the upper Columbia River. It is used for swimming, paddleboarding and sailing in summer, and freezes into a world-class natural ice trail in winter.
Lake Windermere is about 15 km long and is an expanded section of the Columbia River. Its shallow water warms quickly, and in summer the temperature can exceed 20°C, making it one of the few lakes in the Rockies that is comfortable for swimming. Kinsmen Beach in Invermere and James Charbot Provincial Park have sandy beaches, docks and paddleboard rentals. In winter, when the lake freezes, the local community clears the “Lake Windermere Whiteway,” an ice loop where you can skate, cross-country ski or ride snow bikes. It is free, but whether it is open depends on ice conditions, so check the notices.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- James Chabot Provincial Park
- Downtown Invermere
- Bighorn Sheep of Radium Hot Springs
- Radium Hot Springs Pools
- Sinclair Canyon
- Dutch Creek Hoodoos
- Fairmont Hot Springs Resort
- Olive Lake