Places to swim around Calgary that aren't pools or sikome.

[ekguy]

Well let's hear it. Global warming is here...or maybe it isn't but it's nice and warm out most days.

Pools suck and sikome is shit.

Other than driving out to Nature's Hideaway to jump in the river or Griffith Woods which isn't really great at all either.

Is there any lakes or any rivers or anything we can refresh ourselves with?

Or are places like Sylvan our best bet?

[C_Dave45]

Originally posted by ekguy
Well let's hear it. Global warming is here...or maybe it isn't but it's nice and warm out most days.

Pools suck and sikome is shit.

Other than driving out to Nature's Hideaway to jump in the river or Griffith Woods which isn't really great at all either.

Is there any lakes or any rivers or anything we can refresh ourselves with?

Or are places like Sylvan our best bet?

I don't miss anything from home (BC) other than that...LAKES. No matter where I lived, I was always at most an hours drive to a dozen different places to swim or lay on a beach. I really do miss that.
And I agree with you...Sikome is pure shite! I can't stand the whole guarded, fenced, let-me-search-your-bag-before-you're-allowed-to-swim here mentality there too. Just to swim in a giant puddle. Gross.

[ekguy]

Any lakes in bc within five hours of here worth the drive for a nice swim?

No kids or anything in tow so definitely doable

[Offroad]

Chestermere just put in a beach.......its not bad

[xnvy]

Hey now... the slides at World Waterpark are dope as hell.

I wish we had more in the way of lakes near Calgary. Checking out the ocean in Europe reminded me how nice the beach is.

[rx7_turbo2]

Depending on what part of town you're in Ghost Lake is an option.

[hampstor]

I was at Chain Lakes last weekend and lots of people were in boats or swimming. It's just under an hour SW of Calgary, and also a provincial campground (you can view and book sites online).

[EM2FTL]

Originally posted by ekguy
Any lakes in bc within five hours of here worth the drive for a nice swim?

No kids or anything in tow so definitely doable

It's more like 6.5 hours, but the Arrow Lakes region south of Revy is great for swimming in July/August - then if you've gone that far, you might as well keep going to the Slocan Valley / Kootenay Lake area - compared to the Shuswaps it's an untouched paradise IMO.

Mara Lake would be another decent option that fits right in your 5 hour window also.

[speedog]

5 hours to Mara Lake with all that summer time holiday traffic would be a stretch, going 2-2.5 hours north will get you to a lot of nice spots. Ma-Me-O Beach is just one example.

[C_Dave45]

Chinook lake is 2 hours away (Crowsnest Pass) It's not big but it does have a beach and beautifully warm water and extremely clear. Fishing too!!

[ekguy]

Ma-Me-O beach has some sort of algae bloom health advisory right now says if there's no blooms should be fine to swim but with my luck i'd drive there for nothing haha. Some of those lakes in BC sound nice.

Being from NB I haven't explored BC much yet. Even Alberta I haven't visited much of in my 12 years here...

But Nature's Hideaway turns into a douche fest alot of days and it's kinda shitty as well.

Need some real lakes...

[R-Audi]

Invermere is 2.5 hours from the city limits...Minnewanka just outside Banff if you dont mind cold water!

[roll_over]

no one mentioned the caves in fish creek near sikome?

[Masked Bandit]

Windermere Lake (Invermere) is pretty good, warmer than I would have expected and Wasa is nice too. Both under 4 hours.

[EM2FTL]

Originally posted by speedog
5 hours to Mara Lake with all that summer time holiday traffic would be a stretch, going 2-2.5 hours north will get you to a lot of nice spots. Ma-Me-O Beach is just one example.

5 hours is the google map time - Depends how/what you're driving I guess. He mentioned he isn't towing anything and doesn't have kids - unless you're hitting construction or driving the exact speed limit it should be easy to do in less than 5 hours.

[ekguy]

I may check out some of those soon. Been off work since June from knee surgery and staying home was fun at first....But now I can mostly walk fine again and im bored as hell and the spots my friends go to around calgary are losing their appeal for me since i grew up on the coast...

little swimming holes don't really cut it...A nice BC lake would though.

[C_Dave45]

If you're going to go all the way to Sicamous, you might as well just go into Vernon. Mara doesn't have many beaches on it.
Vernon has cheap hotels and you've got two great lakes to choose from (Kal and Okanagan), both with lots of excellent beaches. Pontoon Boat rentals (a total blast), cliff diving, snorkelling, etc. Very clear and warm water.

[Darell_n]

Waiparous Creek has a great little swimming hole that is fairly warm as the creek is only a feet deep in most areas, and all rock. 30 minutes from Cochrane.

[ekguy]

Thanks for all the info C_Dave!!

Have some miles to do soon looks like haha.

Any nice campgrounds in the last area you posted??

Friends and I are going camping in a month wouldn't mind knowing a nice spot.

[suntan]

Little Bow near Vulcan. Very easy drive esp. if you're in the south part of Calgary.