A quick hike leads you to this swimming spot in Alberta and it's like a secret oasis (PHOTOS)

It's tucked away in a forest. 🌲🏊

Person sitting on the edge of a lake. Right: Someone walking into a bright blue lake with a mountain in the background.

Horseshoe Lake in Jasper. Right: Horseshoe Lake Alberta.

Editor

The warmer weather is coming, so it's time to build out your list of spots to cool off at. There's nothing better than diving into a calm lake or swimming hole in Alberta when the sun is out.

With turquoise blue waters enclosed by picturesque mountains and lush forests, Horseshoe Lake is among the best. Tucked away in nature, it feels like a hidden oasis, but it's not that hard to get to.

Horseshoe Lake is off the Icefields Parkway in Jasper, perfect for a stop on the iconic road trip or a destination in itself. The trail that takes you to the hidden gem is just 1.6 kilometres long and takes about 25 minutes total, according to Hike Jasper.

From Calgary, it's about a 4-hour drive to get here, but the idyllic lake is just 20 minutes from the town of Jasper — so it's perfect for a weekend getaway.

The quick journey will lead you to the bright waters of the lake, where you can spend the day swimming around or laying out. Rocky cliffs surround the shore of the lake, perfect for relaxing on and soaking in the incredible view.

The clear water is perfect for cooling off on a hot day, and some people even bring in a paddleboards to enjoy the lake on.

Set back into nature, this spot is the ideal place for a tranquil day away from the city.

  • Editor

    Morgan Leet (she/her) is an Editor for Narcity Media Group. After graduating from Carleton University’s School of Journalism and Communication, she jumped into fulfilling her dream as a journalist, merging her passion for travelling with writing. She got her start working in the print media world on Canada’s East Coast, then joined Narcity with a move to B.C., leading the launch of West Coast coverage. Her focus now is managing a large group of freelance writers, bringing human-forward and opinion content to the site.

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