Is the Lake Minnewanka Cruise Worth It? (My Honest Review)

5/13/2024

Welcome to Banff National Park, the land of epic scenery, incredible experiences, and amazing wildlife. For many, a trip here is a bucketlist adventure - and for good reason. We've been fortunate enough to visit the area multiple times, and through these trips have found multiple activities that we love and recommend to others who are planning a visit. And, spoiler, the Lake Minnewanka Cruise is one of them.

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Basic Cruise Tour Information

The Minnewanka Lake Cruise takes you along Banff’s largest, widest, and deepest lake - Lake Minnewanka! Located about 20 minutes from the town of Banff, this lake cruise experience is offered by the Pursuit Collection - a brand known around the world for their epic experiences (like the Sky Lagoon in Iceland). The boat used for the lake cruise is cozy - enclosed and heated - and has a small outdoor section in the back, meaning it's perfect for those who want to sit inside or enjoy some fresh air. The Pursuit Collection also has small boats, kayaks, and canoes that are available for rental in addition to optional fishing and beer cruises located on the same dock as the Minnewanka Lake Cruise!

Once onboard, you’ll have a guide narrating the entire hour tour telling you all about the history of the lake - including lake monsters, flooded ghost towns, and a reminder of the native people that once lived here. The short, 1 hour boat ride takes you up towards the middle of the lake, where you’ll pause for a few minutes to enjoy the peaceful sounds of nothing other than nature, then turn around to make your way back to the docks.

Book Online Here : Lake Minnewanka Cruise

My Thoughts & Honest Review

To be 100% honest, this lake cruise is perfect for those looking to slow down, learn more history about the area, and enjoy the incredible views without the bustle of Banff's Summer crowds. Although it's not necessarily as exhilarating as the adventure activities we'd typically plan, the cruise is a nice break that encouraged us to reconnect with nature. Because we visited in the late summer/early fall shoulder season, the fall colors on the leaves were absolutely stunning as well - and I'm not sure if we've ever seen a more calm and peaceful lake. The guides and staff were excellent and made their narrating and story telling as exciting as they could with historical pictures to help visualize their stories - like what was once believed to be a lake monster!

If you're wondering if the Minnewanka Lake Cruise is worth it, my initial response would be yes - especially if you're looking to learn more history about the area. I would also highly recommend this tour if you want to enjoy some epic views without the hike.

After enjoying your nice boat ride on the lake, there's a snack shack on shore with goodies like Hot Chocolate, and a few hikes if you want to explore more of the shoreline - but if you're really looking for more to do, we highly recommend checking out the Banff Gondola or nearby Columbia Icefield Skywalk!

Watch our Banff adventures here!