It is not the most famous lake in Banff National Park, but Two Jack Lake is a gem. Located at the southwest side of Lake Minnewanka and at a stone’s throw from the town of Banff, it offers excellent camping, hiking, boating and picnicking. You can also just enjoy the views, of course.
FAST FACTS
Altitude: 1475 m (4839 ft)
Deepest point: 15.2 m (50 ft)
Length: 4.61 km (2.85 mi)
Widest point: 500 m (1640 ft)
Coordinates: 51.2280° N, 115.4966° W
Two Jack Lake is a kind of offshoot of Lake Minnewanka as the two lakes are connected. In fact, Two Jack Lake is also fed by the Cascade River, which originates from the neighboring Cascade Mountain, the mountain that rises above Banff in the north.
Both lakes are separated by a dam. The view is equally magnificent. Looking south, Two Jack Lake offers a fantastic view of Mount Rundle. And in the evening the lake is an excellent location for stargazing.
Via Stewart Canyon, the water of the Cascade River flows into the lake. Many other streams feeding the lake come from Mount Inglismaldie, Mount Girouard and Mount Peechee, east of the lake.
The area of Two Jack Lake is literally quieter than Lake Minnewanka, as no motorized boats are allowed on the water. However, the peace and quiet is relative. Especially in high season it can be crowded on and around Two Jack Lake as there are usually many kayakers. Moreover, two campgrounds are situated on the shore.
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LOCATION OF TWO JACK LAKE
Two Jack Lake is located eleven kilometers (6.79 mi) northeast of the Banff townsite and about 27 kilometers (16.67 mi) north of Canmore. Like Lake Minnewanka, the lake is sandwiched between Mount Girouard to the south, Mount Aylmer to the north and Cascade Mountain to the west. It is also close to Cascade Ponds in the southwest (6.8 km or 4.20 miles) and Johnson Lake in the south (4.5 km or 2.78 miles).
If you want to know more about neighboring Lake Minnewanka, read the ultimate guide to Lake Minnewanka.
HISTORY OF TWO JACK LAKE
Two Jack Lake was named on 3 April 1959, after two Jacks who lived in the region in the early twentieth century, John ‘Captain Jack’ Stanley (1865-1946) and John ‘Jack’ Watters (1878-1950). At the time, Stanley operated a boat concession on Lake Minnewanka. Watters worked as a mine manager in Bankhead. This mining town originated in 1904 at the foot of Cascade Mountain. It remains unclear what the exact relationship was between the two.
The lake only became a separated body of water with the construction of a dam on the north side of the lake. The lake’s transition into Lake Minnewanka is where this dam is situated.
ACCESSIBILITY OF TWO JACK LAKE
The lake is close to the Trans-Canada Highway (Highway 1) and is easy to reach. At the first intersection to Banff, seen from the direction of Canmore, drive the Lake Minnewanka Scenic Drive 7 kilometers (4.32 mi) to the northeast.
Parking at Two Jack Lake
At Two Jack Lake, there is a lower and an upper parking lot. Both are not very large. In the summer months they quickly fill up. Especially in the afternoon you have a big chance of finding a full parking lot.
If you want to launch your boat, kayak or canoe it’s best to park in the lower parking lot (at the upper parking lot you have to carry down your boat). You can drive your car right to the lake shore. Be sure to arrive early to be able to park right at the water’s edge.
Public Transport to Two Jack Lake
Don’t have a rental car? You can take the bus from Banff to the lake. It stops at Cascade Ponds, Johnson Lake, Two Jack Lakeside Campground and Two Jack Main Campground along the way before arriving at the Two Jack Day Use stop.
Bus Stop to Two Jack Lake
The bus departs from the Transit Hub at Banff High School on Banff Avenue, across the Elk and Avenue Hotel.
Two Jack Lake Timetable
Campers at Two Jack Main Campground or Two Jack Lakeside Campground can travel to Lake Minnewanka or Banff for free (a surcharge applies for the return trip to the campground). This allows you to park your car or RV without having to deal with parking hassles.
More Information:
Bow Valley Regional Transit Services Commission
Address: 221 Beaver Street, Banff
Phone: +1 403 – 762 0606
E-mail: info@roamtransit.com
Website: roamtransit.com
ACCOMMODATION AT TWO JACK LAKE
Staying in a hotel at Two Jack Lake is not possible, but Banff Town is only a 15 minutes drive away. So there are plenty of possibilities to stay in a hotel nearby. It is, however, possible to camp at Two Jack Lake.
Camping at Two Jack Lake
The lake has two campgrounds: Two Jack Lake Main Campground and Two Jack Lake Lakeside Campground. The Tunnel Mountain Village Campground is an alternative if these campgrounds are full. It’s situated a little further down the road, close to Banff town and consists of three separate campgrounds.
Two Jack Lake Main Campground
Address: Lake Minnewanka Scenic Dr, Alberta T0L 2C0
Phone: +1 877 – 737 3783
Overnight stay: based on availability, reservations possible
Number of sites: 380
Facilities: drinking water, flush toilets, cooking area, picnic tables, fire pits and sani dump
Kind of accommodations: motor homes and tents
Price: CAD 21.97
Period: 24 June – 7 September
Bus stop: Roam Transit
Distance to Two Jack Lake: 500 m (0.31 mi)
Two Jack Lakeside Campground
Address: Lake Minnewanka Scenic Drive, Improvement District No. 9, AB
Phone: +1 877 – 737 3783
Overnight stay: subject to availability, reservations possible
Number of sites: 74
Facilities: camp kitchens, picnic tables, fire pits, flush toilets, hot showers, disabled access
Campfire permit: available at the campsite
Kind of accommodations: motor homes and tents
Price: CAD 28.00
Period: 21 May – 4 October
Distance to Two Jack Lake: 300 m (0.19 mi)
Tunnel Mountain Village I Campground
Address: Tunnel Mountain Road, Banff
Phone: +1 877 – 737 3783
Overnight stay: subject to availability, reservations possible
Number of sites: 618
Facilities: camp kitchens, picnic tables, fire pits, firewood, hot showers, flush toilets, handicap access, sani dump
Campfire permit: available at the campground
Kind of accommodations: motor homes and tents
Price: CAD 28.00
Period: 13 May – 4 October
Distance to Two Jack Lake: 11.7 km (7.22 mi)
Tunnel Mountain Village II Campground
Address: Tunnel Mountain Road, Banff
Phone: +1 877-737-3783
Overnight stay: subject to availability, reservations possible
Number of sites: 188
Facilities: camp kitchens, picnic tables, fire pits, firewood, hot showers, flush toilets, handicap access, sani dump
Campfire permit: available at the campground
Kind of accommodations: motor homes and tents
Price: CAD 33.01
Period: all year
Distance to Two Jack Lake: 12.8 km (7.90 mi)
Tunnel Mountain Trailer Court
Address: Tunnel Mountain Road, Banff
Phone: +1 877 – 737 3783
Overnight stay: subject to availability, reservations possible
Number of sites: 321
Facilities: camp kitchens, picnic tables, fire pits, firewood, hot showers, flush toilets, disabled access, sani dump
Campfire permit: available at the campground
Kind of accommodation: motorhomes
Price: CAD 39.04
Period: 13 May – 4 October
Distance to Two Jack Lake: 13.1 km (8.09 mi)
BEST TIME TO VISIT TWO JACK LAKE
You can visit Two Jack Lake all year round, but it’s best to visit it during the summer months when the weather allows for hiking, fishing, picnicking, and canoeing and kayaking on the lake. When the lake is frozen stiff in December, Two Jack Lake is excellent for skating. Furthermore, the snow makes it possible to snowshoe around the lake.
ACTIVITIES
Even though Two Jack Lake is much smaller than Lake Minnewanka, you can still find activities here, both in summer and winter. You can hike, fish, rent a kayak or canoe, and in winter, you can snowshoe and skate. Enough reasons to visit Two Jack Lake during your stay in Banff National Park.
Fishing on Two Jack Lake
Two Jack Lake is a great place to cast a line. You do need a national park permit, though. This permit is available at the two visitor centers and most sports shops in the park and online. A national park pass is also required. A provincial fishing license (Alberta) is not sufficient.
Any angler under sixteen may fish in the lake without a license if accompanied by someone under sixteen who holds a national park license. The maximum number of fish to be caught is then equal to the limit of the license of the person holding a license.
There are two types of fishing permits:
Day Permit: CAD 9.80
Annual permit: CAD 34.30
Note:
– The use of natural bait is not permitted in Banff National Park.
– In addition to a fishing license, you must also have a national park pass.
Fish Species in Two Jack Lake
You can catch American lake trout, walleye and Rocky Mountain whitefish in Two Jack Lake.
Two Jack Lake Fishing Season
The fishing season of Two Jack Lake usually lasts – just like Lake Minnewanka’s fishing season – from 19 May until the Tuesday after Labour Day weekend (early September).
Hikes in the Surroundings of Two Jack Lake
You can do several hikes in the direct surroundings of Two Jack Lake. I’ve listed them below.
| NAME | DISTANCE (round trip) | DURATION (round trip) | ELEVATION | TRAILHEAD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Two Jack Lake Trail | 3.2 km (1.99 mi) | 1 – 1.5 h | 184 m (4416 ft) | Upper Two Jack Lake Parking |
| Stewart Canyon | 3 km (1.85 mi) | 1-hour | Minimal | Lake Minnewanka Day-use Area |
| Lake Minnewanka Lakeside Hike | 17.1 km (10.56 mi) | 4 hrs – 6 hrs | 360 m (1181 ft) | Lake Minnewanka car park |
Mountain Biking in the Surroundings of Two Jack Lake
There’s no specific mountain bike trail around Two Jack Lake. However, Two Jack Lake is featured on the Lake Minnewanka Loop Ride, though it is not a mountain bike route per se as it takes you over a public (paved) road.
| NAME | DISTANCE (round trip) | ELEVATION | TRAILHEAD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minnewanka Loop Ride | 17 km (10.49 mi) | 178 m (584 ft) | Cascade Ponds car park |
Diving at Two Jack Lake
Two Jack Lake is one of two lakes in Banff National Park where you can dive (the other being the adjacent Lake Minnewanka). The depth varies from 6.1 m (20 ft) to 15.2 m (50 ft) and there is no current, making the lake ideal for divers who want to practice their skills. Visibility varies from 5 to 10 meters (16 to 32 feet).
If you want to know more about diving in the park, check out the post The Atlantis of Banff, Scuba Dive to the Park’s Hidden Gem.
Skating on Two Jack Lake
Just like Lake Minnewanka, Two Jack Lake is popular among skating enthusiasts. Although the lake is much shallower than its big brother, you have to be careful. Parks Canada warns to stay well away (at least 100 m / 328 feet) from the lake’s dam as there is always open water and thin ice.
Snowshoeing around Two Jack Lake
You can also go on lovely hikes near Two Jack Lake in the winter. In the coldest months, you can navigate the deep snow with the help of a pair of snowshoes. Along the lakeshore, you can take a pleasant trip. If the ice is thick enough, you can also walk on it.
MORE INFORMATION
Banff Visitor Centre
Opening hours (daily): 9 am – 5 pm
Address: 224 Banff Avenue, Banff
Phone: +1 403 – 762 1550
E-mail: pc.banff-vrc.pc@canada.ca
Lake Louise Visitor Centre
Opening hours (daily): 9 am – 5 pm
Address: Samson Mall, 201 Village Rd, Lake Louise
Phone: +1 403 – 522 3833
E-mail: pc.lakelouiseinfo-infolakelouise.pc@canada.ca
Other articles you might be interested in:
• How to Make Sure Mosquitoes Don’t Ruin Your Stay in Banff
• Plan Your Banff Itinerary – Know the Distances
• How Much Does a Banff Vacation Cost in 2022? (Crazy Numbers)
