Visiting Two Jack Lake In Banff National Park

If you are planning to spend some time in Banff this year there are numerous lakes in the area which should be added to your itinerary. One which we believe you shouldn’t miss is the beautiful Two Jack Lake.

Things to do at Two Jack Lake

Two Jack Lake has a lot to offer and is a very family friendly lake in Banff National Park. There is a camping ground, lots of outside space for picnics and shallow run offs from the lake edge into the water which is perfect for paddling or going for a swim. The lake also has a lot of water sports activities taking place so be prepared to see plenty of kayaks and paddle boards! If you’re feeling slightly more active then you can also put on your hiking shoes and hike around the lake!

If you are simply visiting to have a look at the lake and absorb the beauty of Banff National Park you can sit in any of the numerous benches located around the lake and get some great views across the water. Our favourite seat is up the hill from the lower car parking and picnic area where you can catch some stunning views.

How to get to Two Jack Lake from Banff

Time needed: 15 minutes

Getting to Two Jack Lake from Banff is really straightforward as it is located a mere 11km North East of Banff. The journey should take you around 15 minutes by car or 40 minutes by bicycle.

  1. Drive north out of Banff to Range Road 115B

    From Banff you will need to head North on Banff Avenue until you pass over the Trans Canada Highway.

  2. Head down Lake Minnewanka Scenic Drive

    At this point where Banff Avenue passes over the Trans Canada Highway it becomes Range Road 115B which you will need to follow for around 500m before taking the first road on the right down Lake Minnewanka Scenic Drive.

  3. Continue for 5km

    Once on Lake Minnewanka Scenic Drive, follow the road for 5km and Two Jack Lake will be on your right hand side.

Two Jack Lake parking

Parking at Two Jack Lake is free however it is fairly hit and miss depending on the time of day that you choose to visit. A car park is present however there aren’t very many spaces so at busier times the car park will fill up quickly.

Around 50m up the road past the car park junction there is however an additional off road area where you can leave the car.

Be careful if you do choose to park here however as the road drop off towards the lake is steep so you may want to keep a close eye on any young children.

Photos of Two Jack Lake

Two Jack lakeside campground

Two Jack Lake is popular with tourists not only because of its stunning scenery but because of the ability to camp at the Two Jack Lakeside campground.

  • There is a 23-site walk-in tenting area. Campers must park in the designated parking area and access campsites by foot.
  • There are food lockers for walk-in campers. 
  • A maximum of 2 vehicles, 2 tents and 6 people are permitted on each site. Maximum 1 RV per site (up to 8 metres (27′) in length). 
  • All vehicles (maximum 2) and tents must be set up or parked on the gravel area of the campsite.  
  • All washrooms have hot and cold running water, flush toilets and showers. 
  • There are picnic shelters in this campground.

For more information about camping at Two Jack Lake and making a reservation, head over to the Parks Canada website here.

Planning your trip to Banff

If you are researching Two Jack Lake because of a planned trip to Banff, don’t just rely on the internet for the best places to visit.

Banff travel guides

An up to date travel guide can reveal the best days out, itineraries and places to eat. Take a look at the Banff travel guides currently available on Amazon.

For the full range of travel guides for Banff and Banff National Park, head over to Amazon here.

Heading to Banff National Park is an amazing adventure but do be sure that you have packed all of the essential items for your visit. We recommend picking yourself up the following items: hiking shoes, hiking socks, hiking jacket, hiking poles a hiking bag and a hiking water bottle.

Latest accommodation deals in Banff

We’ve partnered with Booking.com to bring you the best prices and availability on accommodation in Banff. Use the date selector on the map below to find the perfect place to stay during your visit.

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Two Jack Lake is a great place to spend a few hours with a picnic or simply go for a quick visit due to its proximity to Banff. Make sure you don’t miss it!

Have you been to Two Jack Lake? What did you think? Let us know in the comments below.

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