About Lake Minnewanka Cruise
Lake Minnewanka Cruise operates scenic boat tours on the largest lake in Banff National Park, a glacial-fed body of water stretching 28 kilometres through the Palliser Range. Operated by Pursuit (the Banff Jasper Collection), the cruise has been running since the early 1900s and remains one of the most popular summer activities in the park.
The signature Classic Cruise is a 60-minute narrated voyage past towering limestone cliffs, with guides sharing stories of the sunken town of Minnewanka Landing and the lake's geological history. Premium options include the Beer Voyage cruise with local craft beer, a Junior Explorer program for kids, and sunrise or evening departures. Departures run multiple times daily from May through October.
What makes the cruise stand out is the scenery — Lake Minnewanka sits in a deep mountain valley with no road access along its full length, so the boat reveals views that are impossible to see any other way. Wildlife sightings of bighorn sheep, bald eagles, and occasionally bears on the shoreline are common.
