8 Best Lake Communities in Calgary: Urban Lakefront Living

For water lovers living in Calgary, there's no need to choose between city life and lakefront living. Thanks to the array of scenic lake communities in Calgary—complete with sandy beaches, boat launches, waterfront homes, and more—it's possible to enjoy the best of both worlds.

Calgary's lake communities can be found in all four quadrants of the city. Residents of lovely neighbourhoods ranging from Lake Bonavista in the southeast to Arbour Lake in the northwest can enjoy swimming in the summer, ice skating in the winter, and fishing year-round. All without leaving their neighbourhood.

If lakefront living in Alberta's largest city sounds appealing, join us in exploring the best lake communities in Calgary.

Brief Glance at Calgary's Lake Communities

• Lake Bonavista: Calgary’s first lake community (1970s), featuring a 52-acre private lake, beach club, and mix of housing.
• Arbour Lake: Northwest Calgary’s only lake community, with a stocked trout lake for swimming, fishing, and skating, plus mountain views.
• Mahogany: Calgary’s largest lake (63 acres) and over 20 acres of sandy beaches and diverse housing.
• Auburn Bay: A southeast community built around a 43-acre lake, featuring a private beach and the 7,000 sq. ft. Auburn House community centre.
• Coral Springs: A northeast neighbourhood with a 16-acre lake inspired by a Caribbean theme.
• Sundance: A 1980s community built around a 33-acre lake, offering sandy beaches and proximity to Fish Creek Provincial Park.
• Chaparral: Centred on a 32-acre lake and 21-acre park with waterfalls, trails, and year-round events.
• McKenzie Lake: Features a 43-acre private lake with an island and sandy beaches.

Lake Bonavista

Lake Bonavista might be the most beautiful neighborhood in Southwest Calgary. It's ideally located near three significant bodies of water: the Bow River, Lake Bonaventure, and the 52-acre Lake Bonavista, the neighbourhood's namesake.

Lakes Bonaventure and Bonavista, which feature sandy beaches and boat launches, are hotspots for year-round recreation. From May–September, you'll see residents paddle-boarding, swimming, boating, and fishing. During winter, ice fishing and cross-country skiing are popular activities.

Lake Bonavista's borders are Anderson Road to the north, Macleod Trail to the west, Canyon Meadows Drive to the south, and Bow Bottom Trail to the east. And at just a 15-minute drive to Calgary's city centre, those living in Lake Bonavista have easy access to everything the city offers.

Homes in Lake Bonavista are wide-ranging and accommodate many budgets:

• Condos list from the high $200s to the $500s
• Detached homes are usually priced from $775K to $1.3M
• Sought-after lakefront homes can top $2.5M

Arbour Lake

Arbour Lake, located in Northwest Calgary, isn't just one of the city's best lake communities. It's also one of the top Calgary neighbourhoods with Rocky Mountain views.

Arbour Lake is located approximately 18 kilometres from Downtown Calgary, and it's even closer to popular outdoor attractions like Nose Hill Park (11 km), Bowness Park (7 km), and WinSport/Canada's Olympic Park (10 km).

Arbour Lake borders Country Hills Boulevard to the north, Crowchild Trail to the south, Nose Hill Drive to the east, and Stoney Trail to the west. At the heart of Arbour Lake is the lake it is named for.

One of Calgary's best lakes, Arbour Lake brims with rainbow trout, making it ideal for fishing. It's considered one of the best spots for fly fishing in Calgary's Metro area. It's also an excellent lake for kayaking, swimming, boating, stand-up paddleboarding, canoeing, and skating during winter.

Arbour Lake homes are usually priced from the high $300s to $1 million, but like in Lake Bonavista, waterfront luxury homes can top $2 million.

Mahogany

The Mahogany neighbourhood, founded in 2008, is one of Calgary's best-selling communities. Named for Mahogany Lake, Mahogany is located 30 kilometres from Downtown Calgary. While it's one of the furthest neighbourhoods from Calgary's downtown core, it is still easily accessible via AB-2. Mahogany is bordered by Auburn Bay and Copperfield.

With over 21 acres of sandy beaches, Mahogany has the most beachfront of any Calgary community. One of the area's best amenities is Mahogany West Beach, one of two private beaches along Mahogany Lake. Mahogany West Beach has many amenities, including the Mahogany Beach Club, a playground, a picnic area, beach volleyball courts, and more.

Homes in Mahogany range from condos priced in the $200s and $300s to detached homes that typically top out around $1.4 million. Prospective residents can, however, find some of the most luxurious waterfront homes in Calgary here, with prices occasionally topping $3 million.

Auburn Bay

Home to Auburn Bay Lake and other surrounding lakes, the southeastern Calgary neighbourhood of Auburn Bay borders Mahogany to the west. Like Mahogany, Auburn Bay is positioned along the southeast edge of the city, with Seton Boulevard to the south, Deerfoot Trail to the west, 52 Street E to the east, and Stoney Trail to the north. Auburn Bay is also located around 30 km from downtown, but commuters can either drive or use public transit for ease of travel.

Auburn Bay is one of the best Southeast Calgary neighbourhoods, offering plenty of amenities for residents. One of its most popular destinations is Auburn Bay Beach, a sandy lakefront beach where residents partake in many water activities, such as swimming, kayaking, and SUP.

While Auburn Bay homes regularly top $2 million, the majority list from the high $200s to $1 million.

Coral Springs

Ideally located in Northeast Calgary, Coral Springs is just 17 km from downtown. This makes it one of the city's closest lakeside communities.

Coral Springs is bordered by 64 Avenue N to the north, McKnight Boulevard to the south, 68 Street E to the west, and 84 Street E and Rocky View County to the east. Coral Springs Lake, located in the centre of the neighbourhood, is an excellent lake for fishing, brimming with rainbow trout and other native fish species. Other popular activities include swimming, beach volleyball, kayaking, and boating.

This neighbourhood has many amenities, including the NESS: Don Hartman North East Sportsplex, where locals play hockey.

Homes in Coral Springs cover a narrower price spectrum than other lake communities, but luxury options are more affordable than in comparable neighbourhoods. Homes are usually priced from the high $400s to $1.3 million.

Sundance

Located in South Calgary, Sundance borders Fish Creek Provincial Park. The 33-acre man-made Sundance Lake is the heart of the neighbourhood. Sundance's borders include Macleod Trail to the west, Stoney Trail SW to the south, and Fish Creek Provincial Park to the east and north.

Sundance Lake is a popular lake for many recreational activities, particularly boating, kayaking, and canoeing. Sundance Park is located on the western shore of the lake, which has a sandy beach and picnic areas for residents and visitors.

Proximity to Fish Creek Provincial Park, one of Calgary's best parks, is a huge draw to the neighbourhood.

Sundance homes usually list from the $600s to the $800s, making it one of the most affordable lake communities in Calgary.

Chaparral

Located in South Calgary—roughly midway between downtown and the nearby Okotoks community—Chaparral is nestled in the Bow River Valley.

Much of Chaparral's recreational activities are centred around the 32-acre lake at the heart of the neighbourhood. Along with the lake is a 21-acre park featuring two waterfalls and other well-maintained facilities. Chaparral hosts many local events and festivals in the park throughout the year, making it a bustling area year-round.

Along with Chaparral Lake, Chaparral is also close to Shawnessy Towne Centre, a famous shopping centre in southern Calgary. For those interested in real estate in Chaparral, most homes are single-family homes, but apartments and condos are available in the $300s and $400s. Detached homes usually list from the $500s to the $800s, though some luxurious estates can top $1.75M.

McKenzie Lake

McKenzie Lake is a highly sought-after Southeast Calgary community located next door to the McKenzie Towne neighbourhood. Located just 20 km from Downtown Calgary, the McKenzie Lake neighbourhood is ideally situated for residents who commute to and from the downtown area. It is also ideal for getting to and from Calgary International Airport since it is right along AB-2.

McKenzie Lake's borders are Deerfoot Trail to the east, Stoney Trail to the south, Fish Creek Provincial Park to the west, and 130th Ave SE to the north, making it easily accessible to parks, trails, and jobs in Calgary.

Much of this neighbourhood's recreational activities are centred around McKenzie Lake, a private 43-acre lake with an island in the centre, sandy beaches, and a shallow-water swimming area. The McKenzie Lake Beach Club and McKenzie Lake School Playground are along the southern shores. Homes in McKenzie Lake are exclusively single-family homes, generally priced from the $500s to $2 million.

Serenity in Calgary's Lake Communities

Very few Canadian cities can match Calgary's ability to integrate urban living with the great outdoors. With its immense network of parks and trails, there's a wealth of great outdoor activities in Calgary.

Calgary's lake communities offer some of the most unique ways to experience the great outdoors right at home. With a huge range of locations, price ranges, home styles, and recreational offerings, these neighbourhoods are excellent places to live.

If you're ready to discover the Calgary lake community for you, pick a few to explore any time of the year—you're sure to see residents enjoying lake recreation no matter the month!