7 beautiful summer lakes near Vancouver you have to visit

Okanagan Lake

The Okanagan is one of the warmest areas in all of Canada, so Okanagan Lake is guaranteed to be a hot and sunny destination ideal for swimming, boating and sunbathing this summer. It’s the perfect location for a weekend getaway with friends or a family trip.

Joffre Lakes

Sasamat Lake

Sasamat Lake is a unique gem. The lake is warm to swim in, and lined with a [scenic forest](http://www.vancouvertrails.com/trails/sasamat-lake/) and trails, as well as a beautiful white sand beach to relax on. I’m referring to Sasamat Lake’s [White Pine Beach](http://www.yelp.ca/biz/white-pine-beach-port-moody). It’s at the north end of Sasamat Lake, and it’s a very popular summer ‘Sunday-Funday’ destination for Vancouverites. It’s the perfect spot for a fun day in the sun with your friends to have a picnic, swim in the lake, sunbathe on the beach and lounge on the water on your floaties.

Garibaldi Lake

[Garibaldi Lake](http://www.vancouvertrails.com/trails/garibaldi-lake/) is special since it cannot be reached unless you commit to a two to three hour steep uphill hike (the Garibaldi Lake hike is five to six hours round-trip) and the picture-perfect lake is your reward. Another thing that makes this lake so special is that it is so strikingly beautiful, you’ll feel as though you’ve entered some parallel universe. The lake is a clear turquoise-blue lined with glacier-capped mountains and lush green trees.

Ivey Lake

[Ivey Lake](http://www.iveylake.ca/) is secluded within the beautiful mountains of the Pemberton Valley, and enveloped by the tall cedars of B.C.’s green coastal forests. It is most certainly a hidden gem and it’s a quiet, peaceful getaway. The lake is lined with several remote [lake-front log-cabins](http://www.iveylake.ca/index2.html), available to rent from private owners.

Lost Lake

The beach at Lost Lake gets quite busy in the summer, as it is the most convenient beach to get to for Whistler residents. Lost Lake offers all the facilities you need to comfortably spend the day there: washrooms, picnic tables, swimming docks, BBQ facilities and a concession stand. Lost Lake Park is also a dog-friendly location. It’s a great spot for watching the sunsets over Whistler Mountain.

Shuswap Lake

The beautiful and vast [Shuswap Lake](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shuswap_Lake) offers over 1000 kilometres of shoreline to explore, and it is the houseboating capitol of Canada. Shuswap Lake is lined with a plethora of [lakefront cabins](https://www.airbnb.ca/rooms/951678?checkin=28-08-2015&checkout=31-08-2015&s=Nat7) you can rent out for the week or the weekend, and spend your days stand-up paddleboarding, boating, kayaking or just relaxing on your dock. If houseboating is something you’re into, you may have to plan far in advance. The waitlist for a houseboat can be up to two years for the busy summer long weekends – but renting a cabin on this beautiful lake is another great option.