A lake I have always looked at while driving back and forth to Calgary is Barnett Lake at Lacombe. I'm usually hot and cranky by the time we pass Burman University (which sits on the bluffs overlooking the lake) but don't have time to stop and paddle. This summer I built in an extra couple of hours so I could.
Access is at the green arrow on the map above. You have to go into Lacombe and work your way up 50th Street until it forks and then take the left fork (Range Road 270A). Parking is DIY.
There is a small gravel beach that you can get in from. The water is iced tea coloured but no algae or smell. Probably not a swimming lake, through.
Highway 2 runs along the western edge and you can see cars at the north edge (and hear them).
There were a fair number of birds on the lake (pelican, cormorants, grebes, coots, and loons. I accidentally chased a bunch of baby coots.
It was about a 45-minute paddle around the edge. Overall, a pretty enough lake. Not really worth making a special trip for but, you were there, you could drop in. Just to the east (more inside the town limits) is Empress Lake. I didn't scope out a launch site here. Maybe next time.
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