Ghost Lake Provincial Recreation Area Beach

Managed by North Saskatchewan Riverkeeper

Ghost Lake Provincial Recreation Area is located on the Ghost Lake Reservoir near the Transalta Dam of the Bow River (originally built in 1929), the beach is rocky and the water deepens very quickly. Since the lake is fed by the bow river and situated only a few kilometres from the Rocky Mountains, the water is very cold.

Ghost Lake is about 45 minutes from Calgary, and the beach location offers spectacular views of the Rockies. Options for camping and boat rentals are available at Ghost Lake Recreation Inc. in the marina on the other side of the Bow Valley Trail, where the denuded campground is located. There is a boat launch and pier right beside the beach; be aware that water levels can change quickly and the water is cold year round.

The lake gets its name from Indigenous stories of a ghost that prowled the nearby Ghost River which flows into the east side of the lake. (https://www.cottageclub.ca/history)

Get directions to this beach

COVID-19

Keep your distance from other people.

Practicing social distancing is essential right now. Follow the advice of the health experts. If your community has asked that you remain indoors and away from others, do so. Heading to the beach should only be considered an option if social distancing practices can be followed. Spending a day in any crowded place is the worst thing we can do for our most vulnerable right now and will counter the efforts to curb the virus’ spread.

For more information, please visit the World Health Organization public resource on COVID-19.

Water Quality

No data available
Special Status
This means the affiliate organization managing a beach has set the beach status based on special local knowledge or information. Check the beach description and the Sources section for details.

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Current Weather

14°C

Cloudy

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Monitoring Frequency

Source Information

Alberta Health Services (AHS) monitors 46 freshwater beaches across the province. AHS monitors the province’s five zones: Calgary, Central, Edmonton, North, and South. Water samples are collected and processed by summer students hired by AHS each season.

AHS monitors public beaches from approximately June 1 (weather permitting) to September (around Labour Day weekend). Most sites are monitored on a weekly basis, though some sites are monitored less frequently.

Water quality testing done by AHS is based on standards outlined in the General Nuisance and Sanitation Regulation, under Alberta’s Public Health Act. AHS tests for fecal coliform and blue-green algae (cyanobacteria).

Faecal Contamination

Under the guidelines put forth by AHS, no person shall operate or permit the operation of a beach or constructed beach unless the water quality in the swimming or bathing area meets the following standards:

Two consecutive values at < /400 CFU/100 mL
AND
A geometric mean < /= 200 CFU/100 mL over a 30-day period

Where the water quality in swimming/bathing areas of a beach or constructed beach does not comply with these standards, an executive officer may erect a notice or require the owner or operator to erect a notice to the effect that the beach or constructed beach is unfit for swimming or bathing.

If a beach does not meet the standards, a Contaminated Water Health Advisory is issued. Signs are posted at the recreational site and an advisory is posted on the AHS website (http://www.albertahealthservices.ca/1926.asp). They are also communicated through the Swim Guide app and website and sent out to all local-area media surrounding a lake, as well as tweeted by AHS. Health advisories are rescinded when the above standards are met.

Cyanobacteria

Recreational water bodies and associated recreational sites are monitored by AHS EHOs and Practicum students for cyanobacteria. AHS personnel completes visual inspections of the lakes and also collects water samples for lab testing. For more information on cyanobacteria, AHS has developed an FAQ: http://www.albertahealthservices.ca/assets/news/advisories/ne-pha-bga-faq-2015.pdf.

AHS issues Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria) Advisories when blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) blooms are identified, as that presence can pose a risk to human health.
Advisories are posted online to www.albertahealthservices.ca/1926.asp. These advisories are sent out to local-area media surrounding a lake, tweeted by AHS and communicated through the Swim Guide app and website. When a bloom is identified, related signage is posted around the entire water body (public beaches, access points, campgrounds, etc). These advisories remain in place for the duration that the health risk persists.

Monitoring Status

A beach is marked Green when two consecutive single sample results are under 400 CFU/100 mL AND the geometric mean (average of 5 samples) is less than 200 CFU/100 mL over a 30-day period.

A beach is marked Red when two consecutive single sample results are equal to or above 400 CFU/100 mL AND the geometric mean (average of 5 samples) are equal to or greater than 200 CFU/100 mL over a 30-day period.

A beach is marked Grey if there is no current results or no available information.

Water Quality Graph