Scenic Views · Fishing · Alberta
Jackfish Lake
A clean, warm cabin lake about 45 minutes west of Edmonton near Carvel, popular for boating and pike fishing. Public access is limited to a small county day-use area with a daily parking fee.
What visitors say
Jackfish Lake is a small, cabin-lined lake in Parkland County near Carvel, within an hour of Edmonton. Many reviewers call it a favourite in central Alberta for its clean, warm water and calm mornings and evenings. The lake takes its name from the local word for northern pike.
The lake is open to angling under Alberta's sportfishing regulations and holds northern pike, walleye and yellow perch. Harvest has been restricted in recent years, with the walleye fishery closed after a winter kill, and some anglers note they can't keep anything, so check the current regulations. Reviewers report pike through the ice and a few walleye from small boats.
Parkland County's Jackfish Lake Recreation Area, off Highway 770, has the public boat launch, a small beach and picnic tables. Boating, tubing and waterskiing are popular, and a speed limit applies on the water. Weekdays and early mornings are the quiet times.
Access is the main complaint. The county charges a day-use parking fee, the lot is small and fills early on summer weekends, and most of the shoreline is private. Weekend boat traffic can be heavy, with big wakes, so paddlers may prefer a weekday.
Summarised from visitor reviews on Google Maps. Based on 107 Google reviews. Conditions and rules change — check current park, access and fishing regulations before you go.