Cast off during autumn in Lake Minnewanka in Banff National Park and you can see elk rutting near the shore, Grizzlies and black bears loping into the woods, fish visible in the fresh water lake and migrating birds soaring above.

You’ll find trees are ablaze with color and lakes are crystal clear as you navigate the land of glaciers in the Canadian Rockies. Take an inland cruise and you’ll find various regions of the province – the Rockies, the north, the south and the major cities -- offer something special throughout the year.

Cruise the Rockies at Lake Minnewanka in Banff National Park and Lake Maligne in Jasper National Park. The Minnewanka cruises traditionally go until early October, as do the Waterton Glacier International Peace Park cruises in southern Alberta, where you can cruise to the U.S. at Montana.

The Lake Maligne cruises to Canadian landmark Spirit Island wrap up the season on that lake in early September. Discover Alberta travel packages and read on for a look at how inland cruises can give you a fresh perspective on wildlife and wilderness.

Cruising Lake Minnewanka

Terry Gainer, Manager of Minnewanka Boat Tours, says the fall is one of the best times of the year to take the cruises, which run six times daily beginning in mid-May until October. Lake Minnewanka is 150 metres  (164 yards) deep and 28 km (17.3 mi) long.

“In the fall, you will see the aspens changing color,” says Gainer. “The clarity of the lake at this time of the year is dazzling, because all the spring run off is done.”

Wildlife Watching and Wild Terrain

“What we are really selling here is the landscape,” he adds. “The lake is in a tight valley and the mountain formations on the east side of the lake are part of the Rundle range of the Rockies. So you will see incredible folds in the rock formations, where rock is thrust up, and you find yourself in the midst of an amazing geology lesson.”

You will likely see Rocky Mountain sheep along the lakeshore, he says, as well as  deer. You can usually see Grizzlies further down the lake and some black bears.  “In springtime, we saw a cougar take down a ram during our evening wildlife cruise.”

Fire, Water and Ice

The other thing you will see is the influence that fire has had on the environment, says Gainer. “Parks Canada did one of the first controlled burns here, so you’ll be able to see the results and learn about it.

“This cruise shows a unique blend of fire, water, ice and glacial action,” he adds.

On the boat you can walk outside to a deck area or you can stay inside the cabin. These are cruise boats built for sightseeing, with big windows that slide open. There are three cruise boats, the largest accommodating 65 passengers. This year the operation spent $1 million to improve the boats and upgrade the cruise program and facility and the docks.

Reach Into History

During the cruise, one of the boat operators pilots the craft, the other narrates. The boat cruises to the lake’s far end, then does a turnaround.

 “Everyone can see the Devil’s Gap through the mountains, where in the early days the early explorers and First Nations folks would enter the Minnewanka Valley,” says Gainer. “Minnewanka is known as the lake of the water spirits. Some 11,000 years ago it was one of the first passages through the mountains for people migrating from the North.”

Try Fishing

In addition to the cruises, Gainer’s operation offers charter fishing and rental boats.

The fishing season runs from May to Sept. 1 with cabin cruiser charters. “We get thirty pound lake trout and it’s a good fishery,” says Gainer. “It’s all lures, no live bait allowed, and it’s natural spawn, so that keeps the season short.”

Other Alberta Cruises

In Central Alberta, Sylvan Lake is one of the prime recreational areas for summer fun. Sylvan Cruises operates dinner and sightseeing tours, and you can take a ride on an old-fashioned steam ship paddler. The cruises traditionally run until the end of September.

Go to Northern Alberta and you’ll find Peace Island Tours where you can explore a stunning river valley amidst boreal forest. The Peace River is one of the largest river systems in the world.

In Edmonton, Alberta’s gateway city to the North, take a ride on the Edmonton Queen Riverboat. Visit Calgary, the province’s gateway city to the Canadian Rockies, and you can climb aboard the S.S. Moyie sternwheeler at Heritage Park and cruise a reservoir with great views of the city.