Patricia Lake sits just north of Jasper townsite, a short drive or cycle along Pyramid Lake Road. The lake is known for its scenery — Pyramid Mountain rises above the far shore and reflects cleanly in the still water — and for being a fine place to canoe, with rentals available at the shore. The road out to Patricia and Pyramid lakes is one of the most popular cycling routes from town.
Most visitors enjoy the lake without knowing what lies beneath it. An underwater plaque commemorates Operation Habbakuk, the wartime experiment conducted here that aimed to build a ship from a mixture of ice and wood pulp. The pykrete prototype is still on the lake floor. It is an unlikely footnote to a beautiful alpine lake, and makes Patricia Lake worth seeking out even if you have already seen a dozen others in the park.