Sylvan Lake Park is the heart of the town's appeal — a broad sandy beach on the south shore of the lake that fills with Albertan families in July and August. The lake is unusually warm for Alberta (surface temperatures reach 22°C in a good summer), and the beach is clean and well maintained. The provincial park designation protects the immediate shoreline.
The park has the full complement of summer facilities: picnic areas, change rooms, a boat launch, and easy walking access to the waterfront strip. Lifeguards are on duty at the main beach areas in summer. Early mornings in June or September, when the crowds have thinned, the lake is particularly pleasant — still warm enough to swim, cool enough to be comfortable.