Lake Swimming In or Near Edmonton (For Triathlon Training)

There really aren't a lot of great options for lake swimming in Edmonton, so you pretty much have to drive somewhere to get to a place to practice lake swimming.  These are the lakes I've swum at in or near Edmonton (or watched a race at), and what I think of them.

Lake Summerside

• this lake is on the south side of Edmonton, and it is very good, it is nice clean water and very nice all around. I've swum here and it is a really nice lake with a very nice beach
• It is about 800 meters to do a loop of the lake, if I remember correctly
• HOWEVER, it is not open for public swimming, you must know someone who lives in Summerside to swim here, which is a big draw back...
• there is a triathlon here:  http://www.multisportscanada.com/index.php/race-schedule/details/41-lake-summerside-triathlon and they let you come for warm up swims before hand

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Hawrelak Park/Lake

• this lake is right in the center of Edmonton and is the site of the ITU Edmonton World Cup
• HOWEVER, the water is usually not swim-able, they only treat it for this weekend (July 6 to 8th this year (2012))
• I haven't swam in this lake, only watched the race, but it looked pretty nice at the race

Warning about Lake De-contamination process

Lake just before the swim

Warning not to swim here, people were still in the water at Heritage Days

Half Moon Lake

• I did the Half Moon Lake Triathlon here several years ago, it is now the Mission3 triathlon 
• Personally, I like this lake, it sometimes gets a little green but especially once you get a little far out from shore it is not too bad in my opinion.  Others, like Mike, refuse to swim here though...
• I think it costs something like $3 to swim here, though we didn't pay when we went because we were warming up for the race
• it is about 1/2 hour east of Edmonton

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Hubbles Lake

• Great White North Triathlon is held here
• No motor boats are allowed on the lake making it ideal for triathlon swimming
• HOWEVER, there is no public beach, there are times when you can access the lake but it is awkward (https://hlcra.com/About_Hubbles_Lake.html)
• I've always heard good things about the water, but have only watched races
• KK claimed she got an eye infection from swimming in the lake, but I guess anytime you swim with contacts in a lake there is some risk...
• it is about 20 minutes west of Edmonton, here

Miquelon Lake

• the Alberta Challenge triathlon is held here, I raced this race a couple of years ago and it was lots of fun
• Miquelon Lake is a very nice lake, it has plenty of camping, a great large beach, fairly nice water.  It is saline water which I guess prevents algae growth.  
• It is about an hour south west of Edmonton

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Pigeon Lake

• there are several public, free beaches on this lake
• boats are allowed, but there are some roped off swim areas
• it is about an hour and a half south west of Edmonton
• the water seemed pretty nice to me