Meltwater from the glaciers carved out the valley and as water levels rose and fell, alluvium was left in the wake.

At the western end is the town of Fort Qu'Appelle, which sits between Mission and Echo Lakes.

Mission Ridge Winter Park[8] is a ski resort in the Qu'Appelle River valley near the south-west area of the lake.

Syrian Beach is on the southern shore, near the east end and directly across the lake from Lebret.

Fish commonly found in Mission Lake include walleye, perch, and northern pike.