Lake Windermere is a popular vacationing spot, especially for residents of Calgary, which is a three-hour car drive to the east.

The western side of the lake which fronts the Purcell Mountains has a railroad running along its shore, and as a result, housing and recreational development is minimal there.

The eastern side of the lake has a more extensive flatland between the lake and the Rocky Mountains and has experienced considerable development including cottages, camping grounds, recreational beaches, golf courses and various tourist attractions.

[3]: 297 The longest ice skating trail can be found on the Lake Windermere Whiteway.

[4] When Guinness Book of World Records verified the record in 2014, the ice measured between 12 inches (30 cm) and 30 inches (76 cm) depending where you were in one of the four loops that runs continuously around the lake.