Tucked along the west side of Highway 22, just 1.6 km north of the Town of Cochrane, Cochrane Lake sits in southern Alberta’s Rocky View County, roughly 45 km northwest of Calgary. The hamlet shares its name with Senator Matthew Henry Cochrane, who established the Cochrane Ranche in 1881 – a significant beef-producing operation later known as the British-American Ranche. Statistics Canada recognises a smaller portion of the hamlet as a designated place under the name Cochrane Lake Subdivision.
According to the 2021 federal census, Cochrane Lake had a population of 767 residents living in 240 of its 252 private dwellings, representing a modest decline of approximately 4% from the 799 people recorded in 2016. Rocky View County’s own 2018 municipal census placed the population at 769. The hamlet covers a land area of 3.8 km², giving it a population density of around 201.8 people per km². Notably, Rocky View County’s 2013 municipal census recorded 792 residents, a dramatic increase of 226% compared to just 243 residents counted in 2006, reflecting a period of considerable residential growth. The hamlet is also home to an ongoing housing development managed by property developer Monterra.