Johnny's Lake

On the Thanksgiving weekend, I ventured out to Johnny's Lake, just west of Stony Plain. Access to Johnny's Lake is a bit tricky the first time so I have put a map below. You take Highway 16 west of town then turn south on Highway 770 (just past the big turn north to Whitecourt). 

Go south on 770 and then turn west on Township Road 530. After four miles, this road curves south and becomes Range Road 25. Alternately, you can come up Range Road 25 from the south (Star Lake). Range Road 25 is the north-south road on the right side on the map below. 

Turn into the community and drive to the red arrow, which is an unmarked lane that leads to the boat launch (green arrow). There is lots of room to park at the boat launch but no other facilities (nearest washrooms are at Star Lake to the south, I think).

The launch itself was a mixed bag. About an 18-inch drop down to a small shelf of soft weeds and mud. Then a very nice, shallow gravel bed under the water. But the water was very green. 

I was happy to get away with mostly dry feet. The water further out was iced-tea coloured with patches of green.

The lake was very pretty and I was the only one on the water. There were a couple of power boats at cabins on the south end but I don't see a public launch anywhere. Too many hazards for boats to go very fast anyhow.

The water was super calm so there were great reflections. The shoreline was shallow and weedy almost the whole way around.

But there are three big islands for interest and lots of evidence of beaver activity.

The geese and ducks were super skittish. But there was still some lovely fall colour to enjoy.

I found a couple of shells floating in the water, which might explain why the birds were ansty!

Paddling the perimeter is maybe 90- to 120-minutes. Lots of dead heads in places but a nice enough lake. I imagine there would be lots of birds to see in the spring. The lake is big enough (and open enough on the west) that it could get rough if there was a good breeze.

Muir Lake

In early October, my wife and I rushed out to Muir Lake after work to see the leaves before we lost the light. The lake was very quiet on a week night.

The leaves were lovely and the wind, while periodically gusty and changing directions, wasn't anything to worry about.

We ran into a moose eating on the trees on the island! You can see her on the left in the photo below. 
 

She stayed behind a screen of willow and we kept out distance so we only have grainy, zoom shots. She was very tall!

The lake was a very nice paddle and we took two laps before the cold and the dark started to drive us in.

My wife said its as likely the last paddle for her. I was, however,  keen to keep going until freeze up. This was my 40th paddle of the year. I'm hoping to get to Johnny's Lake before freeze up.

North Saskatchewan: Quesnel to Dawson

In early October,  my wife and I decided to float down the North Saskatchewan (which we'd done in the spring) to catch the autumn colours. We put in under the Quesnel bridge, dragooning the kid into running the shuttle bus.

The colours were amazing the whole trip and the river was busy. Nothing too motorized but canoes, SUPs, kayaks, and a bunch of folk rowing crew. The shoreline was also busy.

Laurier Park was particularly pretty and busy that morning.

The water was very calm so there were great reflections.

At government house park, we saw a fellow launch a drone from his canoe. But then he couldn't land it because of the drift of the boat and the wind on the drone. After bunch of tries, he eventually lost it in the river.

The water picked up a bit below the Groat bridge and it was quite shallow until below the Waterdale.

There was a very large set of air bubbles coming up from a broken pipe or hose just downstream of the water treatment plant.

The river as also exceptionally clear and blue-green, which made for pretty pictures.

The current picked up briefly at accidental beach and then slowed as we headed into the launch at Dawson Park. 

Overall, a great trip with lovely colours.

Devil's Lake

In late September, I dragged the kid out to Devil's Lake (Matchayaw Lake) northwest of Edmonton. The fall colours were beautiful but it was quite overcast so the colours don't show in the photos very well.

Access is off Highway 37 near Onoway, east on township road 550. Go past the Jehovah's Witness hall, over the bridge and it is on the right. There is a decent sized parking lot, you can unload at the water's edge, and there is a pit toilet.

The boat launch itself is a nice bed of gravel and the entry was really clean. The water had a bit of algae to it but was fine.

We paddled along the north shore over to where the Sturgeon river outflow is under the bridge.

The river was shallow but navigable and we paddled about a km towards St. Albert and saw lots of waterfowl and heron.

We then returned to the lake and did most of the west shore before cutting across the southern end back to the launch.

The water was like glass for us, which was amazing. The land is pretty open to the west towards Onoway, so I would imagine the lake would get a bit rough if there was much breeze.

There was also a lot of gun fire while we were on the water. I don't know if people were shooting birds (sounded like shotguns) or if there is a gun range nearby.

I'd love to go back on a clearer day; this was a much nicer paddle than I had expected.

Jarvis Lake

Mid-September saw us stop in at Jarvis Lake in William Switzer Provincial Park, just north of Hinton. We put in at the day use area at the south end of the lake. There is a boat launch, beach, swimming areas, playground, and toilets (that are super dark).

It looks like a local paddle club is doing rentals.

You can also access the lake at the north end via Kelly's Bathtub. This is mostly a beach and swimming hole and will require you to make a very short portage to get out into the main lake.

We were there at about 10 am and it was a cold day (+4C). First time my wife had paddled in a parka and toque! 

We paddled the western reach, trying to stay out of the west breeze. We'll try the eastern reach next time. Beautiful clear water, lovely shore line, and basically no one around.

Coming back along the eastern shore, the wind picked up suddenly and we have quiet a paddle for the last half km across some open water. We were both drenched but otherwise had a good time.

William Switzer Park also appears to offer paddling at Blue Lake and Gregg Lake. Maybe next time.

 

Overall, a great time and nice location. This would be worth another trip next year.

Medicine Lake, Jasper

Medicine Lake is a seasonal lake, located on Maligne Lake Road about halfway between Highway 16 and Maligne Lake. Basically, the basin fills up in spring and then slowly drains. I've never had the chance to paddle here and we were hopeful there would still be enough water in September for a chance. No joy, though!

The best access looks to be from the lookout on the west end of the lake. There is parking lot and a set of stairs. When the lake is full, it would be a short carry to the water. The lake was down about 40 feet when we were there so the carry to the bottom was longer and there wasn't much lake to paddle.

Below, looking up from the lake to the parking lot.

It also looks like you might be able to access the lake at the west end, either by parking in the Jacques Lake trail head and carrying across the road and down the slope, or by pulling into an unmarked parking area at the far east end of the lake, carrying a ways down a closed road, and then down the slope to the lake.

You can see, based upon the scum lines on the slope in the photo below, how much the lake had dropped over the season.

I was disappointed not to get the chance to paddle the lake (which was mostly exposed mud bottom). But the views were amazing. I'm also interested to see what Jacques Lake holds.

Maybe next time!

Lake Edith, Jasper

In September, we had a chance to paddle Lake Edith in Jasper. Access is off Lake Annette Road and Lake Annette (also a lovely paddle) is just a few hundred meters further up the road. 

Edith offers a lovely beach launch, with picnic tables, toilets, SUP rentals, and a short carry (150 feet?). This is a great place to bring kids.

To the west is Pyramid Mountain. The lake tied 75- to 90-minutes to paddle around and can, occasionally, be a bit windy.

The water clarity is amazing and the colours short with depth and light and whatever is on the bottom (mostly sandy and silt).

There are privately owned cabins around the lake and a bike path that follows the eastern shore before cutting into the woods.

There is an island out in the middle where we sometimes see elk lounging. At the north end, there is also an interesting lagoon.

Overall, an amazing paddle and great way to spend an afternoon. Lake Annette offer a similar experience but is smaller and has no private cabins. Together, they make for a fun few hours of paddling.