North Lake and Little Mere Lake

I went out to Little Mere Lake and North Lake by the Chickakoo Lake Recreation Area in late June.Nearest washrooms are likely at Chickakoo Lake or Muir Lake.

The best access is on the east end of North Lake (on the right) where Township Road 540 and Range Road 12A intersect. Parking is on the shoulder and there are two possible entry points (yellow circles below). 

The lefthand circle is down the bank and enters at a culvert. You then paddle through some trees to get to the lake. This was the best spot last year when the water was low but we had to wind through the trees some. With the water a foot higher this year, no winding was required but the entry was sightly more challenging (off the slope).

The righthand circle was not possible last year with lower water but is now (see below) and is an easy entry and exit. It is beside the "80kmh sign".

The lake was clean and smelled good. There were a tonne of waterfowl raising babies and nesting.

I went west along the top of the lake, passed through the narrows, looped around the western reach and came back on the south shore.

There were a tonne of red-necked grebes nesting in the reeds.

I ended up very close to a nest by accident (eggs obscured by mud).

The parents were extremely unhappy and puffed up and were very vocal and aggressive!

There is a small inlet on the south side where the lake used to connect to Kettle Lake. 

The beavers have dammed this up and the water is several feet higher than the meadow beyond.

It was also the only part of the lake that was full of algae (which was super pretty).

Overall, a lovely morning paddle. The entry was a bit more challenging than most lakes (bit of slope, a bit muddy) but nothing to complain too much about. I've never seen anyone else out here which is nice.