Dillberry Lake

In June, we had the chance to stop in at Dillberry Lake, which straddles the Alberta-Saskatchewan border about 80km south of Lloydminster. The lake is small (maybe 1 km by half a km) and shallow (so very warm). The water was very clear when we were there but there are warnings about swimmers itch.

Access is off Highway 17 and the lake is in a provincial park. There is no charge for day use but you can also camp here on the west end,

Day-use access is on the south side of the lake. There is a nice boat launch.

There is also a sandy beach with change rooms, toilets, and a playground plus a roped off swimming area. 

There are power boats on the lake as well as private cabins.

We didn't have time for a paddle (although it would have been short). This probably isn't a lake I'd drive to (it is 3+ hours from Edmonton) but, if I was in the area, I might stop in at.

Birch Lake

In early July, we stopped in at Birch Lake on the first leg of a trip to Prince Albert National Park. Birch Lake is located about 90 minutes east of Edmonton on Highway 16, just south of Innisfree. If you pull off at the PetroCanada station way up on the hill, the lake you are overlooking to the south is Birch Lake.

Access is off Highway 870 at the ball diamonds and recreation park. Drive into the main parking area and there is a wagon on the south side behind a fence.

Access is through the western most gate (it is chained but not locked). There is an old, overgrown cement boat launch here that leads down to the water. You can park right at the gate.

The lagoon offered a sheltered launch.

The lake was a touch grotty at the very edge but we managed to get in and out with out feet dry.

The lake itself is enormous. We just paddled the northern part, around the island, and down the eastern shore some. You could spent a whole day paddling the perimeter.

Best access to the island is on the NE shore. There is apparently hiking trail to the top of the hill as well as a fire pit. The island is also supposed to have interesting quartz and other deposits.

The hill (shot from the western side) is huge.

We went ashore on the SE corner in a bay. This was fairly mucky and did not lead to any trails. We did see a deer, though. And some large hoof prints (moose?).

The sky was lovely; I wish we'd had more time to paddle. We saw more deer on the shoreline.

I'd always wanted to paddle the lake as a kid, which looked like a lovely break from the backseat of a hot station wagon, Not sure you'd want to swim this at all--dark water with some serious weeds in places. But a fun lake to check off my list. To the west, you can also paddle the much smaller Waspasu Lake but we did not get over there.

Spring Lake

I finally got a chance to paddle Spring Lake in late June. This has long been on my list of lakes to try but the best accessed (through an RV resort) has been restricted and I could never find the public access.

I came out Highway 16A west past Stony Plain and Spring Lake is clearly signed on the south side of the highway. Eventually, I got going south of Range Road 15, crossed the train tracks and turned right (west) onto Bauer Avenue. It is then a matter of following Bauer to the village office (there is a portapotty here), then taking Lakeside Drive to Waters Crescent. 

Parking is on a small grass pullout (blue circle). Extra parking is available back at the village office. You then walk a short distance down a road to a gate then carry or drag your boat along the yellow arrow to the put in point (green circle).

The put-in point is just tis cut in the trees and is a touch mucky. I chose to get in dry and bumscoot until I was floating. 

Just to the north there is a dock and a second put in point (below). I didn't think that was much better.

The lake is shallow with a boggy edge almost all the way around. Overall, it leans towards a slough aesthetic. 

The good news is there many birds here. I saw loons, grebes, coots, pelicans (20+), osprey, terns, red-winged blackbirds, and some others I couldn't identify. Some were nesting, some had young.

The lake is also reasonably sheltered and shallow. At times, the wind was gusting over 35kph (base don the flags) but there was no chop to speak of.

The southwest bay had the best bird watching. There was also a beach here. I could tell if it was public or private.

The RV resort in the SE corner had a beach with swimming area, dock and boat launch. There was no public access here.

I paddled the perimeter very leisurely and was done in less than 2 hours. I saw lost of birds, a few people in rowboats and canoes fishing and that was it. There were power boats on the various beaches and docks but, given the depth, Iw wouldn't imagine people would be going very fast. 

I would totally go back this fall for the autumn migration and colour.

Mayatan Lake

At the end of June, we ventured out to Mayatan Lake for a quick paddle. The entry point can be a bit tricky to find so I have put details instructions in this post.

The lake looked up a bit this year over last (it has been raining a lot) and the boat launch was deserted when we got there. It got busier later in the day, but there is a fair amount of parking. Entry was clean and easy.

We paddled the perimeter of both halves of the lake and bird watched. A bald eagle soared above us for about 10 minutes. Then three pelicans cruised over the lake.

There were lots of loons with chicks, terns were diving, and we watched a raven get chased by dozens of red-winged black birds.

In the eastern half of the lake, we went under the power lines and paddled the shallow south bay (where I haven't been before).

It was very calm and very hot by the time we pulled out at about 11 am.

The reedy passage between the two halves was in good shape--lots of clearance and we watched a pontoon boat negotiate it.

As usual, a very nice, clean paddle with lots to look at. We had lunch at Star Lake (which was crazy busy) because that is where the nearest public washrooms are (which my wife described as "grim").