Devil's Lake

In early September, I drove out to Devil's Lake (also known as Matchayawn Lake). It has been a year or so since I was last out here My hope was to explore the creek that flows into the lake on the west side.

The boat launch on the east side of the lake was in good shape, with the brush cut back and a pit toilet, You can drop right on the edge of the lake. The road was also being rebuilt and graded. The lake, however, was having an algae bloom.

I knew the gravel launch was shallow and firm enough that I could get in and out dry footed so I decided to go despite the algae (sometimes it disappears as soon as you are away from shore).

The water was so-so in the middle of the lake. No wind and a beautiful autumn day though. A few ducks were paddling about.

I eventually found the mouth of the creek (it was pretty weedy on the western edge) and paddled up the creek a couple of hundred feet. Then there was this beavers dam. I could have likely gotten around it but I didn't want to get wet.

So back out to the lake, I went and then I toured the south side.

The contrast between looking down and looking into the distance was pretty striking!

I don't think I have every done the south shore of the lake. Usually I go to the north, under the bridge and down the sturgeon a ways. There is another launch in Bilby along the south side.

I had the lake to myself!

Overall, Devils Lake is a nice short paddle (maybe 90 minutes if you did the whole perimeter and poked around underneath the bridge). The algae bloom was just one of those unfortunate things that happens on prairie lakes.

Star Lake

Back nearly September, I dragged the kid out to Star Lake for a paddle after an algae bloom on Johnny's Lake scuttle my original plan. It has been years since I've been here but was basically the same.

Good parking, you can drop right at the water's edge, boat launch with docks, and pit toilets. It was also busy (even in the middle of a week day) with people fishing, both from shore and from boats.

The water was super clear and we enjoyed watching the bottom for our of our paddle. It is maybe 30 minutes around at a very slow pace. A good place for a first paddle and also paddle boarding.

The edge is basically grass or reeds giving way to aspen forest. We saw four osprey circling plus gulls and shore birds.

The SW bay is very shallow and has great reflections.

Overall, a fun time. Not exactly what I'd hoped for but not a bad alternative. Mayatan is also close by and is probably a better paddle.

North Saskatchewan, Emily Murphy

In late August, I had a quick paddle on the North Saskatchewan River, going upstream from the Emily Murphy Park boat launch to the Hawrelak Park launch and back. This is about a 4km trip in total, a 2km grind up and then a float back.

The Emily Murphy launch remains terrible, although there were city crews there when I pulled out to address the trees up against the dock. Access to the beach launch (above) is very steep and slippery. Meanwhile, the city has installed the dock downstream, which creates a sweeper.

As I was waiting my turn to launch of the beach, a newer (adult) paddler pushed off, had her boat slew around in the current, collided with the dock, and dumped. Fortunately, she managed to recover. This is just such a terrible design. Note the warning sign half falling off the end of the dock!

The paddle was lovely. The river was a tiny bit high for this time of year (lots of rain) and dirty. But there was the start of fall colour in the trees.

I followed a coyote up the river by the Mayfair golf course.

I made it to the closed launch at Hawrelak and had a quick rest. Then I ferried across to the other side and floated back.

Overall, a nice paddle. I used to do this once or more a week. The deterioration of the launch since the dock went in means I almost never paddle here (or on the river at all, since the other accesses are crowded and harder to get to) anyone.

Twin Lakes

In late August, I dragged the family 90 minutes SW of town to try Twin Lakes. I'd been down earlier in the year and enjoyed myself paddle. We went on a nice Sunday morning and got there at 10 am. There was lots of parking. When we got back from paddling at noon, the day use area was pretty full!

The kayak-o-mat was in use when we got back.

We went west towards the out flowing creek. The water was very clean and there was no wind. There are also no powered boats on the lake, which was nice.

There was still good access to the creek and we went under the power lines to the beaver dam.

It looks like the beavers are back trying to restore the dam.

 

We then paddled back upstream. Things were looking pretty autumnal, colour wise. 

There was a slight westerly breeze that blew us down the lake. We rafted up and had lunch while the wind did the paddling.

There wasn't much for birds. We saw one lone loon and a few ducks. You could hear crows in the trees.

The inflowing creek was very low so we didn't get very far up it.

We did some ducks, however!

Overall, a nice family paddle. This lake is maybe a bit smaller than what I'd prefer if I went by myself. I wouldn't mind trying the lake to the east, but that looks like a long carry!

Jackfish Lake

In mid-August, I drove out to Jackfish Lake and paddled the southern part of the lake. I've never done this part of the lake before. I put in at the county boat launch on the east side of the lake. It looks like they narrowed it this year so only one trailer can use it at a time.

I went early in the morning on a weekday to avoid the boat traffic that this lake often has (as well as to avoid the $20 parking charge after 4:30 on weekdays and all day on weekends). Even so, of the four boats on the lake, two were complete jerks about spacing and wakes (including one right at the launch). That is pretty much always my experience on Jackass... errr... Jackfish Lake.

I went south off the launch and followed the shoreline. It is a 50/50 mix of reeds leading to Aspen forest and lake lots with boats, docks, and floaties.

I did get close passed by a pelican!

I also surprised a loon among the docks. It was very angry to see me.

A bit later I noticed it had an almost grown chick with it (left in the photo below).

The lake was pretty enough and there was just a hint of autumn colour.

There were also a couple of interesting bays to explore. The water was really clean despite it being late in the season.

Overall, this wasn't an okay paddle. Jackfish is a clean, big, and interesting lake. It is also busy and full of very inconsiderate boaters. Better options early are Mayatan Lake, Johnny's Lake, and Spring lake.

Mons Lake

In mid-August, we drove out to Mons Lake, just NE of Smokey Lake (about a 90-minute drive). We launched from the playground on the south shore of the lake. This included a proper boat launch (we dropped the boats right by the lake and parked 25 feet away), a dock, picnic tables, pit toilet and playground. There was also marked swimming area.

The signage for the playground was pretty inadequate and when you are heading in from the west on Township Road 602, it is the first sandy/gravel road on your left after you see the lake through the trees.

 

The lake is about 2km in diameter and maybe 7km around the edge. The wind was from the west so we went clockwise and had a lovely calm paddle up the west side. The water was the colour of ginger ale but was otherwise clean.

There were lots of birds including terns, a bald eagle, loons, grebes, and ducks.

The shoreline is mostly reeds giving way to aspen.

On the north end, there is a swampy area and it looks like you can push through the reed screen into a sloughy area behind it.

There wasn't a lot of wind but the east side of the lake had more wave action (maybe 12-inch troughs).

The colours were also starting to hint at autumn. There were a few boats on the lake after lunch (wife joked "church just be out") towing tubers or fishing.

There is also a launching spot the east side of the lake at a beach. You'd have to carry the boats about 200 feet to the beach but otherwise it looked quite workable.

A nice lake, overall. Nearby Canmore, Island and Long Lake are bit more interesting, I think We also had a look at the small lake to the west of Mons (can't see to find a name) but there was no good access unless you wanted to carry across private land from the NE corner.