Horseshoe Lake

In late September, we paddled Horseshoe Lake, just south of Jasper on Highway 93. We'd originally hoped to paddle Leech Lake, but the road was closed so Horseshoe was the backup plan. 

Accessing the lake entailed about a 250m carry. The first 100 meters is down a hill. The gravel trail has roots and rocks. Then you hang left at the fork and work your way along a rocky and rooty single track to a point in the lake where you think you can get a boat in (we ended up carrying the boats one at a time down this track). Getting in can require some agility.

Once on the lake, it is spectacular: huge cliffs extending underwater, clear water, and few other paddlers (we were the only ones there this time). The lake isn't huge but there is a lot to see and it is very dramatic.

The underwater rock formations are particularly interesting and varied (and huge).

The large spit of rock that creates the horseshoe shape is also interesting and offers some hiking options.

We watched a large storm pass to the south, obscuring the mountains and then passing to reveal snow-covered tops!

Overall, this is a fun and pretty paddle if you are up for the rather tedious approach and semi-dodgy entry.