Beauvais Lake

In late August, we headed south towards Waterton and put in at Beauvais Lake (just 30ish km west of Pincher Creek). Access is through the the Beauvais Lake Provincial Park (no fees) and there is also camping available here.

The launch was great. You can drop your boats at the edge of the lake. There is a cement launch and a gravel shore launch right beside the dock. You can also go off the dock and there is a proper kayak launch. There were also nice pit toilets here.

The lake is 3km (or maybe a bit more) long and about half a km wide, running northwest to southeast. We paddled it clockwise. Immediately left off the launch is a series of private cabins that eventually give way to a public day use area.

We had basically every kind of weather in the hour and a bit we paddled here except snow. It started out cloudy. Then the wind came way up and blew us down the lake.

The lake was pretty weedy in late August and there was a lot of fishing and fish jumping.

The wind eventually quit and blue skies appeared to the north. And then it poured as we hit the southeast end of the lake.

We paddled back on the southwest shore, which was swampy and then eventually gave away to an alpine vibe (rocky with a steep slope and fir trees.

As the skies cleared, you could see the mountains.

The northwest end was also swampy but the water was very clear.

Overall, a great paddle and great facilities. I'm not sure I'd go out of my way to come here. But, if I was driving along the mountains (to or from Waterton), I might well come back (with my rain coat!).

Chump Lake (Big Johnson Lake)

In mid-August, we spent a nice morning on Chump Lake (also called Big Johnson Lake), about half way between Boyle and Lac La Biche. The launch is in the Chump Lake Campground and the turnoff of Highway 663 is not signed. You want to watch for (and turn north onto) Golden Nodding Road and then follow it to the end.

There is no cost for day use and you can launch off the beach or use the boat launch. There are pit toilets (super clean!), a playground, and benches. The campground staff were very friendly.

We launched off the beach. It is about an 80m carry from the parking lot down a hill and across the sand. The carry was so-so (bit of a slope, uneven footing--no big deal if you are fully mobile). Super easy beach launch and good swimming here.

The boat launch has a dock and is cement.

I can't say enough about the water quality. There are the usual weeds but the water was very clear.

The shoreline is about 10km and is basically this: reeds and bullrushes, then a mixed forest.

There is an island in the middle of the lake that you cam camp on. 

Access is on the west side. The bottom is a mix of rocks and sand.

On shore there is a fire pit (with wood!) and benches. There is room for a tent here. There is also a second more rustic site further into the interior of the island.

We did a loop that included most of the shoreline. There was not much for wildlife the day we were there. There was a lot of loud loons and lots of beaver lodges.

Overall, a very nice two hours. The campground operator said the fishing was very good, especially over in the southwest bay.