Leduc Reservoir

In early June, I drove to Leduc to try out the Leduc Reservoir, located just west of Highway 2. It is right by the flags and the old jet trainer on a post.

Access is thorough Fred John's Park on the south side of the reservoir and there is a boat launch right off the parking lot. You could park as close as 10m to the water. The park has washrooms, a playground and picnic tables as well as walking paths.

The launch is a shallow gravel launch and the water is iced tea coloured. I've no idea what the water might look like later in the year. Although this is called a reservoir, it is really more of a storm pond and/or sloe.

Reverse shot of entry.

There is some inflow on the south end and an outflow on the north.

The sky was quite moody on the day I was there so the shots are a bit dreary. It was a very pretty swamp paddle with great birding.

Grebe nest with eggs.

Pelicans and geese on the island.

Cormorant.

This is a pretty representative shot: bullrush edge with aspens and firs in behind. The reservoir is surrounded by park and walking trails.

There is a small interior pond if you duck under this bridge.

The sun briefly came out. I did about 1.5 laps at a regal pace and it took me an hour.

It is worth noting that the east end of the main basin is right up against Highway 2 and it was loud.

More pelicans. Overall, a nice short paddle reminiscent of Hermitage Pond in Edmonton.

This would be a decent after-work paddle when the days start to get short of a nice two-fer with Telford Lake, just to the east.

Coal Lake and Pipestone Creek

In late May, I ventured down to Coal Lake and Pipestone Creek near Wetaskiwin. Access to both is available at the south end of Coal Lake near the campground.

The launch contains a cement ramp and a small gravel beach, a dock, pit toilets, and picnic tables plus lots of parking. The water was pretty clean in late May.

The entrance to Pipestone Creek is due west across the lake from the launch. The entrance is in the reeds on the south end of the lake but isn't hard to find (being 25 feet across). Just paddle to the west shore and turn left (south).

The channel meanders some and eventually you go under a cement road bridge with lots of swallows.

You can then paddle about 4 winding km up the creek. There are usually lots of birds to watch.

Eventually you enter sensitive habitat with this request to stay in your boat. This matters because you will encounter some beaver dams and be tempted to get out to get around them.

On this trip, the first one I encountered was broken (left side of picture below) and the water was high enough that I could bum scoot over the lip.

The channel narrows as you go upstream against the very mild current.

Someone cut the tree that used to block the channel.

This let me get to the second beaver dam.

This is a good-sized dam (over my head sitting in the boat--maybe a four-foot lip). I was getting tired and decided to turn around and float back.

It was a lovely paddle on a hot day with no bugs and pretty decent water. Probably not suitable for SUP or inflatables, though,

On the way out, I got pretty close to some pelicans.

I drove back past the launch at the north end of coal lake (which is very long). This site has pit toilets, picnic tables, and a cement launch.

The road that crosses Coal Lake also has informal pull outs you could access. Coal lakes extends a bit north of the road (although you can't get under the road) so you could also paddle that, if you wanted.

I think the next time I'm down here, I will give the north access a go.