Lac Beauvert

In late Septembe, we had a nice evening paddle on Lac Beauvert, just outside the Jasper townsite. We accessed the lake on the south side from Old Fort Point Road. There is a small parking lot, a pit toilet, and a bench (where we had some Indian takeout for dinner). Access is down a rocky slope and requires modest agility because the submerged rocks are a bit greasy.

The lake is lovely and green-blue in the daylight. We went left from the launch and paddled north to the outflow creek where were ran into a large male elk and several females.

The sun came out to give us some great lighting. There was a lot of bugling!

We then paddled up the peninsula where the Jasper Park Lodge cabins are located and past the lodge itself. There are rentals and docks here. JPL has priced itself out of our range so we don't stay here anymore.

The water is amazing clear. The rocks in the shot below are seven feet down! 

My wife also almost got pinged by an errant golf ball while watching some elk graze on the fairway.

We followed the golf course around and then saw a bear! I think this is the first time I've seen a bear from the water.

It was a black bear and was maybe 300-400lbs. It was more interested in followings some golfers than in us.

Overall, a great paddle. With lots of floating to watch the wildlife, it took us about an hour around at a very slow pace. We had the lake to ourselves and the wildlife viewing was amazing.

Lac Beauvert, Jasper

Mid-September saw us in Jasper for an anniversary weekend. One of our first stops was Lac Beauvert.

 

There are basically two ways to get on the lake. You can go off the dock at the Jasper Park Lodge. You can also rent kayaks, canoes, SUPs, and paddle boats here, although the prices are steep (basically $100 an hour).

Or you can come up Old Fort Point Road from the south, park next to the lake at the trail head (washrooms), and climb down the bank. The bank isn't particularly steep. But the lake is rocky and the bottom is both slippery and steeply sloping. It is easier to get into a canoe here than a kayak!

The lake is about a 45- to 60-minute paddle around the perimeter and is gorgeous.

The colour of the water changes depending on depth and light so there is a whole range of blues and greens. plus there is a creek in the NW corner and usually some wildlife (elk, most often).

You can see a lot of golf balls along the east side as you parallel the fairways.

The water in the picture below is about 12 feet deep (judging from the size of the golf balls). The clarity in just astounding.

This is unfailingly a nice paddle and I was super happy to have a chance to paddle here this year.

Lac Beauvert, Jasper

Perhaps the prettiest lake in the Rockies, Lac Beauvert is a very quick paddle if you have 90 minutes to spare while in Jasper.


There is just under two miles of shoreline but the scenery is spectacular. And a drink in the Jasper Park Lodge is a nice way to end an evening on the water.

The nicest spot to put in is the docks in front of the Jasper Park Lodge. If you are not staying in the Lodge, you can drive through the resort on Whistler Way and then hang a right onto Edith Cavell Crescent to drop your canoe. But you'll need to return to visitor parking to park your vehicle. You can also rent canoes, paddle boats and transparent canoes here for around $40 an hour.

An alternate access point is across the lake at the end of Old Fort Point Road. This requires a very minor climb (three feet) down a slope to put in. I'd say this slope has slipped a bit over the past five years as it is shallower grade than it used to be.

The NW leg of the lake ends in a creek that eventually dumps into the Athabasca River. This is not navigable, but if you're careful you can paddle right up to the outflow of the creek which is cool for the kids.

There is also a good chance of seeking wildlife. Herons and waterfowl are common. And we once played a game of hide and seek with a diving otter for 20 minutes (which was likely trying to led us away from its young).

Also a common visitor are elk. These are much more fun to run into from the canoe than on foot!

You can also hike around Lac Beauvert and paddle Mildred Lake behind the Lodge.