Showing posts with label Little Mere Lake. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Little Mere Lake. Show all posts

Saturday, May 20, 2023

North Lake and Little Mere

I took a trip to North Lake and Little Mere a week ago. Access can be a bit tricky and DIY so I put directions here. The lake was in good shape, with no weed growth yet and a decent water level.


I went in at at the culvert where Range Road 13 intersects Township Road 540. This is steep and a touch tricky. Then I paddle through the sunken forest and out into the lake.


One of the nicest spots on the lake in on the south side where the outflow should be but has been dammed up by beavers. There is a small inlet that is shaded by trees.
 

I did a quick circuit of the lakes. there was a lot of waterfowl, including geese and loons and grebes. No signs of the beavers, except for their lodge.


The day was hot (+25C in early May) and the sky was almost cloudless. I never seen anyone on this lake and today was no exception.


I did get to wave at the horses. They were curious but a bit skittish, referring to keep some distance from the kayak.



I took out a bit further east than I put in as it looked easier to exit here. This still was a rather athletic disembarking to get out dry footed. 

Overall, a nice paddle. I'm not sure I'd go back any time soon. After three or four visits, I think I've seen pretty much all the lake has to offer.

Saturday, July 16, 2022

North Lake and Little Mere Lake

I went out to Little Mere Lake and North Lake by the Chickakoo Lake Recreation Area in late June.Nearest washrooms are likely at Chickakoo Lake or Muir Lake.

The best access is on the east end of North Lake (on the right) where Township Road 540 and Range Road 12A intersect. Parking is on the shoulder and there are two possible entry points (yellow circles below). 


The lefthand circle is down the bank and enters at a culvert. You then paddle through some trees to get to the lake. This was the best spot last year when the water was low but we had to wind through the trees some. With the water a foot higher this year, no winding was required but the entry was sightly more challenging (off the slope).


The righthand circle was not possible last year with lower water but is now (see below) and is an easy entry and exit. It is beside the "80kmh sign".


The lake was clean and smelled good. There were a tonne of waterfowl raising babies and nesting.


I went west along the top of the lake, passed through the narrows, looped around the western reach and came back on the south shore.



There were a tonne of red-necked grebes nesting in the reeds.


I ended up very close to a nest by accident (eggs obscured by mud).


The parents were extremely unhappy and puffed up and were very vocal and aggressive!


There is a small inlet on the south side where the lake used to connect to Kettle Lake. 


The beavers have dammed this up and the water is several feet higher than the meadow beyond.


It was also the only part of the lake that was full of algae (which was super pretty).


Overall, a lovely morning paddle. The entry was a bit more challenging than most lakes (bit of slope, a bit muddy) but nothing to complain too much about. I've never seen anyone else out here which is nice.

Saturday, January 8, 2022

Little Mere Lake and North Lake

In mid-October, we hauled back out to the Chickakoo Nature Reserve to paddle Little Mere Lake and North Lake that run along the north side of the reserve. The link above goes to google maps but, since access is tricky, I screen shotted a portion of the map.


So the best access we could find is on the east end of North Lake, right where Range Road 12 intersects Township Road 540 (yellow arrow). There is a "dead end" sign (below) and 15 feet to the east of that is a culvert that brings the lake right to the edge of the ditch. We just parked on the shoulder.


The bank is pretty steep and then you get to make an exciting DIY entry. We had to bum scoot the boats about eight feet before they floated free. The lake level is up quite a bit due to beaver activity so you then need to navigate a small forest to get out on the the lake properly.


The lake itself is quite nice. Iced tea water but no real smell. Lots of birds, though, with nesting boxes all around the perimeter.


The two lakes are connected through a swampy narrows.


Some deadheads here plus a lot of muskrats. Nothing too difficult at this water level. I'm not sure it would be navigable at the normal water level.


The western basin (Little Mere Lake) is smaller but also pretty nice (below). There is a road along the north and west shores. You could get in at the west end of the lake, but the bank is steep. The north road is much higher than the lake so that would be a sucky (or extremely exciting, depending upon your perspective) entry.



The sun was beautiful while we were out and the kid showed off what she's learning in her botany class.



On the way back, we followed the south shore and found where the lake used to drain towards Kettle lake. The beavers have dammed this up and the lake is several feet above its natural level.

Overall, a fun paddle with a rustic entry and no one else on the water. The shoreline is about 4km around and took maybe 90 minutes without any hurrying. We did see some hikers from the Chickakoo trails plus some horses from a farm the juts out into the lake.