Islet Lake

In mid-June, we visited Islet Lake, east of Sherwood Park. Access is on the east side of the lake at the staging area (look for the "no Sunday hunting" sign!). Lots of parking, pit toilets (bring head lamp!), and picnic ties and fire pits.

The launch is accessed behind the big building. It is gravel and is a carry of a couple of hundred feet, including a slight elevation change. Not a hard carry but something to be mindful of. The water was murky (milky Mountain Dew).

The shore on the north and west sides is mostly reeds with mixed forest. The south and east shores have more accessible shoreline with an aspen forest.

There were lots of birds (a pretty common thing here), including 25 pelicans, ducks, loons, cormorants, and heron. We also ran into three beavers who were curious (or irritated?). One surfaced so close to my kayak (between my boat and the paddle blade!) that I got wet when it slapped the water.

It was pretty calm when we were there, which has not been my usual experience at Islet. The islands on the north edge of the lake offer some shelter if it is windy and you can make you way west and then ride the wind back.

We poked around the west end and saw lots of birds, then the wind picked up and we floated into the east bay, where there are cabins.

 

Overall, a nice paddle. Maybe 90 minutes if you do the whole perimeter. 

While we were out in this area, I checked out access to two other lakes. Boag Lake is just on the edge of Sherwood Park, with access off Wye Road. The carry is a couple of hundred feet. I think you could get a boat in but you'd have to bum scoot through a mud flat and getting back out would be the trick. I've looked at this a couple of times and, absent a big increase in the water level or a different access point, I've crossed it off my list of places to paddle.

We also stopped at Antler Lake, east of Sherwood Park on Wye Road. There is presently no public launch point but you might (with higher water) get a boat in where range Road 211 meets Antler Street just right of the Canada Post Box) or a bit further east on Antler Street, where the bridge is. I looked at both of these. At present, the bridge looks like the best bet but, man, you'd really have to want it (mucky, shallow, tricky entry).