Camp Lake and Thomas Lake

Camp Lake has long been on my list of places to visit and I managed a trip in mid-August. Access is through Camp Lake Park on the east side of the lake, a campground run by Beaver County. There is no fee but you do need to check in and sign a waiver at the camp office.

There is a large parking lot, with a port-a-potty and a picnic shelter. There is also a sandy beach, a cement boat launch, floating dock, and gravel shoreline for you to choose among. The water was clean but had a very mountain dew colour to it. Lots of people were swimming there when I put in.

The lake is about 3km north-south and 500m across east-west. The shoreline winds a lot and I'd say the perimeter is about 8km. A full trip took me two hours. 

The north end is much less interesting than the south end. The picture below is illustrative of the north end: rocky shoreline with occasional reeds, steep bank and lots of shrubs (chokecherry, wild rose, dogwood, saskatoons). There was honestly just not that much to see.

Heading south, things get a bit more interesting with beaver lodges and a few birds. 

The southern half of the lake had many more trees (mostly aspen) and a grassy shoreline, often with a sandy edge. There were a lot more weeds that attracted muskrats, beaver, and waterfowl.

I interrupted this coyote stalking some ducks in the very southern end.

I also followed this bald eagle around the southern end. There were a few power boats on the lake, towing tubes but none in the southern end (it was fairly shallow).

There were lots of birds trying to lead me away from their young.

Overall, this was an okay paddle. It was very windy at times. The lake is too shallow to get big rollers but it was choppy and quite wet. Friends have camped here and said it was a nice campground.

Thomas Lake

Just west of Camp Lake is Thomas Lake. I didn't have the gas to paddle a second lake but I did scout an entry point for the next time I'm down this way. You can get in pretty easily off of Highway 619 (orange arrow). There is a small pull out here where you can park and it is a short haul to the water along the highway right of way. 

The photo below looks west from the pull out, towards the orange arrow.

The lake edge is fairly sandy and shallow. The water looked pretty clean here.

The other option may be off of Township Road 480 (green arrow). I did not get up here but it looks like the road ends in an informal boat launch.