East Frogmoore
In a long-term quest to paddle all of the area's lakes, I picked the Frogmoore Lakes for an afternoon of exploration. This chain of 4 lakes sit at the same elevation as the Surrey Summit, the high point on the Coquihalla Highway. To get to the lake, drive toward Logan Lake and watch for the turn-off on the left onto the Surrey Lake Road. Follow this good gravel up through the hills and under the Coquihalla Highway. The signed junction into Surrey Lake is soon passed and, about 2.75 km ahead, watch for a side road going east. The road into the first two smaller lakes is good, but gets rougher before the third lake.
Paddlers wanting to get into the fourth (east) lake can put a boat into the water at the start of the third lake and paddle across to the east side, then portage the boat over the bank to the channel going east, or they can try to drive to the end of the third lake, but this is definitely a 4WD road. Between the 3rd and 4th lakes is a narrow, shallow channel, but is fine for a kayak or canoe.
Paddle down the channel toward the final lake. It narrows off and it was blocked by logs and debris at one point, so I got out to clear the passage before entering East Frogmoore Lake. Since there is not good road access into this lake, it has a wilderness feel and was very quiet. Lily pads filled the bays and a moose was grazing on the east shore.
Since the lake has been dammed to increase its size and lengthen its season, large bleached stumps stand near the shoreline in several areas.
Loons and osprey dived for fish and dragonflies hovered over the lily pads.
The shoreline of the lake and the channel makes about 5 km of paddling, but there is much to see and explore. Maybe we should keep this one a secret?
I was first into these lakes as youngster with Dad and grandfather.it was about 1966-68.there was no Coquihalla hiway in those days.we came from the lac la jeune Rd.you can imagine what that was like in a 1958 chev apache pickup.there was hardly a road in spots.just a cattle trail here and there.there was grouse all over the place,moose,deer,porcupines were in abundance.and the fishing was amazing.5 pound rainbows were the order of the day.thecwind comes up in there and makes it difficult for trolling as the stumps and weeds play havoc with underwater gear.But we went back time and again.one of the best times I ever had and after many years absent I am planning to go back and try it again.
We used to go in from the Ranch, upper end of Nicola. Was always a great place to Fly fish and just see wildlife up close. Over the years it changed.