Tag Archives: Kootenays

Whitetail Lake

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Whitetail Lake lies in a valley in the Purcell Mountains about 28 km from Columbia Lake in the East Kootenays.  Access is by the Findlay Creek Forest Service Road near Canal Flats.    The final section is on the Whitetail FSR to the Whitetail Lake recreation Site.   The lake is a destination for camping and fishing, but we traveled out there to paddle the lake in our kayaks.

 

 

 

The lake had the clear blue-green water from marl shoals.

 

Surrounding the lake are forested hills with snow-mantled higher peaks of the Purcell Mountains providing a scenic backdrop.

 

We paddled the 9 km lakeshore on a calm and sunny day, enjoying the peaceful mountain lake.

 

Whitetail Lake is managed by the Ministry of Environment as a trophy lake, stocked with Gerrard trout and brook trout.   We spotted many of the fish in the clear waters below our kayaks.

We had good access for launching and parking at the Whitetail Lake Recreation Site.   For recreational paddling, this is a recommended destination while visiting the East Kootenays.

 

Lake Enid

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We drove some backroads out of Invermere to visit Lake Enid, about 6 km west of Wilmer.   A small recreation site is there with a good boat launch and a hiking trail around the lake.   We paddled the lake and then I hiked the trail around the lake to finish the outing.

Enid Lake is not a large body of water.   A paddle around the shoreline is only about 2 km.   It is a picturesque setting though.

There were many western painted turtles along the south shore, mostly perched on logs.  We took photos from the kayaks and from the shoreline.

We had lunch on a grassy shore across the lake and I hiked the trail around while the others did another loop on the lake.

In open spots the purple pasqueflower was in bloom.

It is also called prairie crocus and is often cited as the first sign that spring is arriving.

In open meadows woodland star was in abundance.

On the sunny, open pasture on the north side of the lake locoweed was the most prominent wildflower.  The pasture/meadow on that side had been devastated by ATVs and motorcycles and several were roaring around the peaceful lake on that day too.

Some protection for the riparian habitat was installed on the south shore with fences and a boardwalk to enjoy on the way back to the recreation site.

Lake Enid is a beautiful area, but one that is being overused and partly spoiled by too many motorized users.    We were there on a weekday.   We couldn’t imagine what it would be like on a weekend.