Leo Island is in the West Arm of Murtle Lake. We have camped there several times. It is a marine campsite accessed by canoe or kayak only. We drove to Blue River, then up into the mountains (23 km) to the trailhead for Murtle Lake. It is a 2.5 km portage to the lagoon launch. From there it is a 14 km paddle to the island.
The island has a sandy spit with views east and west down the arm of the lake. When the sun sets the lake lights up with color.
A few photos were taken at different times on different nights. Click an image for a lightbox view and a caption.
last light on Leo Is.
the sun had set to the werst
out the west arm
the layered red sky
looking east to Fairyslipper Island
the view to the east
Leo Island from above on Central Mountain
These images were from one trip to Murtle Lake and we have made several over the years. We plan to return next year.
To get to Murtle Lake, we have to drive to Blue River, then drive up into the mountains for 23 km. At the trailhead we have to load the kayaks onto carts and portage for 2.5 km. At the boat launch on Murtle Lagoon, we then paddle for 12 to 14 km to camp at a marine campsite. On this trip to Murtle Lake, we camped on Leo Island. On this particular trip, I did a solo paddle and hike to Central Mountain. I paddled 1.5 km to the trailhead at a sign on the shoreline. There wasn’t much of a landing so I hauled my kayak up the rocky shoreline, then put on my hiking boots.
The forested trail was steep and grown-over in some sections. It is not hiked much so the trail is indistinct so some navigation was required.
The hike to the top of the mountain is 7.5 km. Near the top I passed through a subalpine meadow with views down the West Arm of Murtle Lake. Bears frequent the area so I made noise on the way up. The open meadows on top are part of a caribou migration route, but I didn’t spot any.
The alpine area was open with meadows and rock outcrops, and wide views.
From the southern edge of the summit. I could see down to Leo Island below, our marine campsite.
From the summit, I chose to continue east to the edge of the slope break to see if I could see down to the lake.
From a viewpoint the North Arm of Murtle Lake was below, with the Wavy Range above, on the east side.
I continued farther north and came to a viewpoint of the north end of the North Arm of Murtle Lake. The Murtle River drains into the lake from the Cariboo Mountains in Northern Wells Gray Park.
This turned out to be a long day of hiking. The return hike is 15 km, but I added more distance by traversing across the top of the mountain east, then north.
The hike is really only for experienced backcountry hikers who can navigate and be self-sufficient. It is not a hike I will do again, but I am happy to have done it this day. A Google EArth Fly-Over is shared here for an overview of Central Mountain.
A few photos were taken at different times on different nights. Click an image for a lightbox view and a caption.
