John Frank Lake is one of several hard-to-get-to lakes in Roche Lake Provincial Park. Access to Black Lake, Frisken Lake, Bulman Lake, Ernest Lake, John Frank Lake, and Bog Lake is by rough roads. In spring there are giant mudholes. In summer, the roads have big rocks, but we can drive them if we have high clearance (trucks or jeeps, not SUVs), good tires, and if we have the patience to drive very slowly. Most of the lakes in the area suffered winterkill so there are no fishermen out (except on Black Lake and Horseshoe Lake). On a hot summer morning, I drove the rough road to John Frank Lake. There is a small backcountry Rec site on the lake and a hand launch. Most of the shoreline of the lake is marshy.
I paddled around the lakeshore (3 km). I spotted lots of ducks, but also loons, an eagle, and a river otter. Some photos are shared here. Click an image for a lightbox view and a caption.
A few moments of the outing are captured in this YouTube video:
This was a lake I really enjoyed, so I hope to get back, braving the rough backroads. Frisken Lake, though, is upcoming first.
