Sullivan Lake is sometimes referred to Knouff Lake. The community of Knouff Lake is on the southern shore and a short way north is Little Knouff Lake. In terms of geography, it is referred to as Sullivan Lake. We usually get to it by driving up the Sun Peaks Road, then the Knouff Lake Road. We usually return by the Knouff – Vinsula Road. There is small Rec Site on the west side of the lake and a boat launch a bit farther north. There are a number of homes on the southern end of the lake and a large resort on the north end.
When I paddle Sullivan Lake, I usually avoid the area by the homes and the resort. There are some marshy areas to explore and 5 islands. It takes about 1.25 hours to go around the lake in a kayak.
This is a lake I paddle every year. A few moments from this year’s paddle are captured in this YouTube video:
Between Sullivan Lake (Knouff) and Badger Lake is another shallow lake. Official topographic maps label it as Knouff Lake but the locals call it Little Knouff Lake. Sullivan (Knouff) Lake got its name from James Knouff who built a log cabin on the shore near the Knouff Lake Resort. Later, Sullivan Mill was established on the shore and the owner asked for the name to be changed. Locals still call it Knouff Lake though.
There are a couple of homes on the east side of the lake and a gavel road on the west side where a vehicle can be parked next to s short steep trail for a one-boat launch and in this case, a stand-up paddleboard.
The lake is shallow for almost the entire area, except for a deeper spot on the northwest side.
Taking photos from a paddleboard is never easy. The best system is to sit down to get an on-the-water shot.
The distance around the shoreline is 2.5 km.
In late season the lake is so shallow that care must be taken not to catch the fin (or kayak rudder) on sunken logs and vegetation.
Little Knouff Lake is not a destination lake for paddling, but if we are trying to complete 100 lakes in our area, it is one more to try.
Badger Lake is a fine paddling destination, one of the forty lakes of our area within an hour’s drive. To get to Badger Lake, turn off the Sun Peaks Road onto the Knouff Lake Road and continue past Sullivan Lake without turning off, until you reach the BC Forest Service Site on the northeastern side of the lake. Some fishermen also take the Orchard Lake Road up from Highway 5. Both are good roads once the road surface dries out.
The Badger Lake Recreation Site has 18 campsites and a primitive boat launch. The lake has clear water and some marl shoals. I watched a loon swimming under my boat in a back channel, its black and white speckled back clear under the water. The narrow channel to the west is called Spooney Lake and this quiet marsh-lined channel offers some additional paddling. On a spring day, small rainbow trout were jumping with a recent mayfly hatch. Eagles seemed to be everywhere. I spoke to a fisherman who said he had spotted 18 on the previous day. I couldn’t spot their nests, but they flew along the lakeshore and perched in the large trees overhead. A large wooded island (800m x 200 m) separates Badger Lake from the Spooney Lake Channel. The whole lake is surrounded by trees but at one point, snow-capped Mount Baldy filled the north horizon, 43 km away. Much of the area to the north and west has been logged, but little of this can be seen from the water.
There are numerous backroads to explore on mountain bike and the Orchard Lake Trails are only 4.5 km down the backroad to the southwest (link to Orchard Lake Trails). I have hiked the Orchard Lake Trails, but almost all of the trails can also be biked (deferring to any horseback riders since the trails are primarily a horse-hiker system. The area is a bit remote so come prepared for wildlife, backroad conditions, unmarked routes, and few people.
Nearby Knouff Lake and Community Lake (link) are also good for paddling. 2013 is a good year to bring your boat onto all 3 lakes.
When I paddle Sullivan Lake, I usually avoid the area by the homes and the resort. There are some marshy areas to explore and 5 islands. It takes about 1.25 hours to go around the lake in a kayak.
This is a lake I paddle every year. A few moments from this year’s paddle are captured in this YouTube video:
