Local Travel: Johnson Lake is the Caribbean of the north
Amy Tucker (left), a professor at Thompson Rivers University, enjoys a kayak outing on Johnson Lake.
Johnson Lake is one of the clearest and most stunning lakes in British Columbia.
Due to the presence of limestone, the water is turquoise-blue, much like the Caribbean Sea.
Combine this with the long stretch of white sand beach that extends far into the shallow waters at the east end of the lake and it is no wonder the lake has earned the nickname Caribbean of the North.
At an elevation of 3,800 feet, the lake, which is supplied by underground springs and winter snowpack, is more than five kilometres in length, with a maximum depth of approximately 200 feet.
The clarity of the water makes Johnson a kayaker’s paradise and gives fishermen an unfair advantage as 3.5-pound Kamloops trout can be seen swimming around.
The fish are plentiful thanks to a short spawning channel that links Little Johnson Lake to Big Johnson Lake.
This spawning bed springs to life in May and June, with hundreds of rainbow trout laying their eggs in the gravel. These eggs hatch in the summer and the fry return to the big lake in the fall through a specially built fish ladder.
For those wanting to stay overnight, Johnson Lake Resort is on the shores of Little Johnson Lake and a two-minute walk to Big Johnson Lake and offers cabins, RV sites and campsites.
The resort also has kayaks and boats for rent, as well as complimentary row boats for use on the small lake.
With no cell service and Internet and power only available in the lodge and in one cabin, the resort really allows you to escape the outside world.
For more information, go online to johnsonlakeresort.com.
If you just want to camp, there is also a provincial campground at the other end of the big lake.
Sites are on a first come, first served basis and include a camping fee, which will be collected at your site by an attendant.
Checkout time is noon, quiet time is from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. and campers are allowed to stay for up to 14 consecutive days, with a maximum of one vehicle allowed per party.
How to get there:
Access to Johnson Lake is via a good gravel road suitable for cars, motor homes and trailers.
The driving time from both Kamloops and the Shuswap is approximately 1.5 hours.
From Kamloops: Drive 60 kilometres north on Highway 5 North to the Agate Bay Road turnoff.
Turn right and drive 22 kilometres on pavement to the Minova Road turnoff.
Turn left and drive 16 kilometres on gravel to the resort, following the signs.
To get to the provincial campground, drive six kilometres past the resort to the other end of the lake.
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