| Skidegate Lake, Moresby
Island: One of the larger accessible fresh water lakes
on Moresby Island in the Queen Charlotte Islands Archipelago.
The long active gravel logging road leading to Skidegate
Lake is part of the Sandspit Loop Drive. Peek-a-boo views
of the lake start appearing when driving the south end of the
loop drive.
The lake area goes for miles with a boat launch on the west side
of the lake closest to the Moresby Camp. The area is very high
in logging truck traffic so stay sharp. The lake, as well as Mosquito
Lake, is a popular destination for fishing, canoeing and swimming.
The region has been heavily logged and there are some unsightly
scaring of the landscape. Not is all roses in the wilderness.
Throughout the area, there is still some second growth forest
consisting of Western Hemlock, Western Red Cedar and Sitka Spruce.
The Skidegate Lake area is a big time player
in the harvest and export of Chanterelle Mushrooms. Like all delicacies,
the mushrooms are an annual and are unpredictable so harvests
can vary. One of the difficulties is all the logging in the area
which hurts because the Chanterelles only grow in second-growth
forests.
The area has also been known to attract bird watchers and wildlife
seekers. The wildlife in the area includes Black Bears, deer,
Bald Eagles, etc. As of just recently a new species of lamprey
in British Columbia was found at Skidegate Lake.
Adequately, today, the bird is called the Skidegate Lamprey.
How to Get to Skidegate
Lake : Drive east for about
7 km from the Alliford Bay BC Ferry Terminal on Moresby Island
to Sandspit Village. Continue driving through the community to
School Road. Take a right. Follow the paved road to gravel road.
It is approximately 30-35 kms from the beginning of gravel road
to the Skidegate lake boat launch. Follow the signs.
|
Skidegate
Lake
Sandspit
