Walloper Lake Paddle
Walloper Lake is located near the junction of the Coquihalla Highway (Hwy. 5S) and the Meadow Creek Road, 4 km west of Lac le Jeune. The easiest access is in Walloper Lake Provincial Park (created in 1987) where there is dirt road and a boat launch area. The lake is 43 hectares in size and has a maximum depth of 8m. At 1311m elevation (4300 feet), the lakeshore is surrounded by wet, montane spruce forest and marshlands. The source of the lake waters comes is Walloper Creek (from Lodgepole Lake) and Melba Creek (from the upper slopes of Chuwhels Mountain). There is a dam at the south end of the lake that controls the reservoir, emptying into Meadow Creek (on its way to Logan Lake). BC environment has installed and maintains an aerator in the lake. The lake has a managed fishery with rainbow trout and is a popular destination for family fishing.
We launched and paddled close to the shoreline, going in and out of the bays and wetlands, a total of 5km
We spotted an eagle, an osprey, a great blue heron, American dippers, marsh wrens, a huge number of tadpoles, small jumping fish, redwing blackbirds, many dragonflies and damselflies, mayflies, and a loon with two chicks. Even though its was a long weekend in summer, Walloper Lake was quiet for a morning paddle. We will return to paddle this high country lake each summer.
More information:
- Walloper (2016)
- Walloper Lake (2012)
- Walloper Lake Provincial Park