Pike Lake
#26 Pike Lake (Tay Valley Township)
Pike Lake is one of those lakes that seems to have always been there as one passes nearby on County Road 10 travelling from Perth to Westport but never considers it as a canoeing lake. Travelling to Pike Lake from home (Clayton) takes about fifty minutes and is just within the parameters of journeys no more than one hour from home.
Pike Lake’s most interesting face is along the south-east shore. The scenery includes several islands, an extensive wetland served by a half km. creek and an interesting and varied shoreline. The north-west shore seems to hold wall-to-wall cottages and trailers.
We found a great place to put in for a picnic lunch on the south end of a substantial peninsula but, there are other spots on the various islands (with permission of property owners). We didn’t get to the southern end of the lake for, we ran out of time. You can explore that end and report to us what you found. Have a good paddle.
How to Get There: From Hwy. 7 go into Perth (Wilson Street, then onto Gore Street) to County Rd. 10., then west towards Westport about 15 km. Watch for faded boat launch sign on left, 1 km past turn-off to Stanleyville.
The Launch Site: The dam in Grant’s Creek. The Paddle: Up creek into lake. Stay south (left), through islands and return. Good picnic sites on islands.
Watch For: Small sandy beach in a mainland bay for swimming.Extensive wetland at east end of lake.
Seasonal Information: Good until freeze-up.
