Pine Lake

For the week we were in Wood Buffalo, we camped at Pine Lake, and, for almost the entire time, we had the place to ourselves. To ourselves apart from the mama bear and her two cubs – we saw them just once, on our way back from the canoe launch, when the mama popped her head up out of the undergrowth, looking startled as we trundled by. Lovely to see her, as it was seeing her two cubs scurry away to safety. (During another encounter along the road into the park earlier in the week, we saw a different trio, and observed two cubs scramble up a tree, quick as a flash. Those little bears can climb!)

Did I say we had the lake to ourselves? That’s not remotely accurate! We were visitors. Pine Lake is home to so much bird life, and once again I couldn’t name much of it, aside from the loons. We saw and heard them all the time, a wonderful sound floating across the water and echoing around the lake.

Our short morning canoe paddle was just about perfect – no wind, not too hot, and completed before a few rain showers blew through. Pine Lake is modest in size – especially after being on Lesser and Great Slave Lake – and easier to get your head around as well as paddle around.

There are dozens of small crescent shaped sandy beaches along the shore, each only a few feet long and wide. We’d choose one and spend the afternoon reading, swimming in the lake or drifting off to sleep, watching the birds and dragon flies.

If you’re ever looking for a quiet and remote place to spend a few days camping near a lake, then I can’t think of anywhere much better than Pine Lake!

Thanks for reading, and I hope you have a wonderful weekend!