- Watershed: Upper Bulkley
- Difficulty: Easy
- Trail Length: 460m
- Round Trip: N/A
- Distance from Houston: 10-30km
- Cell Coverage: Yes
Amenities
- Portage
- Cell Service
Links and Downloads
Description:
Old Man Lake Park includes Old Man Lake, Beaver Lake and a portion of McBreirie Lake, as well as the land surrounding and connecting the lakes. The park is an ecologically significant complex of small lakes, marshy shorelines and wetlands. As a result of the abundant aquatic vegetation, the area is an important feeding area for migratory birds and contains locally rare breeding populations of black tern and yellow-headed blackbirds. The park contains natural grasslands located on the south-facing slopes that are frequented by moose and deer. Recreational use in the park includes canoeing, hiking, and wildlife viewing.
OLD MAN LAKE PORTAGE:
• Portage Length: 460m (920m return)
• Canoe Carts: the portage is on the old road and is suitable for canoe carts
• NOTICE: the portage ends on private land and crosses a fence. Please ensure the gate is always closed securely behind you
• Low water: the first section of the lake can experience very low water levels later in the summer. You may need to line your canoe further up the lake to deeper water.
• Beaver Dam Portage: Further up the lake there is a beaver dam (see map). There is no formal portage over this area because it changes every year. Find the best route to portage over the beaver dam.
BEAVER LAKE BLUFF TRAIL:
• Trail length: 1.54 km (3.08 km return)
• This gentle grade trail travels through a lush second growth pine forest. At the end you reach a viewpoint that overlooks Beaver Lake with stunning views of China Knows Mountain. Natural grasslands on the hill offer a look at an ecologically significant plant community.
DRIVING DIRECTIONS: (approx. distance is 19.5km)
- Head east of Houston on Highway 16
- Turn right onto McKilligan Road
- Keep left onto Aitken Road
- Go past the entrance of the Knockholt Landfill and onto the Heading Creek FSR. The FSR kilometre signs start from this point.
- At approx 2.5km keep right
- At approx 6.25km turn left
- After approx 800m turn right
- After approx 1.1km there is a parking lot on the right, just before the bridge. Park here.
