Glen Lake

Glen Lake

There are many ways into Glen Lake, which ended up being fortunate on this, my first trip into the lake. Edda and Stephanie Fox and I headed west from Summerland on the North Prairie Valley Road. At the Faulder junction we kept to the left and headed past the Bald Range on the Princeton road.

Down we dropped into the valley bottom again and crossed Trout Creek a few times before eventually coming to the Trout Creek Ranch. Just before we crossed another bridge Glen Lake Forest Service Road took off to the right. I zeroed the trip meter here. The road then crossed the Trans Canada Hiking Trail and traversed some semi open grassland before swinging into a fairly narrow draw with a small creek.

This portion of the trip was fairly well forested and with lots of raspberries and other bushes along the roadsides. As it would turn out these berries were very important. We turned right at first two major intersections at 5.6 and 6.3 kilometres. At 7.7 kilometres the Big Fir Forest Service road takes off to the right, which should lead us to the Eneas Lakes at some later date. However, we took the left hand road and at just over 12 kilometres found Glen Lake off to the right hand side of the road.

There are several private properties here, but we found our way down to the public access at the southern end. It was not easy to reach deep water casting from shore, but I did manage a few strikes. This is another lake that really requires a car top boat or a canoe, so goes it onto my list to try once more when I am again able to carry a canoe. There is a small passage through the weeds from this section to the main portion of the lake.

The lake is stocked regularly with a good supply of both brook trout and rainbow trout. At an elevation of 1144 metres and a surface area of over 10 hectares fishing should be good through most of the season. Reportedly the fish can reach 1.5 kilograms (3 lb.).

Heading back home, we paused to pick some wild raspberries. Just after we stopped, there was a loud crash. An animal crashing through the bush? fairly loud for that! A tree falling in the bush?

Once we got back in the jeep and carried around the next bend we had the answer. A tree of at least 18 inches in diameter had broken from the bank and was across the road. By the time I was about half way though the trunk I realize that by the time I cleared the path and got out my wife at home would be worried and I would be in agony with my back. Time to start carrying a chain saw in the back on these trips.
Recalling the kilometre signs were declining as we had approached the lake I took another look at a map and decided to back track and come out on the more traveled route at Peachland. This, as it turns out would, have been the easiest route to the lake.

This alternate route involves going north from Summerland on highway 97. In Peachland turn left at the stop light on highway and head up hill on Princeton Avenue. Once you run out of pavement go another 5.4 kilometres and turn left on the Headwaters Road. At 15 kilometres take another left and once you pass the 18 kilometre sign keep you eyes open for two roads off to the left which should take you down to the public access point at Glen Lake.