By Teresa Cline
Kamloops This Week
Johnson Lake is one of the clearest and most stunning lakes in British Columbia.
Due to the presence of limestone, the water is turquoise-blue, much like the Caribbean Sea. Combine this with the long stretch of white sand beach that extends far into the shallow waters at the east end of the lake and it is no wonder the lake has earned the nickname Caribbean of the North.
At an elevation of 3,800 feet, the lake, which is supplied by underground springs and winter snowpack, is more than five kilometres in length, with a maximum depth of approximately 200 feet.
The clarity of the water makes Johnson a kayaker’s paradise and gives fishermen an unfair advantage as 3.5-pound Kamloops trout can be seen swimming around.
The fish are plentiful thanks to a short spawning channel that links Little Johnson Lake to Big Johnson Lake.
This spawning bed springs to life in May and June, with hundreds of rainbow trout laying their eggs in the gravel. These eggs hatch in the summer and the fry return to the big lake in the fall through a specially built fish ladder.
For those wanting to stay overnight, Johnson Lake Resort is on the shores of Little Johnson Lake and a two-minute walk to Big Johnson Lake and offers cabins, RV sites and campsites.
The resort also has kayaks and boats for rent, as well as complimentary row boats for use on the small lake.
With no cell service and Internet and power only available in the lodge and in one cabin, the resort really allows you to escape the outside world.
For information go to: johnsonlakeresort.com.
Teresa Cline writes for Kamloops This Week