CONKLE LAKE

Some of the most beautiful locations in our province are best kept secrets which take a little effort to find. With good friends and their fierce guard dog we navigated up a rough forestry road in the Kettle River Valley to the secluded Conkle Lake surrounded by a lodge pole pine and western larch forest.

The lake has a lovely, sandy beach which made it easy to take a refreshing dip into water that was surprisingly warm. The wind picked up into gusts ruffling the lake with white caps as we paddled our way to the far end. There were moments when I wondered if we should turn back, but on passing a fisherman in his boat he encouraged us to keep going to see 'Monet's water garden.' What we found was a calm, serene bay to drift among  water lilies before catching the breeze to speed us back for lunch and good company.