Skidegate Lake, Moresby Island
Haida Gwaii, British Columbia, Canada

Skidegate Lake, Moresby Island:

One of the larger accessible fresh water lakes on Moresby Island in the Haida Gwaii Islands Archipelago. The long active gravel logging road leading to Skidegate Lake is part of the Sandspit Loop Drive. Peek-a-boo views of the lake start appearing when driving the south end of the loop drive.

The lake area goes for miles with a boat launch on the west side of the lake closest to the Moresby Camp. The area is very high in logging truck traffic so stay sharp. The lake, as well as Mosquito Lake, is a popular destination for fishing, canoeing and swimming.

The region has been heavily logged and there are some unsightly scaring of the landscape. Not is all roses in the wilderness. Throughout the area, there is still some second growth forest consisting of Western Hemlock, Western Red Cedar and Sitka Spruce.

The Skidegate Lake area is a big time player in the harvest and export of Chanterelle Mushrooms. Like all delicacies, the mushrooms are an annual and are unpredictable so harvests can vary. One of the difficulties is all the logging in the area which hurts because the Chanterelles only grow in second-growth forests.

The area has also been known to attract bird watchers and wildlife seekers. The wildlife in the area includes Black Bears, deer, Bald Eagles, etc. As of just recently a new species of lamprey in British Columbia was found at Skidegate Lake. Adequately, today, the bird is called the Skidegate Lamprey.

How to Get to Skidegate Lake :

Drive east for about 7 km from the Alliford Bay BC Ferry Terminal on Moresby Island to Sandspit Village. Continue driving through the community to School Road. Take a right. Follow the paved road to gravel road. It is approximately 30-35 kms from the beginning of gravel road to the Skidegate lake boat launch. Follow the signs.