My first post retirement post
Today I launched my kayak at the Fernan boat ramp on the west end of the lake which is managed by Kootenai County Parks and Waterways. The ramp is about four blocks off of the Interstate 90 exit with East Sherman Avenue in Coeur d’Alene. Fernan Lake is connected to much larger Lake Coeur d’Alene by a short stream which unfortunately is blocked off by a privately owned dam making it impossible to kayak from one to the other.
Lake Fernan is a very popular fishing lake. Due to water quality issues it is not often visited by water skiers or wake boarders. Kayakers and fishermen get along well together.
The lake is long and narrow. The south shore opposite the boat ramp is entirely undeveloped due to the extremely steep topography. Also a city natural area and a section of state owned forest land protect parts of the south shore.
This lake should be visited in May or June. Later in the summer it suffers from extreme blue/green algae blooms every year. Because of this, many people discount this body of water not realizing that the water quality in spring is actually pretty good. A group called the Fernan Lake Recreation and Conservation Association works to increase public awareness of the problem and find solutions.
At the east end of the lake a small creek feeds in to the lake and there is another launch area for kayaks and small boats.
The east end of the lake contains some extensive lilly pad flats. Sometimes there is interesting wildlife to see.
Like this guy. I got to watch this moose walk around the marsh land and swim in the lake. Saw Bald Eagles and Great Blue Herons today as well, but didn’t get a decent photo of any of the birds. Paddling against the wind and while taking pictures of wildlife that refuses to stay still is a challenge.
On the way back, I stuck to the north shore which has a well maintained paved forest service road along it. There are numerous pull outs for people to park that are well used by fishermen. It is nice to see families enjoying the outdoors together.
Kayaking Lake Fernan is a nice little adventure because of it’s proximity to downtown Coeur d’Alene and the surprising variety of scenery for such a small lake. The lake is less than two miles long and maybe a quarter of a mile wide. I try to hit this little gem at least once a year and as I said it needs to be in the spring to avoid the unpleasant algae blooms when the water heats up.
A year later I returned for another trip on this little lake.
I paddled to the far east end of the lake where I landed on a beach that is owned by the Idaho Department of Lands, and enjoyed the view back towards the west.
When I returned to the east end of the lake, I decided to paddle through the culvert beneath Interstate 90. Because of the reflection it almost appears that you’re floating through the tunnel.
I made it through and wanted to tackle a second culvert underneath Lake Coeur d’Alene Drive but as the water was low I had to turn around here. I was glad the culvert was twelve and a half feet wide as my kayak is twelve feet long and I didn’t want to get out.
So I was soon back to Lake Fernan and right by the boat ramp IO launched from. It was two hours of time well spent.
Lake Fernan usually has severe blue/green algae blooms this time of the year, however for some reason so far this year the water quality hasn’t been too bad. It has been a mild summer so far.
