Chilkoot Lake - Water Sports

Water Sports

Ice skating and Kayaking are popular water sports in the Lake.

Ice skating

Ice skating is a popular sport in the peak of winter in the Chilkoot Lake when it gets completely frozen. During winter the lake appears bowl shaped and is surrounded by white snow covered mountains, tucked in a valley and is free from icy winds. The hardness of the ice in the lake is said to be “hard and shiny as a marble floor” and reflects the dark spruce trees and mountains. The ice skating in the lake is a quiet gliding experience of about 1 mile (2 km), and this experience is said to be totally unlike the skating at a rink. Apart from the lake road to the lake is also used for skiing.

Kayaking

Chilkoot Lake is considered a good water body for safe and peaceful kayaking, particularly for beginners in paddle kayaking (for learning the basic skills). The kayak launching post is the State Park at the southern end of the lake where facilities available are a ramp, floating dock, free parking grounds, picnic shelters and rest rooms. Kayaking offers good sights of wild life such as bald eagles and salmon spawning. Kayaking trip around the lake takes about 5 hours. Even though a USGS map is available as guide for kayakers, the small lake does not require any help of a map for navigation. The main security precaution to be observed by kayakers is not disturb the bears, which may be seen hunting for fish on the shore line.