Knouff Lake (British Columbia) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Knouff Lake |
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 Knouff Lake
Location in British Columbia
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| Location | British Columbia |
| Coordinates | 50°59′27″N 120°07′20″W / 50.99083°N 120.12222°W |
| Basin countries | Canada |
| Surface area | 103 ha (250 acres) |
| Average depth | 9.8 m (32 ft) |
| Max. depth | 24.1 m (79 ft) |
| Surface elevation | 1,149 m (3,770 ft) |
| Islands | 4 |
Knouff Lake, also called Sullivan Lake, is a beautiful lake in British Columbia, Canada. It's about 45 kilometers (28 miles) north of Kamloops. The lake sits high up, at 1,149 meters (3,770 feet) above sea level. You can get there from the Yellowhead Highway using Heffley Creek Road.
This medium-sized lake is well-known for its many rainbow trout. These fish are often caught using caddisfly as bait. Knouff Lake has modern services like electricity, phone, and roads that are maintained all year. There's even a school bus pickup for local residents.
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A Look Back in Time
The history of Knouff Lake goes back to the 1860s. A man named James Vincent Knouff settled near Louis Creek around that time. He had traveled through the Cariboo region.
Later, in the early 1900s, the entire valley around the lake was logged. This means trees were cut down from the shoreline all the way up the mountains. But over time, new fir and pine forests grew back. Today, it's hard to tell that the area was ever logged.
In 2003, people living near Knouff Lake had to leave their homes. This was because of big wildfires called the McLure-Barriere and Strawberry Hill fires. Even though these fires caused a lot of damage nearby, the area right around Knouff Lake was mostly safe.
Exploring the Lake's Geography
Knouff Lake is actually made up of two smaller lakes. These two lakes are connected by a small creek. This creek is very important because it's where the rainbow trout go to lay their eggs. The two parts of the lake are known as Big Knouff and Little Knouff.
Big Knouff Lake
Big Knouff is the larger of the two lakes. It has very clear water and a bottom made of gravel. There are also many shallow areas called shoals. Big Knouff Lake has four islands. All of these islands have plenty of shoals and areas with lots of underwater plants, called weedbeds.
If you look closely with special sunglasses, you might see some sunken islands. These are also covered with plants and are located on the eastern side of the lake, just south of the main islands.
Little Knouff Lake
North of Big Knouff Lake, you'll find Little Knouff Lake. This lake is much shallower than Big Knouff. Its deepest point is only about 5 meters (15 feet).
During normal water levels, Little Knouff Lake doesn't have many fish. This is because it can get too cold in winter, causing fish to die. However, when there's a lot of spring runoff (melted snow and rain), trout from Big Knouff Lake can swim into Little Knouff through the spawning channel.
Fun at Knouff Lake
Knouff Lake is a great place for outdoor activities, especially fishing!
Fishing for Rainbow Trout
The main type of fish you'll find here is the rainbow trout. These fish are stocked, meaning more are added to the lake to keep the population healthy. Fishing here can be quite popular, from moderate to high usage. The lake usually freezes over in November and stays frozen until early May. This makes it a good spot for ice fishing in winter.
Places to Stay and Camp
There is one main resort on the north end of Knouff Lake called Knouff Lake Resort. It offers different types of cabins where families or groups can stay. Some cabins can hold four people, while others can fit up to eight.
If you prefer camping, there's a large area for tents and truck campers right next to the cabins. The resort also has a shower house, a small general store, and a place where you can rent boats.
On the west side of the lake, there's a campsite run by the BC Forestry Service. This campsite is easy to access even with a motorhome. It also has a boat launch, so you can easily get your boat onto the water.
