Burke Lake

Last updated by Thomas Wiese
 November 10, 2019

View of Burke lake just South of the Pool in Baie Fine.  Pic is from cliffs on N shore of lake looking WSW.  Reaching this location involves a very rugged hike up hill over mostly wooded terrain that includes scrambling through multiple bolder fields and seasonal stream beds sometimes covered in dense brush.  There is no trail.  Only those with back country "bushwhacking" experience and expertise with map and compass should attempt this hike. Dense tree cover and terrain often reduces GPS reception here.  Topo Maps show an old logging trail to this area coming from E side of Pool.  While signs of that trail are sometimes visible, this route is long washed out and difficult to hike due to rocks and boulders.  Best route is to head S from SW shore of Pool, after initial up hill, stay E of a small bog and then after while you come out on top of cliffs overlooking Burke Lake.  The clearing at E end of this lake has old campsite and is good for swimming off small cliffs.

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Please feel free to add this to the Pool harbor report as you see fit. I started going to this lake in 89 on the recommendation of a long-time great lakes sailor, Bob Hard from the Flint, MI area, who we met anchored in the pool. On that trip, we went straight S from the SW shore of the pool and had a fun, but long hike and swim in Burke lake. The first part was steep up through very old pines followed by some rock overlooks and then up on top, a bog and some dense underbrush in mixed woods through many ups and downs till we came out on the cliff overlooking the lake. Good compass work was required since you could easily get turned around. Since then, I have tried multiple times to follow the old logging trail shown on topo maps thinking it would be easier. Even with high res GPS and following the trail by seeing the path between the larger trees, I found this old trail to be over very rough terrain and very difficult. I saw signs of the old telegraph poles and cable on the way. I have no idea how they ran any vehicles through. Also, the lakes W of Topaz Lake are fun to check out and easier to access from the narrows up mostly open rock to see them.

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Tom,
Thanks for the great picture and your detailed comments. Would you mind if we added this to the Harbour Report for The Pool (with credit to you). This is truly something new and relevant to sailors with the desire and skill to go bushwhacking while enjoying time in the beautiful pool at the end of Baie Fine.
Dave Spencer
HR Committee

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