Pigeon Lake Natural Area – 2023-09-24

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A quarter section invisible to all but the local residents. Highway 771 crosses the Northeast corner. Mostly undisturbed except for a deeply rutted ATV Track.

Curious cows in the pasture kiddy corner (Northwest) from the Pigeon Lake NA.
Curious cows in the pasture kiddy corner (Northwest) from the Pigeon Lake NA.

Perfectly Misaligned. Pigeon Lake NA is a quarter section site that seems misaligned to nearby landmarks of the lake and the highway. While it assumes the standard North-South position, the western shore of the nearby lake follows a Northwest to Southeast orientation. Highway 771 lops off a tiny, Northeast corner of the site.

West Side Service Road strikes north from Township Road 464 but is fenced off from the NA. Curious cows said hello on my visit but did not have much to say about the site other than nearby grass was very tasty.

Invisible Site to anyone other than local residents. This is unfortunate as the primary method of visiting seems to be the ATV. A 600m trail cuts

Not Much Here. The NA is a densely forested area which appears largely undisturbed except for a deeply rutted ATV track running North to South from highway 771 to township road 464. There may be other single tracks in the NA but other than this miserable trail, not much in the NA.

Any maps and map views are for general information only. Do not rely on them for navigation or to determine legal boundaries.

The Fast Facts

  • Winter Challenge Category: High Beginner on the ATV track, but for only 600m, why bother?
    • NOT MUCH HERE.
  • No Washrooms, not kid friendly.

Area Details

  • Name/Owner: Provincial Protected Notation Natural Area.
  • Is it Worth It and Why Go Here?: Not worth it unless you are a hunter or a someone who likes to hike on rutted and muddy ATV tracks.
  • Map Reference, Location and Wayne Gretzky Units: 73.29km
  • The Drive Out: 771 is a pleasant highway that parallels the west shore of Pigeon Lake.
  • The Other Shoe: Hunting.
  • Kid Rating: Not kid friendly
  • Frank’s Trip Notes
    • First done: First done: 2023-08-20. Weather: Warm but with smoke Haze.
    • ATV track revisited 2023-09-24. Warm and partly cloudy.
  • Easterly border of the Pigeon Lake NA on TWP RD 464, looking north.
    Easterly border of the Pigeon Lake NA on TWP RD 464, looking north.
  • View of the lake, looking East from the Northwest corner of the Pigeon Lake NA.
    View of the lake, looking East from the Northwest corner of the Pigeon Lake NA.
  • Looking east into the Pigeon Lake NA from the service road.
    Looking east into the Pigeon Lake NA from the service road.
  • Looking south towards TWP RD 464. The Pigeon Lake NA is on the left and behind the fence.
    Looking south towards TWP RD 464. The Pigeon Lake NA is on the left and behind the fence.
  • A weather beaten sign indicating the southern border of Pigeon Lake NA along TWP RD 464.
    A weather beaten sign indicating the southern border of Pigeon Lake NA along TWP RD 464.
  • Quad track heading North into Pigeon Lake NA from TWP RD 464.
    Quad track heading North into Pigeon Lake NA from TWP RD 464.
  • A somewhat overgrown quad track heading North into Pigeon Lake NA from TWP RD 464; a weather beaten NA sign is seen to the right.
    A somewhat overgrown quad track heading North into Pigeon Lake NA from TWP RD 464; a weather beaten NA sign is seen to the right.
  • A sign post that has long since lost what was probably an indicator that this was the Pigeon Lake NA. Seen from HWY 771 near RR 14 intersection.
    A sign post that has long since lost what was probably an indicator that this was the Pigeon Lake NA. Seen from HWY 771 near RR 14 intersection.
  • The Northeast Pigeon Lake NA 'wedge' can be seen clearly from highway 771, looking Southeast from HWY 771.
    The Northeast Pigeon Lake NA ‘wedge’ can be seen clearly from highway 771, looking Southeast from HWY 771.
  • A well gouged ATV track heads west from HWY 771 into the Pigeon Lake NA.
    A well gouged ATV track heads west from HWY 771 into the Pigeon Lake NA.
  • Deeply rutted ingress to the NA from hwy 795 at approximately RR 14; Pigeon Lake NA, P.Potter Sept 24, 2023.
    Deeply rutted ingress to the NA from hwy 795 at approximately RR 14; Pigeon Lake NA, P.Potter Sept 24, 2023.
  • ATV Tracks, Pigeon Lake NA, P.Potter Sept 24, 2023.
    ATV Tracks, Pigeon Lake NA, P.Potter Sept 24, 2023.

Notes and Reference

  1. Pigeon Lake (PNT) Natural Area

Usage: This site is intended for my personal use only and very select invited guests. My recommendation is for you to stay in bed with the covers pulled firmly over your head.

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