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Katherine Lake, British Columbia, Canada

Also known as:  Lake Katherine

Calling a place “The Venice of the North on the Sunshine Coast” sets expectations very high. Fortunately, Pender Harbour in British Columbia more than exceeds expectations. Its rocky coastline, charming historical villages and breathtaking scenery make it an increasingly popular tourist destination. There are plenty of things to see and do along the Sunshine Coast, but for families traveling with children, Lake Katherine is a fantastic choice….
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    • All About Katherine Lake, BC

    Lake Locations: Canada - British Columbia, Canada -

    Calling a place “The Venice of the North on the Sunshine Coast” sets expectations very high. Fortunately, Pender Harbour in British Columbia more than exceeds expectations. Its rocky coastline, charming historical villages and breathtaking scenery make it an increasingly popular tourist destination. There are plenty of things to see and do along the Sunshine Coast, but for families traveling with children, Lake Katherine is a fantastic choice.

    Lake Katherine, also known as Katherine Lake, is a 14-acre freshwater lake with an average depth of just 24 feet. Most of Katherine Lake’s water comes from Garden Bay Lake and its outflow is through a marshy area and small creek that travels on to Mixal Lake. In 1990, the Sunshine Coast Regional District established a 79-acre park at Lake Katherine with a campground including RV sites and restrooms with showers. There are short, moderately easy hiking trails around the lake and a sandy beach for swimming, making the whole park very accessible for children. There are two private homes on the lake, but 97 percent of the shoreline is contained within Katherine Lake Regional Park.

    Boat access is through Katherine Lake Park. Canoeing and kayaking are popular ways to explore the lake, but no gasoline-powered boats are allowed on Lake Katherine. Anglers can challenge themselves against the healthy populations of cutthroat trout, and Coho salmon spawn in the creek between Katherine Lake and Mixal Lake. The lake is not stocked.

    Katherine Lake is one of four freshwater lakes in the Pender Harbour area including Mixal Lake, Hotel Lake, and Garden Bay Lake. Garden Bay Provincial Marine Park surrounds Garden Bay Lake, and it is an easy drive from Katherine Lake. Established in 1969, the park offers 403 recreational acres and is home to blacktail deer, black bear and cougars.

    Pender Harbour is generally considered to include four villages: Madeira Park, Kleindale, Garden Bay and Irvine’s Landing. Irvine’s Landing is the nearest community to Lake Katherine, and was named after Charles Irving, who established a trading post at the mouth of Pender Harbour in 1865. The community was officially established at the site in 1880. Today, visitors to Irvine’s Landing can stroll through the charming coastal village, browse in shops, or enjoy a meal made of the freshest seafood available in one of the town’s many restaurants.

    The village sits in the shadow of Pender Hill and Mount Daniel. Visitors can hike to the summit of 1,375-foot Mount Daniel and explore an archeological site left by the Sechelt First Nation Salish, the area’s indigenous people. Remnants of moon rings — stone circles made by Sechelt girls as a rite of passage into womanhood — can be seen at the summit of Mount Daniel. The Sunshine Coast is accessible only by airplane or ferry, but ferries run regularly. Pender Harbour is just two hours from Vancouver, and there are a variety of vacation rentals as well as real estate for sale.

    Lake Katherine is only one piece of the collection of lakes and communities that make up Pender Harbour. Visitors to the lake will have easy access to all the attractions and amenities of Pender Harbour, and for families with children, Lake Katherine is an easy, child-friendly way to tour the “Venice of the North.”

    Things to Do at Katherine Lake

    These are some activities in the Katherine Lake, BC area visitors can enjoy:

    • Vacation Rentals
    • Fishing
    • Boating
    • Swimming
    • Beach
    • Canoeing
    • Kayaking
    • Camping
    • Campground
    • Hiking
    • Wildlife Viewing

    What Kind of Fish Are in Katherine Lake?

    Katherine Lake has been known to have the following fish species:

    • Coho Salmon
    • Cutthroat Trout
    • Salmon
    • Trout
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    Find Places to Stay at Katherine Lake

    If you’re considering a Katherine Lake lake house rental or hotel, we’ve made it super easy to find the best rates and compare vacation accommodations at a glance. Save time using this interactive map below.

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    More Sites to Book a Katherine Lake Vacation

    Our interactive Katherine Lake lodging map above is an easy tool for comparing VRBO rental homes and nearby hotels with Booking.com, but there could be times when you need to expand your search for different types of accommodations. Here are some other lake lodging partners we recommend:

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    Katherine Lake Statistics & Helpful Links

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    Lake Type: Natural Freshwater Lake, Dammed

    Surface Area: 15 acres

    Average Depth: 26 feet

    Water Volume: 405 acre-feet

    Water Residence Time: .6 year

    Trophic State: Mesotrophic

    Katherine Lake Map

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