| Doré Lake | |
| Pushpin Map: | Saskatchewan#Canada |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location of Doré Lake in Saskatchewan |
| Location: | Northern Saskatchewan Administration District |
| Coords: | 54.7667°N -125°W |
| Inflow: | Sled River |
| Outflow: | Doré River to Beaver River |
| Basin Countries: | Canada |
| Residence Time: | 175 |
Doré Lake[1] is a lake in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan in the basin of the Beaver River. Doré is the French Canadian term for 'walleye'. The lake is north-west of Smoothstone Lake and the Waskesiu Upland in the Mid-Boreal Upland ecozone of Canada and is surrounded by boreal forests.[2] Saskatoon, Saskatchewan's largest city, is about to the south. The northern village of Dore Lake is located on South Bay and is accessed from Highway 924[3] and Dore Lake Airport.
There are several lodges, parks, protected areas, recreational facilities, hiking trails, and outfitters around Doré Lake, most of which are along the southern shore at Dore Lake and Michel Point. Tower Lodge Outfitting is on a peninsula at the eastern end on East Bay and is accessed from Highway 917.[4]
At, Doré Lake is the seventh largest lake in Saskatchewan. Its main inflow is Sled River,[5] which originates at Sled Lake and flows into Bazill Bay at the west end of Doré Lake. The outflow is Doré River,[6] which flows out from Bazill Bay and heads north-northwest into Beaver River. Bays around the lake include South Bay, East Bay, Northern Bay, Charbonneau Bay, and Bazill Bay.[7] [8] There are several islands throughout the lake including Big Island, Iskwasoo Island, and Burnt Island in the north section and Smith Island in Bazill Bay.[9]
Michel Point is a peninsula at the southern end that juts out into Doré Lake. The peninsula is the location of Dore Lake Recreation Site,[10] Michel Point Lodge,[11] and Camp Carmel. Access is to Michel Point and its amenities is from Dore Road, which branches off Highway 924 at Dore Lake.
The recreation site has a campground, hiking trails, a 3km (02miles) long white-sand beach for swimming, a boat launch, and a fish filleting station. The campground has non-potable water, outdoor toilets, and sewage disposal.[12]
The Dore Lake Trails traverse Michel Point and go around South Bay towards Bazill Bay. The trails are open year-round and are available for hiking, biking, ATVing, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling. They are maintained by volunteers and are free to use.[13]
There are two wildlife refuges and one ecological reserve at Doré Lake. At the lake's northern end is the Caribou Flats Ecological Reserve. It encompasses Northern Bay, Charbonneau Bay, the Charbonneau Lake,[14] Burnt Island, and Iskwasoo Island.[15]
Bazill Wildlife Refuge covers a small island just west of Smith Island in Bazill Bay.[16] Rock Island Wildlife Refuge is on Rock Island just east of Michel Point.[17]
Fish commonly found in Doré Lake include walleye, northern pike, burbot, cisco, white sucker, yellow perch, and lake whitefish.[18] [19]