Closest Access Point: Canoe Lake (Access #5)
Distance To Access Point: 11.5 KM (2-3 hour’s travel)
Difficulty of Travel From Access Point: Medium (Not too far, but Potter’s Creek kinda sucks)
Maintenance Level: Regular
Date of Visit: August, 2021
This is a compact site on Potter’s east shore. It’s not terrible, but it’s not great either. It would certainly do if you needed a place for a night, but if you’re setting up shop for a few days it might start to feel cramped (Site 3 is much better for multi-day stays, although I don’t know why you’d want to stay on Potter Lake for more than one night no matter how good the site is).
Terrain: This is a low lying site. There’s a step up from the water to the site and then everything is more or less on the same level. There’s not a ton of useable space, but it’s big enough for a small group. The shoreline is fairly densely grown, with a mix of cedar, spruce (I think) and other vegetation in between the site and the water everywhere except for the canoe landing area.
Canoe Landing: Nice canoe landing. The site is fronted by a sandy strip and a nice underwater beach that makes for a great canoe landing. No underwater obstacles to speak of, unless you happen to run into Sandman on his vacation I guess.
Fire Pit: Right at the front of the site, it’s the first thing you pass by as you come up from the water. Gives you a nice view out to the lake. The pit itself isn’t much, just a jumble of rocks, but it will get the job done. I imagine this is a pretty sheltered site, so you’re not going to need high walls to cut the wind.
Swimability: I don’t love swimming in Potter Lake. It’s basically just a widening of Potter Creek and I find it a bit reedy pretty much everywhere. That said, this is a good site to take a swim from. That sandy bottom is great for wading out.
Tent Sites: There’s room for a couple of tents. The pads are on the small size, so maybe leave the circus tent at home. They’re relatively level and clear of roots/rocks etc. though.
Thunderbox: It took me a few tries to find the thunderbox. There are a couple of paths that lead away from this site. The correct one is out the back of the site, which makes sense. The box itself looks brand new.
Accessories: There’s a nice circle of benches around the fire pit, that’s about it.
Views: Obstructed view out to Potter from most of the site thanks to the heavy shore growth. The view down by the water is west across Potter. Not bad, not spectacular, although I would imagine it gets good sunsets.
Notes: This site is fine. I wouldn’t make it my first choice on Potter, but it wouldn’t be my last, either.
Related Trip Report: Rain Lake to Canoe Lake
Back to Campsite Reports