A favourite swimming hole
While I don’t make many small stocked lakes as a regular destination of choice, Fisheye Lake is one of them
During the 2024 paddle season, I celebrated my milestone 50th birthday by paddling over 50 Yukon lakes. Through the winter, I gathered insights and details about each lake to create the 50 Lakes Yukon guidebook, which will soon be available in bookstores. As part of this summer series, I will be highlighting various Yukon lakes, each with its unique features and highlights. For those near Faro this summer, don’t forget to add a stop to Fisheye Lake.
Lying within the Traditional Territory of the Kaska Dena, Fisheye Lake is a local watering hole that packs a lot of fabulousness into its small size. It has a popular day-use area that is great for swimming, floating, fishing, birdwatching and picnicking. The site has everything except camping and is a great place to enjoy a summer day. Fisheye Lake is a stocked lake with great fishing for kokanee salmon and rainbow trout.
While I don’t make many small stocked lakes as a regular destination of choice, Fisheye Lake is one of them. Fond memories of Fisheye date back decades, and the lake continues to create unforgettable moments. The tall trees around the lake are home to ravens and bald eagles. While floating, you might see a bald eagle scoop up a fish, or a raven searching for its lunch along the shoreline.
Over the past two decades, the lake’s water level has risen, leaving parts of the shore lined with dead trees. A section of gravel road that once led to a lakeside picnic area is now submerged. There is ongoing soil sloughing on the hillside to the southeast, where small stones tumble and uprooted trees slide into the water. It’s remarkable to witness the landscape transform before your eyes.
Fisheye is a day-use area with a boat launch, dock, playground, sandy beach, change room, self-rescue life-saving equipment, picnic area, fire pits and an outhouse. Nearby camping options include the Yukon territorial campgrounds at Drury Creek (51 kilometres west) and Johnson Lake (seven kilometres northeast, towards Faro), as well as private campsites within the Town of Faro.
The Fisheye Lake day-use area is located at kilometre 417 of the Robert Campbell Highway (Yukon Highway 4). The distance from Whitehorse is 341 kilometres, with a drive time of under four hours. From Faro, it’s a short 10-minute drive to Fisheye.
