Tarfu Lake Campground is relatively close to Whitehorse, at only 159 kilometres, and that’s even when you take the long way.
Last year’s campground guide will tell you there are only four campsites … now there are 10.
I’m not sure which ones are the new ones, ours had a fairly beaten up campfire pit, so I am assuming it was one of the originals.
Every site is a good one, but there are a few differences: Site 9 and 10 are on the higher bench on the way in and get the sun late in the day, but are further from the water and the washrooms.
Sites 3 and 4 are the last sites near the water that lose daylight.
Sites 6 and 7 are a little secluded from the rest and allow for a boat to be moored right by your campsite.
We were at Site 8, the last site available when we arrived. A nice site that got the first and most direct of the morning sun, but lost the sunlight first and got colder earlier.
The fishing and canoing at Tarfu are great. We found a great little bay very close by, just to the right. Lots of pike in there, but two big ones got away. We did get one on the line for my daughter, not her first catch, but it was the first catch on the new rod she got for her birthday.
For those who would like a shot at some rainbow trout, Marcella Lake, at the entrance to the Tarfu Campground, is a stocked lake. The access to the lake can be seen just south of the entrance to Tarfu.
The paddling on the lake is great. The wind was sporadic when we were there, we never could tell where the wind was coming from.
The nicest spot we got to was the outlet creek with the beaver dams. I first came upon it while paddling with Emily, my six-year-old daughter. We paddled into the calm waters and saw two eagles flying over the creek and watched many, many rises in the second pool.
I wish I had brought my fly rod with me.
My second trip into the creek was with my wife and daughter and, on this visit, the eagles were gone, but we did catch sight of a tiny beaver.
I never did get on shore on any of my excursions, but the shoreline offered many good landing spots and animal paths, all inviting some great opportunities to explore.
We did get a chance to place a Geocache near the campsite while we were there. It’s just a short hike from the back side of Site 4.
In case of emergencies or forgotten necessities, the town of Atlin is about 55 kilometres away, but there is no cell service there. I did find cell range about 25 kilometres back north when I needed to find a way to get our canoe paddles to the campsite … it’s nice to know that others are coming out to join you when you have forgotten the important things, I just wish I had opened the fishing rod case before I drove back to make that call.
