One of the treasures of paddling a remote wilderness lake is to witness the sun sinking in the late afternoon and to watch the reflective images at sunrise on the water surface. Paddling on Juniper Lake, which gives views of the area that can only be seen on the water. Motorboats and fishing are not permitted at Juniper Lake, which reduces most of the park visitors to hikers, paddlers and campers.

Outdoor enthusiasts enjoy a wonderful variety of recreational activities at Juniper Lake. You can hand launch from the shoreline for launching kayaks, paddleboards, or canoes. Whether you’re a novice or an experienced paddler, there’s something here for every age and skill-level to enjoy. Biking, hiking, and horseback riding are also popular here. A variety of hiking and biking trails are in the surrounding area.

A few campsites are situated on the grassy banks overlooking the lake, which provide scenic panoramic views and easy hand launch access. You will have to hand carry your boat a short distance from some of the campsites to reach the lake. I recommend paddling and camping here with a companion due to its remote nature. Camping is on a first-come, first-served basis and is limited to tent camping only.

Early in the season (early to mid-July) the road down to the lakefront sites may be gated if the rangers feel it is too wet and muddy. The sites are still available, but you must carry everything down almost half of a mile. Unfortunately, the area surrounding the lake was badly burned in the summer of 2021.

Map of Juniper Lake

  
 
 
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