Canoeing on Honker Lake

I hate to brag, but I have a couple of phobias. One is water – as in anything outside of a bathtub or wading pool.  Another is snakes – as in… well, as in snakes. I once ran screaming from the room while chased with a rubber snake – all the while knowing it was a rubber snake.

I’m reasonable like that.

And yet, with phobias in tow, I had an absolutely wonderful time canoeing on Honker Lake this past weekend. It was my first time in a canoe since I was a little girl at Camp Currie, and I have to admit I was pretty nervous at first. For one thing, the canoeing would not be taking place in a bathtub and for another, common sense told me snakes were in the neighborhood.

Funny thing is, by the end of the trip, I began counting the days until I could get back in a canoe on Honker Lake! Yes, I saw a few snakes as they swam in the water – furiously trying to get away from the canoes. Don’t tell anyone, but I thought they looked pretty cute with their heads poked up as their bodies hurried them along.  They were more afraid of us than I could ever hope to be of them.

That’s an arrangement that works for me.

Our guides pointed out Osprey nests, ospreys, eagle nests, eagles, herons, Giant Canada Geese, beavers, beaver lodges, and more. Seeing these beautiful animals and birds so close was a beautiful experience.

You just haven’t lived until you’ve been within feet of a beaver slapping the water with his tail so hard that he lifts his body! These intelligent, industrious, and beautiful animals are really something to behold.

As luck would have it, it’s kind of difficult to hold a paddle AND work a camera while staring in wide wonder all at the same time – so I’m afraid my pictures of the eagles and beavers didn’t turn out.

You can rent canoes and kayaks from The Woodlands Nature Station in the Land Between the Lakes to go exploring on your own – but I’d highly recommend first taking advantage of one of their guided tours. In these tours, you’re in your own canoe as are others in the group. The tour guides are in their own canoe and offer valuable information on wildlife, canoeing, and the lake, itself.

I’d like to take a minute or two to give a shout out to all the workers and volunteers in the Land Between the Lakes that I’ve ever encountered. They have been exceptional each and every time.  There’s something that separates them from most workers and volunteers you encounter and that’s passion. Each individual I have encountered in my MANY years of MANY Land Between the Lakes visits has obviously not only cared a great, great deal about Kentucky and the Land Between the Lakes – they’ve had a palpable passion for this region, its wildlife, its conservation, its birds, and its guests.

Their knowledge, upbeat attitude, friendliness, and passion are incredible assets to the Land Between the Lakes. They are above reproach as ambassadors for a region that’s as special as they are.

Read more about Honker Lake on Genuine Kentucky and check out the other pictures from our canoe trip on Honker Lake as well. Trust me on this one – canoeing on Honker Lake is something you’ll want to move to the top of your to do list.