Noyes Lake

Where the Lake Sits

Noyes Lake occupies a position in the Cub Hills — a plateau of low, rounded hills and narrow lake-filled valleys that define the recreational character of this part of Saskatchewan. The landscape was shaped roughly 10,000 years ago when a continental ice sheet advanced, scraping frozen till into ridges and leaving behind isolated basins that filled with meltwater. The result is a mosaic of deep, clear lakes, sandy soils, and dense boreal forest of jack pine, black spruce, aspen, and birch.↗↗

On the 1:50,000 NTS map sheet 073H15 (White Gull Creek), Noyes Lake appears among a cluster of neighbouring water bodies including Crabtree Lake, Heiberg Lake, Ispuchaw Lake, Mitten Lake, Odell Lake, and Zeden Lake. The Torch River and White Gull Creek drain portions of this region, and the lakes vary in size from small, secluded ponds to larger bodies with established campgrounds and boat launches nearby.↗

Recreation in the Surrounding Lake Country

The region around Noyes Lake falls within one of Saskatchewan's most rewarding outdoor recreation zones. Narrow Hills Provincial Park, established in 1934 and covering 530 square kilometres, contains over 25 accessible lakes and is surrounded by dozens more within an hour's drive. The park offers an unusually diverse fishery: native walleye, yellow perch, northern pike, and whitefish share waters with stocked populations of brook trout, brown trout, rainbow trout, tiger trout, lake trout, and splake — the greatest variety of fish species found in any region of the province.↗↗

Canoeing and kayaking are popular here, with many lakes offering short paddles through sheltered, loon-lined shorelines. The deeper, isolated lakes in this area — unconnected by rivers and streams — are particularly valued for preventing non-native species from mixing with native stock, keeping the fishing pure and productive.↗↗

Hiking enthusiasts can explore the famous Gem Lakes trail system, where a 5.5-kilometre loop winds around seven deep, sand-bottomed lakes that reflect colours of emerald, jade, and aqua blue from open ridgeline vantage points. The broader trail network in the Narrow Hills area spans approximately 210 kilometres, including routes through stands of black spruce and jack pine where moose and white-tailed deer are frequently spotted.

Getting There

The nearest communities providing services are Smeaton, about 70 kilometres to the south, and the larger town of Nipawin to the east. Access to the broader area is via Highway 106 (the Hanson Lake Road) north of Smeaton or Highway 120 north of Meath Park. The Hanson Lake Road, completed in 1963, was one of the first routes to open Saskatchewan's north to mining and forestry, and it remains the primary corridor through this lake country.↗↗

Noyes Lake itself sits away from the developed park road network and is most likely reached by forest service roads or by bushwhacking from a neighbouring lake. A valid Saskatchewan provincial park vehicle entry permit is required for travel within the adjacent provincial park boundaries. The lake is a remote option for those with local knowledge of logging trails, satellite maps, or permission to cross the intervening landscape.↗

A Landscape in Recovery

Visitors should be aware that in May and June of 2025, the Shoe Fire — the largest wildfire in Saskatchewan's recorded history — burned through approximately 500,000 hectares of the Narrow Hills and Cub Hills region. The fire destroyed vast swathes of forest and several buildings, dramatically altering the landscape. The park has since reopened for day use and camping at most sites, though the Gem Lakes campsites remained closed through the 2026 season while rebuilding continues.↗↗

This is not without precedent in a landscape already shaped by fire. Almost 70 percent of the park's forests had been burned in the 25 years before the Shoe Fire, and the ongoing cycle of disturbance and regeneration is part of the boreal ecosystem's character. In some areas, new jack pine growth is so dense it is impossible to walk through; in others, regrowth is slow where successive fires have robbed the soil of its seedbank.↗

Planning a Visit

Full services in the neighbouring Narrow Hills Provincial Park run from the May long weekend through September 30. For a lake as remote as Noyes Lake, self-sufficiency is essential: bring water, food, navigation tools, bug spray for the May–June tick season, and adequate footwear for rough terrain. The park office (306-426-2622) can provide information on current road conditions, fire bans, and access status in the area.↗↗

The wildlife of this region includes moose, elk, white-tailed deer, black bears, timber wolves, lynx, beaver, muskrats, and birds such as loons and red-tailed hawks. Bald eagles are known to soar over the deeper lakes. The experience here is one of solitude and natural abundance — the kind of landscape that rewards those who travel beyond the marked campground to seek their own quiet water.↗↗