November 10, 2025 - Thistle Lake Tower

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6 months ago

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Trip Summary

This was the 4th tower site we visited on our big loop drive of the region (attempted to drive to the Latchford tower, but a logging truck was jack-knifed on the access road after a snowfall…next time!). We did not know what to expect in terms of drive-ability and access to this site, and it turned out to be really quite easy. There was an excavator parked off the road, which seemed freshly opened. Google imagery does show some grey lines where logging roads used to be, and it seems these roads have now been opened up again. We were able to drive right to a trail (ATV trail) and hike about a kilometer in from there. The trail has a section of about 100 meters of beaver dam flooded area. Would be fine in an ATV, but we ended up carefully walking along the top of the dam itself. Luckily, it was frozen and solid. Summer access might be a bit trickier if hiking in, so bring tall rubber boots! The tower itself is not it great condition. One footing is half removed, another is cracked, and a third one is completely gone. The tower frame is pretty easy to wobble if you shake it, and from my drone I could see the floor was quite rotted. The bottom section of ladder is long gone. Its a really beautiful site and area. If you continue to drive past the access trail, there is another trail down to a nice camp site on the river. I definitely hope to come back and camp there eventually!

Field Notes

  • Date Visited

November 10, 2025

  • Access Type

Drive, Hike

  • Road Condition

Clear

  • Difficulty

Easy

  • Weather

Clear, Windy

  • Tower Status

Standing

  • Stability / Safety

Unsafe

  • Cab Condition

Intact

  • Base / Footings

Yes

Geodata & Coordinates

Note: Coordinates listed on this site are intended as a guideline only. Locations are based on the best available information but may not be exact. Terrain changes, historical shifts, and data errors can affect accuracy — always verify before visiting or navigating to a site.

  • Lat / Long

46.6442, -80.03227

  • DMS

46°38.652′N · 80°1.936′W

  • What3Words
  • what3words
  • UTM
17 574059 5166081 Copied!
  • Plus Code
68XRXJ9V+3M
  • Geohash
f0r16g660

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