| Jumping Caribou Lake | |
|---|---|
| Byers Bay, Camp Cariboo | |
| Location | Temagami |
| Primary inflows | Ingalls Lake, Natural Springs |
| Primary outflows | Caribou Creek |
| Catchment area | Twin Sisters |
| Basin countries | Canada |
| Max. length | 5 km (3 mi) |
| Max. depth | 56 m (184 ft) |
| Islands | 16 Islands-- Larger ones being: Canada Island, Scout Island, Pickerals, Perth Point, Ohio Island, Big Bear Island |
Jumping Caribou Lake is a lake located within the Municipality of Temagami, in the Nipissing District, Ontario, Canada. It contains small islands and hidden bays. Ojibwa natives of the area have given the lake its name.
Jumping Caribou Lake played an important role in the logging industry from the early 1900s until the late 1920s. The first cabins on the lake were logging cabins located on what is now called Byers Bay off the old Ferguson Highway (now realigned and part of Highway 11). These cabins were part of the logging camp. Similar logging also occurred at Cassels Lake. An extensive network of dams and log chutes were constructed in the area – Allowing the old growth timber harvested to be sent downstream to the saw mills in Sturgeon Falls.
In 1927, Herman Watson Osborn, Jr. signed a hundred year lease for the old logging camp (at that time the lake was located inside a game reserve) and transformed it into a private family cottage on the lake. After the completion of Highway 11, Osborn was able to buy the property from the Crown. In the summer of 1941, Osborn was instrumental in getting Warner Brothers to film Captains of the Clouds (starring James Cagney, Brenda Marshall, Dennis Morgan and Alan Hale, Sr.) on Jumping Caribou Lake. The bay is at the southernmost parts of the lake. It is named after (Ellen O. Byers), Herman Osborn's daughter. There are six generations of Herman Osborn's family still enjoying summers on Jumping Caribou lake.
W.B. Russel also played a significant roll in the history of Jumping Caribou Lake. In the late 1920' and early 1930s W.B was the chief engineer of what is now called the Old Ferguson Highway. W.B. bought land off of the highway located on the north end of the lake. In 1930 he built the first building which was a one room log cabin. Then in 1939 he built a large log cabin which was used for the men working on the road. W.B.'s family still own the property on the point and there are a 5 generations of family still enjoying Jumping Caribou Lake.
At present, there are 32 private camps and 1 commercial camp (Ravenscroft Lodge) on the lake. Besides Ravenscroft Lodge there is a Bed and Breakfast called Caribou Cottages. There is boat access at Ravenscroft Lodge as well as a public "day camping only" ( no overnight allowed by MNR) access off the King's Highway 11.
Fish in the lake include walleye, northern pike, smallmouth bass, white fish and lake trout. Hunting area include moose, bear, grouse, pheasant and rabbit. Winter sports in the area include ice fishing, cross country skiing, dog sledding, snowshoeing and snowmobiling.