Keta Lake is a few miles past Sayward on the North Island Highway. It’s a very pretty little lake that has a highway stop with picnic tables and toilets. There is a trail that takes you to the lake, but there is no beach. If you walk back along the highway, you will come to a small road, which takes you down to where you could launch a small cartop boat, canoe or kayak. There is room to pull a vehicle into this spot and turn around to exit.
There is always lots of wildlife around this lake, you can see a variety of birds, and if you are lucky, you might see deer, elk or black bears in the area. During the wet season, if you look above the backside of the lake, you will see a wild waterfall. I will take a drone shot of Keta Lake Waterfall one day.
My wife and I have canoed this lake and it’s awesome to see the different lakeside plants, insects and birds that frequent the area. Canoe allows you to take your time without the noise that others make. This, in turn, allows you to see things in a better way.
So when you are on the road to the North Island and need a break, Keta Lake rest stop seems to be a good place to relax. Plenty of room to stretch your legs and get a breath of fresh air. Many people paddle board here, along with those who like to kayak.
If you stop, bring your camera, stop and take a break and maybe try to cast a line in. If it’s kayaking or canoeing, use the pull-out road just south of the rest stop. This is a pretty nice stop.