Shumway Lake lies in the lake chain gully south of Kamloops on Highway 5 A.   The west shoreline is right next to the highway and the east side is at the foot of a mostly treed hillside.   It is not a fishing lake.   It is one of the “reservoirs” along 0hte Campbell Creek drainage, used for irrigation by ranches in both valleys.   It is also the home of the Shumway Lake Paddling Center, first established in 1991 – 1992 ready for test events for the 1993 Canada Summer Games.   from 1989- 1999, various lake and sections of river were discussed, but the requirement for a 2000m rowing course with no competing uses was not easy to find.   Rowing lanes need to be 13.5 m wide and there needs to be at least 6 lanes for competition (8 is better) so any lake area had to be consistently 13.5m x 6, plus outside return lanes for boats.   Shumway Lake curves twice, but the main body of the lake just fits the 2000m requirement.

During that period, I was the Manager of Sport, Facilities, and Operations for the Canada Games so this was part of my responsibility.   Engineers laid out the course and then an underwater anchoring system was installed by a contractor.    Cables were also installed then linked to small buoys each paddling season to mark the lanes above water.   Canoe/kayak lanes are narrower so the cables and buoys are adjusted for those races, mostly racing at 1000m.

A basic facility was installed lakeside for the Games and a Society was formed to hold the lease.   The founding members were Rowing, Canoe/Kayak, and Water Skiing (using the south end of the lake).   Since 1993, the Kamloops Canoe and Kayak Club, the Kamloops Rowing Club, and the Kamloops Water Ski Club continue to use Shumway Lake as a water sports facility, mostly for training, and racing.

The 2000m+ section of the lake at the north end is a straight paddle south to north.

When a race is on, a number of facilities are available.

The whole area is gated so it is not open for recreational paddlers (non-members).   I once asked if I could launch there but I was told it was not open to the public.   Rather than join the club for a single day of paddling, I parked on the water ski loop area and hauled my boat down the steep, rocky bank to the water’s edge and then paddled the whole lake, a 7.8 km shoreline loop.

At the south end is another pullout with another steep bank to the water, not suitable for kayak launching or landings.

Just a few minutes farther south is Trapp Lake with a good hand launch site for recreational paddlers.   For paddlers wanting a facility at which to train, the Kamloops Canoe and Kayak Club would be a very good choice.