The Shuswap River rises high in the Monashee Range on the west side of the Monashee Divide behind Mt. Begbie, Blanket Mountain, and the Greenbush Basin. It flows south into Sugar Lake, and south then west towards Lumby. At Shuswap Falls, it turns north and continues until it flows into Mabel Lake. Twenty five kilometres north, the river flows out … Continue reading…
This site feels prehistoric, other-worldy, unique. The combination of shapes and colors makes this a very special place. Its quite close to home, but hard to get to. Route Choice One – Go past Savona and turn onto the Sabiston Creek Road. Follow it to the Copper Creek Road and descend towards the lake. You will come to private property. … Continue reading…
The Kamloops area is blessed to have so many lakes and rivers. Paddling the rivers is always great because they are close and there are a number of good access points, and 150 km of river paddling within an hour’s drive, but paddlers will always face going upstream for half the journey unless they can use some kind of a … Continue reading…
Our two rivers run through the heart of the city, natural wilderness corridors, watery trails complete with wildlife. On the river today, dead salmon floated along or lay on the beach, crows, magpies, and seagulls scoured for scraps, gaggles of geese clustered in bays, ducks dove for aquatics, a bear foraged for fish on the shore, all while cars, trains, … Continue reading…
Rabbit Island sits out in the middle of the Thompson River not too far away from McArthur Island. Deer overwinter on the island, boaters land here in the summer, and an occasional camper sets up a tent on the island. The island shrinks from the middle of May to the middle of June. In late fall to early spring, it … Continue reading…
Community Lake is known as an excellent fishing lake in the high country. A 10-site BC Forest Service Recreation site on the southwest corner gives good boat launch access. For the paddler, this is a pleasant spot. There are many small islands and some bays to explore. By following the shoreline and touring around islands, about 2.5 km of paddling … Continue reading…
Tunkwa is a mecca for fishermen, quads, motorcycles, and for camping, but is not known for hiking, biking, or paddling. The hike around either (or both lakes) is very pleasant. Starting at the trailhead between the lakes (at the end of the campground) trails can be followed, although the meadows can be buggy in the early summer. In the summer, … Continue reading…
Although I have only been to Stevens Lakes once, I hope to get back there again soon. It can be done in one long day, but it also takes some preparation. I was lucky enough to have hired a fishing guide who took us in for the day. I remember the long back road route, then the long hike in. … Continue reading…
Every year we paddle Kamloops Lake and are surprised to see so few boats. Its mostly a problem of access. Any boat can travel downstream from Kamloops, but motorized boats have to be careful of the sandbars all the way down. It is too far for canoes or kayaks to go all the way down or go back up, so … Continue reading…
Every year we paddle Lac le Jeune. The far shore is quiet and forested. There is an extensive marsh in the northeast corner which can be partly paddled. Blackbirds nest there in the spring and the air is alive with their calls. There are water lilies at the far east corner which bloom in July. Loons fish the lake and … Continue reading…
Paddling out from McArthur Island in high water means paddling vigorously upsteam, but it is quite doable, even past the confluence of the rivers and beyond. On the way back downstream, the route was down the north side of Rabbit Island. In winter and early spring, it is possible to wade over to the island in no more than knee-deep … Continue reading…
The thought of paddling in Okanagan Lake brings up images of hundreds of power boats, seadoos, waterskiers, fishing boats, and party boats. If you get too close to Kelowna, that is what you might experience. But the North Okanagan is better, especially if you get out to paddle in the morning. After lunch, it is busier everywhere, but the big … Continue reading…
A long, but very rewarding paddle is to start at the McLure Ferry Boat Launch (either side) and paddle to Kamloops. This is a long day paddle and there are several options for landings. If time is an issue, a good spot is to land at the end of Harrington Road (by the Dunes Golf Course). There are a number … Continue reading…
This hike is on an island. For most of us, we have to use a boat from the Scotch Creek Campground, but access is also available from other points, including Blind Bay. The best place to dock/beach is on the east side on a small gravel beach. This is also the trailhead for the hike. It is about 3km of … Continue reading…
This is a paddling spot that few people know, partly because it is mostly invisible from roads and partly because it can only be paddled at high water. Put your boat into the water at any of the river access points off Banks Road. We went down from the end of Cooper Place, but there are several launch spots in … Continue reading…
When you live in the Kamloops area, you have to paddle on the rivers or the lakes. Both rivers are great but loop routes are not as easy when you have to paddle upstream. Lakes offer an out and back choice and a good launch site and lots to see are what we want when choosing a paddling spot. One … Continue reading…
