I took the water taxi from the campground area at the end of Clearwater Lake to the Rainbow Falls Marine Campsite on Azure Lake and paddled back to the start. In the first day, I paddled my kayak for 15.5 km to Four and a Half Mile Campground in stormy conditions. On the next morning I paddled for 5.7 km …Continue reading…
When the weather gets hot an option is to drive to the high country (4000 feet+) and paddle one of the lakes, then go for one of the hikes nearby. On this blue sky hot day, I paddled twice around Stake Lake, then hiked a snowshoe route nearby. It was an early morning start and winds are usually calm until …Continue reading…
Although Roche Lake is a fine lake to paddle, it can be a busy spot. it is one of a few “trophy lakes” for fishing and there are two campsites on the shores of the lake. It is a busy lake on weekends in the summer. In early season too, when the ice comes off, fishermen are plentiful on the …Continue reading…
I camped at Big Bar Lake Provincial Park to hike trails in the Marble Range, but I also paddled Big Bar Lake. In sunny weather I paddled 3 times, doing the whole lake (12 km), with some sections twice. With creeks running off limestone mountains, Bit Bar Lake is a marl lake with clear water shoals. There were 4 pairs …Continue reading…
Neskonlith Lake is a 40 minute drive from Kamloops. Access to the lake is through Neskonlith Provincial Park. There is a hand launch spot not far past the first campsites. I launched my kayak on a mild June day and paddled clockwise around the lake. A circuit of the whole lake is 11.5 km and that goal is best done …Continue reading…
Every year I drive the backroads (38 km) up to Red Lake and paddle the 8.5 km shoreline. Since its a popular fishing lake, I try to go early on a weekday. When I arrived at the boat launch there were only 3 other boats on the lake, a quiet paddle in the high country. There are 3 launch spots …Continue reading…
On an overcast day, I launched my kayak at the Tranquille Wildlife Management Area parking pullout and paddled out into Tranquille Bay. With no wind the skies were reflected in the calm floodwaters. There are many route choices possible during freshet, but on this day I kayaked down to Cooney Bay and back. At the mouth of Tranquille River, eagles …Continue reading…
Jacko Lake is a very popular fishing lake and since it is one of the first to be ice-free, it will be a busy place in spring before the other lakes open up. On weekends and in prime times it stays busy right up to summer. When I paddle the lake I go early in the morning and paddle around …Continue reading…
When rain is forecast we sometimes can paddle early, before the rain and wind starts. On this June day, I was on Paul Lake early and paddled up wind to the end of the lake. A mother loon had 2 babies on its back when I paddled up the lakeshore, but when I got closer, the two little ones …Continue reading…
When the weather is doubtful for paddling, we head up the Lac le Jeune Road and pick a lake on the route. Inks Lake, Jacko Lake, MConnell Lake, Lodgepole Lake, Stake Lake, Lac le Jeune, Walloper Lake, and Paska Lake offer multiple choices if rain or wind is an issue. At prime times, Jacko and McConnell are not as good …Continue reading…
When rain is forecast for the day, we can sometimes launch a kayak early and paddle for an hour or more before the weather sets in. On a grey, drizzly morning I launched my boat into Tranquille Bay and encountered a steady wind from the west so I opted to paddle in the lee of trees and small islands. On …Continue reading…
On a sunny May morning, I launched my kayak into marshy Lac du Bis and paddled the shoreline, a 3.3 km route. There was lots to see and no one else around. There were lots of ducks on the lake, including this coot. In the morning the low sun shone with filtered light into the shaded bays of the lake. …Continue reading…
Bleeker Lake is 2 km north of Roche Lake. Take the Bleeker Lake FSR and follow the bumpy backroad to the Rec Site on the north shore of the lake. there is a small campsite there and a rough boat launch. It is a popular fishing lake, but the lake is large enough for paddlers too. A circuit of the …Continue reading…
Scuitto Lake is one of our favorite lakes to paddle. There is a nice Rec site with a good boat launch on the east shore of the lake, just off the Scuitto Lake Forest Service Road. On an early May morning we paddled our kayaks out onto the lake following the shoreline in a clockwise loop. When the lake was …Continue reading…
I have driven past Napier Lake many times, but had never paddled it; the challenge was to find access to launch a boat. After a number or stops along the road, I settled on a steep grassy slope near the north end of the lake. There was a small pullout there to unload. I attached wheels to the back of …Continue reading…
When the winds kick up, we can skip paddling for the day, or we can get an early start and find a protected spot. Tow of the lakes that have some good wind protection are Inks Lake and McConnell Lake. In the spring, Inks Lake is close by and provides easy access. A loop around all 3 arms of the …Continue reading…