Cooney Bay can be a busy place on Easter Weekend with fishermen, dog-walkers, hikers, and families parking at the end of the road past Tranquille, and walking out to the gravel beaches where the Tranquille River meets Kamloops Lake.   Getting an 18′ kayak out to the shoreline isn’t easy with a number of logs to get across, but with some rear wheels and some extra effort, the kayak was ready for launching from the muddy beach.   The route was around the point where quite a few fishermen had lines in the water.    A wind out of the east created some chop, but once the kayak was in Cooney Bay, it was calm.   Loons were actively diving in the bay.

Following the scenic shoreline is the safest route out to Battle Bluff.   The route out to the far end of Battle Bluff and back is 7.2 km.

Along the way, swallows were swooping over the water, ducks, and geese were along the shoreline, and crows and magpies flew along the beaches.   A headless small hawk floated in the water.   Coming back around the Battle Bluff point, a river otter rounded the corner then dove below the kayak.   An eagle circled above.   Bighorn sheep sat on the hill watching the show.

The winds were forecast to pick up by late morning so I turned around and followed the shoreline back to the landing spot.   This is a favorite route.   On a less windy day, a good route is to cross the lake (if you have a seaworthy boat with a rudder) and come back by the south shoreline.

More information:

• Kamloops Lake
• Kamloops Lake Loop