Category Archives: Kayaking

On Paul Lake

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Although the ice on Paul Lake started to disappear on April 6th, colder weather delayed the first paddle on the lake to April 19th.   The main park gate stays closed until mid-May so I drove to the west end of the lake and used the hand launch there.   I paddled up the lake to the campground, crossed to the south shoreline, and then paddled back, a total of 7.6 km.

There was no wind at the start and the sun was still in the east as I paddled up the lake.

Ducks were nesting in small bays near logs as I continued up the lake.

There were barrows golden-eyes, mallards, ducks, geese, and  on the lake.

I crossed the lake near the campground and found that there was now a 10 km wind out of the west for the paddle back.

Gibraltar Rock is the main feature of the lake.

At the trailhead/launch area an osprey was staking out a nest for the spring.

I plan to return to Paul Lake to do a loop on the east side, launching from the beach area.      Although I have paddled the whole lake in one outing, it is over 12 km so most years I complete the lake in two separate days.

 

On Inks Lake

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Inks Lake is a small, muddy lake close to town.   I enjoy paddling on the lake in spring, usually doing 2 loops, a total of 4.9 km.   There are two back channels, one of which is hidden behind a hill.  It is rare to see another boat on the lake, but there are many ducks, geese, and shoreline birds to enjoy.

There were some blackbirds on the back channels

A narrow channel connects the main lake to the two back channels.

There were lots of ducks on the lake, including this male mallard.

The back channel is a good spot to paddle on a windy day.

There were lots of Barrow’s golden eye ducks on the lake.

The Inks Lakes are just one more paddling destination among about 100 in the area.   A list of the upcoming spots to be paddled are noted in a widget on the sidebar.

On Jacko Lake

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I paddled Jacko Lake on a sunny morning, taking some photos.

On the lake were many ducks, many of them Barrow’s golden eyes.

I paddled the 5 km shoreline.

Yellow-headed blackbirds were perched on cattails.

Overhead, sandhill cranes flew north.

Coots dabbled near the bullrushes.

I spotted two marmots on the shoreline.

There were a number of fishermen on the lake, but I stayed close to the shoreline and paddled my own pace, just enjoying the lake.

Jacko lake is one of my favorites so I will return for another paddle later in the spring.

On Trapp Lake

Kamloops Kayak Posted on by

I padded Trapp Lake on April 12th.   It is a personal favorite with the only drawback of the highway traffic.   It has good parking, a good hand launch and provides scenic paddling.    It is best to go in the morning before the late morning winds start.

Along the eastern shoreline there was some wildlife, like this coyote:

Farther along was a herd of deer.

There were thousands of ducks, some geese, an eagle, killdeer, some marsh wrens, and some blackbirds.

I particularly like the north end of the lake.

A paddle of the perimeter of the lake is 8 km, a good 2 hour effort.

At this time of year, there is good paddling on Trapp, Stump, and Nicola Lake.   The higher lakes will become ice-free soon.

 

Battle Bluff by Kayak

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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:

Spring into the River

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The first paddle of 2017 waited for the snow and ice melt and landed on the first day of spring.    The river is low, but t is still easy to launch from Pioneer Park.    Since the water is still cold, we try for a dry launch, keeping feet out of the water.    Its not so easy to do that on the landing.    The river was calm for paddling slowly upstream to Valleyview.

There were ducks (mallards and mergansers) and geese on the water.   Sheltered spots still had some snow or ice.   Banks that are covered in water for much of the year were exposed.    Very little colour was on the trees and shrubs except for the faded reds of red ossier dogwood and some faded yellows of willows on the banks.  The reflections of Mt. Paul and Mt. Peter and Paul Ridge reflected on unrippled water.

The paddle up to the end of the Gregson Trail at Vicars Road and back is only 7 km, but a good start to the paddling season.

In most years we can easily get about 8 months of paddling.  We start on the river then go to the larger lakes once the ice disappears, then the high country lakes, then sections of the river again.   In the summer and early fall we travel to the ocean and some destination paddling-camping trips.    We return back to the river in late fall for final few paddles before it gets too cold.   One down and sixty more to go…..

Emar Lakes Circuit

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Emar Lakes Park was created in 1996 as a wilderness area of small lakes, potholes, and wet areas in a forested area off Highway 24.  The lakes are used by fishermen, but there is also a lake chain loop with portages for canoeists and kayakers.   Access is from Janice Lake Recreation Site or from Willowgrouse Recreation Site.  The trails/portages are mostly user maintained and have become difficult with windfall.   To do the loop counter-clockwise, paddlers would have to do the following:

  • launch at Janice Lake (link to an article) at N51 29.457 W120 24.410
  • paddle 1.5km to the landing spot (at N50 29.115 W120 25.090)
  • portage for 1030 metres to Club Lake (past Next Lake)
  • paddle to the end of Club Lake (780m)
  • portage 100m to Boulder Lake
  • paddle across Boulder Lake (400m)
  • portage 400m to Willowgrouse Lake
  • option to paddle Willowgrouse Lake (670m) then portage out the campsite (500m) or
  • paddle across Willowgrouse following the loop (230m)
  • portage 150m to Emar Lake
  • paddle across Emar Lake (1.2 km)
  • portage 450m to a pothole lake then 100m into Sedge Lake (or push through to Dytiscid Lake)
  • paddle across Sedge Lake (220m)
  • portage 700m to the end of Janice Lake
  • paddle to the start (400m)

 

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All of the trails are currently closed with windfall and danger trees on the route.   Hopefully Parks can find some funding or perhaps volunteer user groups can help keep the routes open (count me in)?   A BC Parks map is included here and more information can also be found on the Parks website (link).

 

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Flat Lake Canoe Route

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The chain of lakes from Davis Lake to Flat Lake would best be done in the spring while there is still lots of water in the channels between the lakes and before the mosquitoes hatch.   The start is on Davis Lake, 20 km southwest of 100 Mile House.   The chain is usually done in one to three day trips.   All of the portages are short, but are not well-marked.

 

 

 

 

 

 

It would be best to scout the route out and that will be my intention.   A one-day trip with a small kayak, a round-trip of about 10 km with 3 portages each way is planned.

With this sort of adventure it is the portages that are the issue.   Two people with a good packing system can carry a canoe much more easily than kayakers can manage.   A small 10 foot kayak will slip over the shoulder with a padded shoulder insert to allow carrying for short distances.   I also have a SUP sling-carry system I will be trying out.   Two people can also carry one kayak and then come back for the other, but kayaks are more awkward than canoes for portaging.   .

The route to the end and back is 12 portages, but split into two days this can be done.

Flat Lake Provincial Park is mostly undeveloped but has rocky islets, bogs, marshes, riparian and aquatic vegetation, ducks, and a variety of birds including loons, herons, as well as beavers and muskrats.

Because it is fairly inaccessible except by canoe and portaging, it offers paddlers a chance to experience wild wetlands firsthand.

Watch for an article in the spring…

Moose Valley Canoe Route

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Moose Valley is located 22 km west of 100 Mile House, accessed by the Gustafson Lake Road.   The Moose Valley Access Road turns off and follows the chain of lakes to a campsite on Marks Lake.   The road does continue onto the end of Maitland Lake, but it is a rougher section.    Paddlers can start at either lake and work their way southeast to Canoe Lake.

Although all of the portages are short, they are not suitable for canoe or kayak carts.   Each boat will have to be carried to the next lake, pond, or waterway.   In spring, though, there is more water between the lakes allowing for paddling through wetlands or hand-lining in shallow areas.  There is one rocky portage near the Beaverlodge Lakes.

At the southeast end of the chain, the route goes from Long Lake to Moose Lake to Canoe Lake in a loop.   From the south end of Canoe Lake, there is a portage out to an access road for a second vehicle pick-up.


The lakes are shallow and don’t make great fishing.   After June 1st, mosquitoes are likely.   After August 1st the wetlands will be drier meadows so the ideal time would be in May.   Options include camping at Marks Lake and going right through in a long day or paddling part way through the chain and camping at rough campsites on Canoe Lake or Long Lake.   Another option is to go out and back in a day.

The through route is only 7.5 km end-to-end from Marks Lake to the portage out to the Gustafson Lake Road.   The advantage of doing it all in a day (or camping at the trailhead and doing it all in a day) is that the canoes or kayaks can go through the chain unloaded, making the portages much easier.

The right time to do this route is in May or early June to have higher water levels, low mosquito populations, relatively warm conditions, and spring birds and ducks along the way.    We haven’t done this route yet, but its on our list for this year.

More information:

 

End of the Kayak Season

Kamloops Kayak Posted on by

We started paddling in the latter part of February and continued through to mid-November, but we are putting all the boats away for the winter now.   Some video footage of late paddles on the river, some more videos, and features on some local lakes will be posted over the winter::

Paul Lake in October

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By October, there are very few other boats on Paul Lake, but the water in the lake is still warm and if the day is not windy, paddling is still a good activity.   Conditions usually don’t become too cold until mid-November.

002The easiest launch is from the beach at the provincial park.   A loop around the whole lake (article) is about 12.5 km.

paul-lakeOn this paddling day, silvery light on the east end of the lake greeted me.   For paddlers, the light on the water is part of the scenery.

img_1614The sun tried to break through the haze at the marshy east end of the lake.

img_1615The south side of the lake has forested steep slopes.   A breeze moved the kayak down the lake toward Gibraltar Rock.

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It is always best to check the wind forecast before heading out.   As the winds picked up, the day’s paddle was shortened to about half the lake.   A few more outings in the kayak will end the season so each day on the water is valued.   We may get to do the other end of the lake before the end of fall….

More information:

Building a Better Kayak

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We were fortunate to be given a tour of the production facility for Delta Kayaks in Maple Ridge and see the latest innovations in design.   The owner talked to us about how the kayaks have evolved over the years.   I had a 2006 Delta kayak and the new ones have a number of improvements.

“Its v-shaped hull, pronounced chine and moderate rocker offer paddlers a smooth transition to edge and impressive tracking. It features our Press-Lock hatch system, multi-position Contour II Seat System, front deck Day-Pod, dual-density soft grip handles and innovative bungee risers.”

  • Hatch covers improvements were welcome since neoprene breaks down over time and rigging can’t always hold the plastic covers in place snugly.
  • I recently replaced a seat in one of my kayaks.   I find the Delta seat to be very comfortable, but the ability to adjust it is also very welcome.
  • Strong handles are important for portaging, but also for everyday hauling.   The new handles are longer and reinforced at both ends.
  • A day pod is a small hatch in front of the cockpit.   I had one on another boat and it was a good place to put small items or a small
  • An 18.5 foot plastic high capacity kayak is great for storage, but it is harder to lift, portage, transport, and store.
  • The whole issue of portaging is important.  If we put a very long, flexible kayak on a tiny kayak cart, we are asking for flex-caused damaged.   The 18.5 footer will be repaired and restored, but a good rule of thumb would be to use a larger radius tire cart, a set of rear wheels or pick a stiffer boat for challenging portages (like Bowron Lakes).
  • The new 17 foot performance touring boat is 22.5″ across the beam which will make it faster through the water.
  • I have found the Delta to have a roomy cockpit, a comfortable seat, and great handling so I hope to test run the new 17′ at some point in the spring.

 

Plastic Portage Problems

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Portaging a kayak is always a challenge.   If the track is flat and smooth, the small kayak carts work fine, especially with a light kayak.   We have done a number of portages with relative ease, but we also had one hard portage when our cart had a flat tire on Murtle Lake.

We did the full Bowron Lake Circuit and were challenged by many of the portages.   The long (18.5 feet) plastic kayak was broken in 4 places getting through the portages.   Some thoughts on the challenges of plastic portage problems are offered here.

Weight Problems

  • Light kayaks are easier to pull and are less prone to damage.
  • One of the ways to reduce the weight is to go light – freeze dried food. small stoves, no fluids.
  • Another way to minimize weight is to use large portage bags to empty the boat and carry the weight on your back.
  • With a large portage bag, the kayaker can either hike the bag through, then jog back or she/he can wear the bag and pull the boat

 

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Structural Problems

  • Some kayaks are just not designed to be pulled with a load along a portage track.  Rings are usually inserted into the top of the hull, but if the construction is light, they can pull out.   I pulled out both the front and the back on the Bowron Lakes.
  • A long plastic boat will have some flex and if the track is very rough (as per Bowron Portage #2 and #4), the front and back end of the kayak will “wow” and can develop cracks at the stress points, right at the edge of the kayak cart.  Two hull cracks let in water for which we did a backcountry repair.   We used Crazy Glue (thanks to Ian), kevlar tape (thanks to Bob), and duct tape (thanks to Shiraz).

 

Poor Portage Tracks

  • Although we liked some of the Bowron portages, we found some of them very difficult for a kayak.
  • Some were narrow and rough, hard to get a kayak around.
  • Portage #1 was long and had a lot of elevation gains.   This was hard, but reasonable.
  • Portage #2 was terrible.  The track from Kibee Lake to Indianpoint Lake has steep sections, is very rough, has muddy sections, and obstacles that the kayak must be pulled over (then dropped, where the damage occurs).   This is not a credit to BC Parks.   This section is embarrassingly bad and broke my kayak 3 times.
  • Portage # 4-5 was more than terrible.   It was awful.   There are two  portages from Isaac Lake down to McLeary Lake and the last one is rocky, rough, steep, and kayak-damaging.   This portage needs a total redesign.

 

Cart Problems

  • The kayak carts sold to kayakers are fine for shorter, groomed cart tracks, but are unsuitable for rougher, longer tracks.   Canoe carts have bigger wheels and go over the obstacles more easily.   The larger carts are a biut harder to load onto the backs of the kayaks though.
  • We used the puncture-proof tires and these are safer than the air-filled tires, but they are a little harder to pull over obstacles.
  • To avoid the bowing problems of plastic kayaks, back wheels can be used to support the back end of the kayak.
    Unfortunately, the wheels have small, hard tires and also don’t clear the obstacles easily.   Nevertheless, we will bring them next time we do the Bowrons to avoid the bowing kayaks and damage problems.
  • Pulling the kayaks isn’t easy.   Kayak manufacturers don’t design boats with good pull systems.

 

Repair Issues

  • In the backcountry repair is not easy.   We used Crazy Glue (recommended), kevlar tape, and duct tape.
  • What is your plan if the boat can’t be paddled?   The Bowron route is backcountry and very remote.
  • Redamaging the boat is an issue so emptying the boat is recommended.

 

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We like the Bowron Lakes, but we will only return when we can resolve the portage issues.

 

 

New Explorations

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Recently completed paddling explorations will result in new reports to  the website:

  • Dunn Lake (Sept. 4)
  • Bleeker Lake (Sept. 9)
  • Ross Moore Lake (late September)
  • Little Knouff Lake (late September)

 

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Locations, paddled again:

  • Neskonlith Lake (October)
  • Cooney Bay to Battle Bluff (Sept. 21)

 

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Upcoming, after paddling these locations:

  • Bowron Lakes
  • Anstey Arm
  • Missezula Lake
  • Chapperon Lake
  • Painted Bluffs
  • North Thompson River

 

Only lakes, rivers, and Coast routes that are actually paddled are added to this website.

Stump Lake panor

Some Paddling Gems

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Kayakers know the favorite local lakes for a good day of paddling.   Heffley Lake, Neskonlith Lake, Lac le Jeune, Paul Lake, Johnson Lake, Badger Lake, Stake Lake, Walloper Lake, McConnell Lake, and more.   There are a few lesser-know lakes that are are paddling gems too.

  • Snohoosh Lake
  • Hummamilt Lake
  • Ross Moore Lake
  • Sussex Lake
  • Courtenay Lake
  • Frogmoore Lakes
  • Janice Lake
  • Hihium Lake
  • Mayson Lake

 

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The harder they are to get to, the more likely it is less developed and there will be less users on any given day.   Overdeveloped lakes have long shorelines of private homes and have a number of power boats or personal watercraft.    Most of the lakes listed are in remote or unpopulated areas.

Articles to most of these can be found on the Kamloops Area Lakes page.  The list of lakes to be explored yet includes Latremouille Lake, Big Bar Lake, Meadow Lake, Vidette Lake, Saul Lake, Tranquille Lake, Saskum Lake, and a few more….

 

Monck Park on Nicola Lake

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Nicola Lake offers kayakers days of paddling, but it is a windy lake so checking the wind forecasts is recommended.   Since the lake is too big to paddle the entire shoreline in one day (or even two), we can pick one area for a shoreline exploration of a loop route.   One of the best launch spots is at Monck Provincial … Continue reading →