In mid-April I returned to Trapp Lake for a second day of paddling, this time with a loop on the north end of the lake. Winds were light and the temperatures were moderate.
Some video footage was taken with a 360 camera and mixed with mp4 video and photographs into a YouTube video:
Trapp Lake is a favorite spring paddling destination. No other boats, good launch access, and interesting scenery. The only drawback is the noise from a series of trucks on the highway (maybe I should bring headphones next time). All photos by the author. Click an image for a lightbox view.
On a calm spring day, Stump Lake called. There were lots of fishermen at the lake and the boat launches were packed so I went to a rocky hand launch spot at the north end of the lake. This is a less interesting area with highway on the west side and homes along the north shore, so I opted for a loop route around the middle-northern half of the lake.
There were lots of ducks and geese on the lake and a few fishing boats, but it is a large lake, so it was a quiet paddle on a fine spring day. All photos by the author. Click and image for a lightbox view and a caption.
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Some moments of paddling on Stump Lake (and a hike there on the same day) are captured in this YouTube video:
Shumway Lake is the home of the Kamloops Canoe and Kayak Club and Kamloops Rowing Club and it has a well-developed facility with high performance and recreational programs for all ages. Since it is a private facility only members can park and launch at the facility. It is possible to haul a boat down the bank and launch into the lake at other spots, but it is difficult and so public paddlers rarely kayak on the lake. It is a great lake to paddle since there are no fishing boats nor power boats (unless there is a scheduled training session or a race).
I parked outside the gate on the south side and hauled my 18 foot kayak down the rocky bank and scrambled in for a paddle up the lake and back. There is some irony here (see the note below)
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On a mid-April day there were no paddlers on the lake, but there was lots of ducks, geese, an eagle, magpies, loons, and grasslands birds to keep me company.
It was difficult to haul the boat back up the bank so I may not be back again this year.
Note – In 1989 I accepted the volunteer position with the 1993 Canada Games Society as the Vice President of Sport. Canoeing and kayaking were 2 of 18 sports and we worked to develop a paddling center in Kamloops. After an early false start, we finally settled on Shumway Lake. Later I moved to the staff position of Manager of Sports and Operations and I was the primary person involved in planning and building the facility (including engineering, course installation, temporary facilities and storage, contracting construction, purchasing equipment, coordination transport of rowing shells, purchasing kayaks and canoes from Poland, budgets, coordinating services, and negotiating with a wide number of agencies and interested parties. We worked with Rowing, Canoeing, and Water Skiing to form a society to oversee the after-Games use of the facility, then helped with the lease of the property. We gave all the boats to the Clubs. After the Games the Clubs occupied the site and built up further permanent facilities and developed programs which are still running today. For the 2011 Western Canada Games, I ended up as General Manager and we helped Canoeing, and Rowing with additional funding to replace the underwater course and additional facilities for the Games. From 1989 to 2012 I spent a lot of time supporting canoeing, kayaking, and rowing in Kamloops, but from the background, then I retired and spent much of my time paddling on my own. I observed the paddlers and rowers from afar and only rarely visit Shumway Lake.
In early April, the ice was off the lower elevation lakes, but windy days limited reasonable padding conditions. On a cool morning with a steady wind out of the south, I drove to Trapp Lake and launched out into the lake and paddled south, into the wind.
The sheltered coves were still blocked in with ice, but the lake was fine for paddling. There were lots of birds – eagles, ducks (mallards and barrows golden eye), osprey, hawks, geese, magpies, a meadowlark, and some smaller birds in the trees. It is a lake that is seldom kayaked, but it has good access off a side road and a paddle around the whole shoreline is 10 km. I usually paddle the lake twice each year. Some video of the paddle is included here:
Information on paddling Trapp Lake and other lakes in the area can be found on the Kamloops Area Paddling Lakes page. (Menu > On the Lakes > Trapp Lake)
In the early days of April, mornings are still cool (-2 to +2) and winds start late morning so the best time to paddle is mid-morning. It was all quiet at the Valleyview Boat Launch, but the river was very low, so the 18 foot kayak had to be hefted down to the rocky shoreline.
A light breeze from the west meant bundling up. A full dry suit and a spray skirt make the paddling comfortable.
There were lots of birds on and around the river – an eagle, swans, geese, ducks, crows, magpies, and seagulls were active below the noisy city. It was a paddle upriver-and-back day, building fitness for the season ahead. The next paddle should be on one of the larger lakes in the valley bottom, but with cool days it will have to be a day with little wind.
One of our best paddling outings is a circuit around Lac le Jeune. Interactive points of interest are embedded in the map below with photos, links, and other information.
In early March we can paddle the rivers or the large lakes in the bottom of the valley. On a sunny morning I paddled downstream from Pioneer Park, under the Red Bridge, under the Train Bridge, through the Confluence of the two rivers, under the Overlander Bridge, and under/around the old Black Bridge before turning around close to Rabbit Island.
On the way back up the Thompson River to the Confluence and past Riverside Park, then upstream on the South Thompson River, the same 3.5 bridges were passed. No one else was on the water, but there were geese, ducks, crows, magpies, and seagulls on the river or the rivershore.
A YouTube video captures some of the paddling moments:
It should be noted that I wear a full dry suit and have all the safety gear and for anyone to go on the river without adequate preparation for cold water risks is not advised.
The first day of kayaking for 2022 was March 2. In 2023, colder weather kept ice on the river and when it started to break up cold winds prohibited comfortable paddling. By March 12, we had signs of spring coming and on March 14 the winds were about 10 km out of the east. Boat launch gates were still locked so getting to the water was more challenging, but can be done at a couple of spots. In this case, there is a new concrete boat launch ramp at Pioneer Park so that was the location for the first paddle of the year.
The launch was easy, wearing a dry suit and neoprene boots for cold-water protection. The paddle upstream was slower with a headwind and a current.
The first few paddles will all be on the river – upstream, downstream, and at other launch spots. All efforts will de dependent on the winds each day.
A short video features some of the moments on the river:
I have paddled over 100 lakes in the area. Some have easy access, some have longer drives, some are accessed by rougher roads, and some have difficult access. When it comes to rough roads and difficult access, the issues are wear and tear on the truck, risks of getting stuck, and difficulty of access to the lake. There are a number of lakes that I have done once or twice, but I am reluctant to repeat the journey. There are a few lakes that I just haven’t done because of road and shoreline access issues. There are a couple of roads that are driveable, but not with an 18 foot kayak on top. So, I can limit the lakes I do, or I can use another solution.
One solution is to hike into lakes with a portable kayak (inflatable or foldable) to paddle the lake. To that end, I have a foldable kayak, the Oru Bay.
In 2023 there are a number of lakes that will be hiked to, then paddled:
Roche Lake Provincial Park – Black Lake, John Frank Lake, Ernest Lake, Bulman Lake, and Frisken Lake
Surrey Lake Area – Frogmoore Lakes, Bob Lake, Helmer Lakes
Monte Hills Area – Pratt Lake, Todd Lake, Blackwell Lake
Lac le Jeune Area – Fred Lake, Ridge Lake
Greenstone Mountain – Chuwhels Lake, Dairy Lakes
Lac du Bois – Long Lake, Griffin Lake, Noble Lake, Clay Lake, …
Knouff Lake – Little Knouff Lake, Orchard Lake
Bonaparte Plateau – Whitewood Lake, Windy Lake, Alder Lake
Neskonlith – Sun Peaks – Amphitheater Lake, Skmana Lake, Dennis Lake
Highway 24 – many small lakes
Pimainus Area – many smaller lakes
Hyas Lake area – some smaller lakes
And others….
All photos taken by the author. Click an image for a lightbox view and a caption.
Long Lake
Frogmoore Lake
Orchard Lake
Chuwhels Lake
Ernest Lake
Fred Lake
Adler Lake
Blackwell Lake
Griffin Lake
Each day will be a hike to the lake, a paddle around the lake (possibly twice) and a hike back out. What could be more fun?
When the weather threatens rain, wind, and afternoon storms, Stake Lake is on of three lakes I paddle for an early morning kayaking workout. This July morning was calm, great for doing loops around the lake.
A short video shares a few moments on the water:
Stake Lake is a go-to destination for paddling, hiking, cross country skiing, and snowshoeing over 12 months.
The ice is clear of the river for enough to go out for some early season paddling, but we have to ask ourselves, “Should we?”
The considerations are keeping warm and staying safe.
Keeping Warm:
A closed shell kayak is warmer than an open shell (ie Pelican or sit-on-top). Legs are out of the wind and cold. A full spray skirt can be used to keep the lower half warm and dry.
A full paddling jacket or dry suit is needed for cold winds.
There are several types of gloves, and some are designed for colder weather. Pogies (an overglove) can be used if it is windy, but do we want to paddle in cold temperatures and winds?
Getting in and out of the water may mean wet feet. Full neoprene boots are recommended.
Staying Safe:
I have seen paddlers out in open cockpit kayaks with no evidence of safety equipment. I always want to ask them – “What’s your plan if you flip?”
Immersing in cold water may result in shock, which affects your breathing and your ability to think
In cold water I always use a full dry suit.
Without a dry suit, your chance of survival is lessened.
The safest plan is to stick very close to shore and if you flip, get out and immediately swim to shore, with or without the boat.
I always have a paddle float on top of the boat. I know how to use it and have practiced many times. I can be back in the boat in a minute. It will be too cold to bail water (it takes time) so I would paddle to shore and tip the water out onshore.
Inflatable paddle floats are of little use in cold water. Accessing them and inflating them takes time and hypothermia comes quickly.
Getting back into a flipped kayak is hard and it is even harder in cold water. Survival is an issue in cold water.
Wearing a spray skirt means getting it off underwater. Always have the pull tab in the right position and practice self-rescues.
I always wear a PFD, even in warm water. I feel it is my responsibility to set a good example.
Even if you can get back into your boat, you will have to deal with hypothermia. Are you prepared?
Even if you have a dry suit, a PFD, neoprene boots, a paddle float and you know how to do self-rescue, you are still at risk for surviving a cold-water immersion. It might be best to wait for warmer conditions.
As the paddling season wound down, some of the lakes and rivers were paddled for a final time (or two). Jacko Lake (along with Edith and Stake Lakes) is a “go to” spot for paddling each year, and for good reason. Access is good (but a bumpy road), there is lots of room to launch and park, the lake is surrounded by grasslands, there are always lots of birds by the lake, it is close to town, and the lake has a number of shallow bays, suitable for paddling but too shallow for fishermen. A paddle around the lake is 4.4 km, taking about 52 -55 minutes (per loop).
By summer the lake has become more shallow (evaporation and draw down) and aquatic vegetation fills the shallow bays so the paddling loop is farther from the shoreline.
There are some shallow arms/bays to explore that are usually occupied by ducks and muskrats,
On a calm and sunny day, Jacko Lake is a perfect place for a rhythmic quiet paddle in the Kamloops area.
On a windy day, paddling on any open body of water is not easy and less enjoyable, but we can paddle a short loop on smaller protected lakes. Usually i pick MCConnell, Stake, or Inks Lakes and do one or two loops around the lake, depending on the strength of the winds. If I find the winds too strong, I sometimes do one loop, then I secure the boat and go for a hike. When I arrived at Stake the winds were reasonable (10 – 15 km), but by the end of the lake they had picked up.
I picked a loop on the Stake Lake trails and kept my eye out for wildflowers, birds, and wildlife. Lupines were in full bloom at the side of the trail.
After a month of rain, the ponds were all full. The protected spot was out of the wind and provided reflections of the trees nearby.
I skirted the edge of several marshes and was pleased to find some green bog orchids starting to bloom.
This larger marsh was overflowing and all the low lands were flooded,
Common red paintbrush was also in full bloom at various locations by the trails.
In winter, we strike off the snowshoeing trails to cross the marshes, but on this day, I hiked right around the marsh in a large loop and then back to Stake Lake.
We are lucky to have a trails and a lake where we can paddle and hike on a windy day.
As the snows melt in the mountains, freshet will swell the South Thompson and North Thompson Rivers and the Thompson River will flood the lands near Kamloops Lake. From the start of June through the first week of July we can launch our boats near Tranquille and paddle various routes through the bays and channels.
In early stages, grasses and logs rise above the water.
As the floodwaters rise, there are more routes to paddle between the Airport and Cooney Bay.
On days with little wind, reflections onto the floodwaters give the area a dreamy effect.
Longer routes can be paddled of up to 11 km, but most days we paddle between 5 and 8 km, choosing an eclectic route through the channels:
I paddle some lakes every year and Badger Lake is one of them. On this early summer day I drove past Knouff Lake and followed the potholed forest service road to the Badger Lake Recreation Site boat launch.
The launch spot by the campground was often full with awkward launching and poor parking, so a new parking area and boat launch was added south of the Rec site.
I launched the kayak and paddled clockwise around the lake (6 km).
There is a narrow passage into the back lake that can only be used by a canoe or kayak. Sometimes there are some obstacles, but they usually be floated away. There is another passage on the north end that small fishing boats use out and back. I entered at the south end and paddled around the hidden bay, then exited through the north end.
The winds died down leaving me with a perfect day to paddle a quiet lake in the backcountry.
Some video footage was taken with a 360 camera and mixed with mp4 video and photographs into a YouTube video:
