From the Scotch Creek Provincial Park Campground beach to the landing area on Copper Island is two km of lake paddling. This can be a busy spot for power boats so it would be best to get an early start or do the paddle in the off-season.
A sign welcomes the visitor and we can hike on a good trail around the island.
There are several viewpoints on the 2.6 km trail around the island.
We have paddled and hiked this 6.6 km route several times. A video of the experience is provided here:
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When the heat dome enveloped the Interior of BC, the forests dried out and forest fires multiplied, followed by smoky skies. The high country south of Kamloops was cooler and less smoky so ti became our “goto” destination each day. We paddled McConnell Lake, Stake Lake, Lac le Jeune, Paska Lake, Walloper Lake, Face Lake, Lodgepole Lake, and Surrey Lake and often combined a paddle with a hike. On this day, we paddled twice around Stake Lake (1 hour) and hiked for another hour on trails in the smoke haze.
There is a large marsh on the northeast end of the trail system and our hiking route went right around it.
The lodgepole pine and douglas fir forests are dry here too so we hope that this area can avoid the threat of forest fires.
There were loons, ducks, and dragonflies on the lake. On the trails were many wildflowers and pollinators, a few of which are shared here.
On a mid-July day, I launched my kayak at the Tranquille Wildlife Management Area and paddled out into Tranquille Bay. The plan was to paddle a large loop, crossing the river to the floodlands on the south side. After many days of paddling in the floodlands, I have developed routes through river channels and with the water starting to fall, I wanted to do a longer (10 km) loop. Under sunny-cloudy skies and light winds I did the 2 km crossing to the far-side channel, then turned east, upriver, winding through a maze of channels. The route goes all the way to the edge of the wastewater ponds. From there I follow a route out to the river and work my way back.
Some grey clouds were moving across Kamloops Lake as I crossed Tranquille Bay.
Cloud-filtered sunshine to the east created silver light on the river.
But blue skies over Mt. Mara looked like good weather would last for the paddle.
At the east end of the river channels some rain clouds moved in, bringing large raindrops
Geese and ducks headed for cover as I turned onto the stormy river.
Stronger winds and drifts of rain washed over the kayak as I paddled back across the river in choppy conditions.
Much of the squall hit the south side of the river and by the time I reached the north side of the floodlands some clearer skies broke through dark clouds.
The final part of the paddle emerged out of the rain showers into calmer conditions, some bluer skies, and easier paddling.
The 18 foot ocean kayak weathers wind, showers, and waves well. I have lots of experience in paddling in adverse conditions, I know and have practiced self-rescue techniquesl, I had all my safety equipment and I would have gone to ground on the shoreline if conditions were dangerous. I had my spray skirt on which kept my legs dry, but I got pretty wet on my torso and arms. Another adventure on the water.
A new video is now available on YouTube:
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In 2021 I had paddled 90 days by November 6th. There would likely be a handful more before the weather became too cold. For this day, it was 3 degrees C and there was a 10 km breeze. The sun was out at Jacko Lake for a paddle around the lakeshore.
The lower approaching-winter-sun made all views to the south glaring and bright. There was snow on Greenstone Mountain to the southwest.
I have photographed this snag quite a few times and each time I go around Jacko Lake, I swing by.
I had a GoPro on, but I only got a short clip:
Everything will be put away for the winter soon, but only for three and a half months. The ninety days of paddling were partly a result of a foot injury, the late spring heat dome, the summer fires, and Covid restrictions. Paddling seemed like a good choice for all of these.
On a cool day with little wind White Lake (near Tappen) was the destination for a paddle. It is a large lake (12 km around) and in the fall it is better to divide the lake into two separate paddles. There are two good boat launches to do this. On this day, the west end of the lake is easily accessed using a boat launch next to the Fire Hall/Community Hall. There was some local smoke from slash burning on Bastion Mountain nearby.
From the community boat launch to White Lake Provincial Park is 3.3 km. Normally I would cross the lake and return on the other side, but the south side was smoky so it was an out-and-back route instead.
The White Lake Provincial Park is at point which protects another boat launch and day use area.
From the point we can see down to the end of the lake which is still in the park.
We plan to return to paddle the east end of the lake in the spring, launching from the Provincial Park Campground. After this paddle, I chose to do the White Lake Lookout Trail. I will choose another trail to hike in the spring.
When I paddle Paul Lake I divide the lake into three sections and then with each subsequent paddle, I vary the route. From the west end of the lake there is a small hand launch site, fine for a kayak. The north shore of the lake is colorful in fall from the outlet to the campground beach, 3.6 km each way. Fog covered the hills, but the winds were light on the paddle up the lake.
Fall colors were the highlight on the route to Gibraltar Rock.
The winds died down as I rounded the bluff on my way to the campground beach area. Reflections in the water were perfect. Some blue skies started to show.
On the way back, the sun had broken through the clouds and shone on the bluff.
There were a few ducks on the lake, mostly mallards and mergansers. I spotted an osprey too.
The yellows, oranges, and reds of the lakeshore leaves is worth the trip to Paul Lake, especially the northwest shoreline. Click and image for a lightbox view and a caption.
By the end of the 7.2 km paddle, blue skies had replaced the fog. Another great day in the kayak (Day 85 of 2021).
On a mid-October cool day Red Lake was the destination paddle. It is about 45 km on gravel roads to get to the boat launch. It is about 9 km around the lake to follow the whole shoreline. The lake area was closed during the wildfire season. The Sparks Lake fire started just past the north end of the lake. The route for this day was counter-clockwise, following the east shore to the end of the lake.
The north end of the lake is marshy, but there is a channel through to the end of the lake.
The back bays are quiet, especially with no road access to some of them.
From the middle of the lake, all of the trees were black about 5 km north. This was the biggest fire in the province, extending up over the Bonaparte Plateau.
The day was partly sunny with a light wind for a cool, but enjoyable paddle in the high country.
A website page with more information is dedicated to Red Lake at this link (tbd).
Leo Island is in the West Arm of Murtle Lake. We have camped there several times. It is a marine campsite accessed by canoe or kayak only. We drove to Blue River, then up into the mountains (23 km) to the trailhead for Murtle Lake. It is a 2.5 km portage to the lagoon launch. From there it is a 14 km paddle to the island.
The island has a sandy spit with views east and west down the arm of the lake. When the sun sets the lake lights up with color.
A few photos were taken at different times on different nights. Click an image for a lightbox view and a caption.
These images were from one trip to Murtle Lake and we have made several over the years. We plan to return next year.
A video on the paddle to the west lake of Lac le Jeune:
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In the fall, I returned to Jacko Lake to paddle around the shoreline twice (8km).
The shallow bays are filled with aquatic vegetation, but it doesn’t take much surface water to glide over the masses below the surface.
This lake was busy with fishermen, but by staying close to the shoreline, I stayed out of their way.
On this website, I am developing a page of information on each lake in our area. There will be over 100 pages when done, by mid-winter. One of the first to be ready is a page on Jacko Lake. Click the link below for more information:
On the first day of fall, I drove up to Lac le Jeune in the morning and paddled the east end of the lake. There was no wind at the start and the lake water had a blue-silver glaze.
There was 3 still fishing boats with quiet electric motors on the lake, but no other paddlers and almost no ducks or geese. Loons were fishing in the middle part of the lake.
I followed the shoreline, veering around fallen trees, and seeing more ready to fall over the winter.
The marshlands on the northeast side of the lake provided some color as the reeds, rushes, and sedges lose their greens and show yellows, oranges, and a bit of reds.
I don’t choose to paddle Lac le Jeune in the summer when there are too many boats on the lake and shoreline activity includes a lot of noise. In the fall, the lake becomes quieter, especially on a cool mid-week morning.
The sun was shining through clouds and dark clouds to the east was contrasted with sunnier conditions to the west. The wind picked up near the end of this paddle, the 77th day of kayaking this year.
Lac le Jeune is one of the best paddling lakes of our area. This was my third time on the lake this year and I plan to paddle the west end and the smaller lake one more time before the weather becomes cold.
On a calm September day, I hauled my kayak down to the river near Cooney Bay. I use some wheels which attach to the back end of the boat and pull it down the pathway, lifting the boat over some logs. At this time of year the shoreline of the river is muddy so paddling boots are a good choice. It is only a short paddle from the launch beach to the lake.
I rounded the point at Cooney Bay and looked back at the morning sun, shining through scattered clouds.
I try to avoid paddling Kamloops Lake in the wind, but on this day, only a light breeze came across the lake from the southwest. I paddled around a rock bluff, then past a shingle beach.
Battle Bluff rises 324 m (1063 ft.) from the lake to the top.
contI paddled around the base of the bluff, noting the high water mark on the rock.
It is about 1 km under the cliffs to get to the west end of Battle Bluff. There are no landing spots. With some wind, the waves rebound off the rock, providing choppy conditions.
At the west end of Battle Bluff, the shoreline is series of sloped under the Fredrick Bluffs. Across the lake, the rocky hills are continuous to the benchland near Tobiano. The hill between Cherry Bluffs and Tobiano is called Roper Hill.
Battle Bluff, Dewdrop Ridge and all of the rocky slopes on the north side of the lake are built up on a series of lava flows. On the east side of Battle Bluff, basalt columns rise above the shoreline, an older lava flow than the rocky hills above.
In Cooney Bay, pelicans were feeding by the mouth of Tranquille River. The flock was settled on a sandbar up the river, but small numbers of pelicans flew down to feed where the river met the lake.
Kamloops Lake is a favorite place to paddle, but the road in is potholed, the haul to the river is hard work, and winds on the lake can be difficult. Still, I try to get onto the lake when I can. In this particular day, I paddled about 8 km in fine conditions.
Clearwater Lake is one of my favorite lakes to paddle and so I paddle some part of it every year. Over the years, we have paddled the entire lake quite a few times and we have stayed in every marine campground on both shores. Last year I paddled Azure and Clearwater Lakes. With the heat, smoke, and difficult conditions this year, I did not get to the lakeshore until September. We camped at Falls Creek and launched our boats in the early afternoon.
Normally we would want to paddle the lake in the morning when the winds are usually light, but there was little wind at the start so we took a chance and paddled up the lake. 
Both shores are forested and sometimes steep. We followed the east side up the lake with the goal of getting into the main part of the lake where there are views toward the northern mountains.
The winds whipped up blowing from the northwest making progress difficult. After paddling into a headwind for half an hour, we turned around and returned down the shoreline.
From the boat launch to the widening of Clearwater Lake just past Diver’s Bluff is about 7 km. We did not get that far on this day, but that will be the goal for the next time. 
The lake narrows at the south end, continuing to Osprey Falls, but we landed at the boat launch this time, completing about 9 km of paddling.
We will be back to paddle and camp on Clearwater Lake for as long as we can.
Near the first day of fall, Hyas Lake was the planned paddle. It is 13 km up into the hills from Pinantan at 1237 m (4060 ft). The boat launch is at the Hyas Lake Recreation Site, at the end of the Hyas Lake Forest Service Road. There are 5 small campsites there, adjacent to the Hyas Lake Fishing Camp.
On a calm morning, I paddled around the shoreline of the lake, a 4.3 km paddle.
To the north Shaw Hill at 5200 feet rises above lake. We have hiked to the top, coming up backroads from the Heffley Lake area. There were many potholes in the roads, but it is accessible to most vehicles, but in shoulder season, it may be best to have a 4x 4.
Hyas Lake is a beautiful clear lake with marl shoals and a forested shoreline, a fine spot to paddle in the off-season.
We have also walked/hiked the backroads in the area and hope to connect a loop route after some more exploration.
