McQueen Lake is not paddled very often, mostly because of poor access. To get to a reasonable launch spot requires hauling the boat to the shoreline where there is a break in the bullrushes. Once on the lake, though, it is a very nice 2.7 km paddle around the marshy shoreline.
I paddled around the lake twice, once in each direction:
All of the lakes of the area would be busy on a Sunday morning, but on McQueen Lake, there was one person only, along with the loons, ducks, geese, blackbirds, marsh wrens, painted turtles, and a muskrat.
On a calm end-of-May morning, I launched my kayak in Pinantan Lake.
The goal was to paddle up the marsh channel toward the upper lake. I had hauled my boat over the beaver dam in the past to get onto the smaller lake, but on another occasion (in summer), it was too difficult. My thinking was that it would be easier in spring when the lakes and channels were full of water.
I got out of the boat, wading in the channel, and then hauled the boat over the barrier and got back into the kayak. At that point I noticed a possible way to portage around the dam.
I did the portage on the way back and it was much easier. It is on the east side of the channel in a small side bay. The weather was calm for the paddle back around the main lake. Later in the day a thunder shower burst into the area so I was pleased to have gotten out early before the storm.
On a mid-May morning I launched my kayak into Neskonlith Lake in calm conditions.
I paddled around the east end of the lake and up the shoreline, then back around the rocky island to the launch area.
On the previous year I had paddled the other end of the lake. A paddle around the whole lake is 11.6 km. By the end of this day’s paddle some light rain was falling and there were some winds. Most of the video clips were taken before the rains:
It was very quiet on the lake on the last day of the long weekend. This is another favorite lake for an annual paddle.
Louis Lake lies in the valley between Mount Fleet and the Paul Lake Ridge (I call it Louis Ridge). The western end of the lake is shallow and as the lake levels fall and the reeds, rushes, and aquatic plants grow in summer, it becomes impassible for a canoe or kayak. But in the spring we can paddle the whole lake. There is a hand launch area on the northeast end of the lake across from the Paul Lake Transfer Station. Two loops around the lake is 8 km.
It would be rare to see another boat on the lake, but there is a stream of vehicles going by on the Paul – Pinantan Road. On this day there many ducks on the lake and one pair of loons.
All of the lakes are now open for paddling so there will be a different lake for each paddling day until later in the fall.
In mid-May there was wind every day, but on this mid-week day, the wind ranged from calm to gusty so I picked a smaller lake to paddle.
I paddled twice around Isobel Lake, once in each direction, a total of 5 km.
When I started there was no one else on the lake. A few campers were set up at the east end of the lake and there was a school class at one of the docks doing pond studies. Otherwise, it was quiet with only the sound of blackbirds, ducks, frogs, and the wind.
The lake becomes weedy in summer so spring is a good time to paddle there, before the crowds, and when all is quiet. Some video clips follow:
On a calm spring morning I traveled west to paddle Barnes Lake near Ashcroft.
From Ashcroft, the road to Logan Lake climbs the hill. At about 8 km, the Barnes Lake Road goes past Willard Lake and along the shoreline of Barnes Lake. There are 3 camping areas each with a boat launch spot.
The paddle around the lakeshore is about 4 km. After a quiet paddle around the lake, I hiked into the hills and along the ridge that stands above Ashcroft.
Barnes Lake is a peaceful and scenic spot to visit, one I will be sure to return to.
On a cool (2 degrees) spring day I headed up to Stake Lake to paddle at 4350 feet. There was a bit of snow on the shoreline and there was a steady breeze out of the northwest. It hailed near the end, after paddling twice around the lake:
At higher elevations it had snowed overnight (in May) and rain and wind were forecast, so a lake close to town made the most sense for a morning of paddling. The road to Edith Lake was muddy. A few campers were at the lakeside campsite and 4 boats were on the lake as I launched among active blackbirds at the marshy shoreline.
There was a large chironomid hatch so there were hundreds of birds feeding on all parts of the lake. The flies were so numerous that I was pelted when I paddled into the wind. Many birds swooped acrobatically over the lake and the shore area.
Two loops around the lake is about 7 km, a good workout in the kayak. The winds picked up on the way back and it rained later in the day, but I was grateful for an opportunity to paddle with the birds on a spring day.
On a mild spring day I drove up to Pat Lake in the Six Mile Hills. It is a popular spot for fishing in the early season so I arrived early then paddled along the shoreline.
Two loops of the lake (one in each direction) is only 4 km so I hiked around the lake too.
The sounds of blackbirds, ducks, geese, loons, frogs, songbirds, and wind is best captured with video:
This is a favorite lake to paddle and a favorite area to hike, always worth the drive up into the hills.
On a breezy morning I paddled Trapp Lake. There were lots of ducks and geese and the trucks kept roaring by on the west side of the lake, but it was otherwise quiet.
A steady 10-15 km wind from the south made paddling upwind more work, but when I turned back, it was easy kayaking. In all the years of paddling Trapp Lake, I have only seen one other boat.
On a calm spring day it was time to haul the 18 foot kayak down to the rivershore at Cooney Bay and launch out onto the lake.
The plan was to paddle around the point and into Cooney Bay, then along the shoreline past Battle Bluff, then cross the lake and return by the other shore, stopping to enjoy various highlights along the way.
the stone bridge (arch)
the stone bridge (arch)
Kamloops Lake
under the arch
calm on the lake
immature bald eagle
bighorns on the ridge
This was an 11 km paddle taking about 2 hours. A video was complied of the journey.
More paddling is planned for Kamloops Lake in the upcoming months.
On a sunny and calm spring day I launched my kayak from the west end of Paul Lake and paddled east past Gibraltar Rock to the campground, then crossed the lake and returned on the other side of the lake, a 7 km outing. Ducks and geese were along the shoreline areas and an osprey flew overhead.
With such a windy start of the year’s paddling, it was great to have a calm and sunny day for a morning paddle.
We can launch from the beach area of the campground too, a good spot to paddle the east end of the lake (link).
In mid-April I paddled the Inks Lakes, paddling twice around the main lake and two back arms. The lake was quiet, but there were hundreds of ducks on the lake. Geese, lesser yellowlegs, killdeer, crows, a bald eagle, and sandhill cranes were spotted. All photos taken while paddling. Click an image for a lightbox view and caption.
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The Inks Lakes are small and the lakeshore is muddy, but it is a great place to paddle among the birds in spring.
One of the first lakes in the hills to be ice-free is Jacko Lake. Since it is also a popular hike for fishermen, avoid peak times to paddle the lake. The Jacko Lake Road is an extension of the Inks Lake Road. It has been a rough road, but it has been improved by the Trans Mountain Pipeline Project staff. Nevertheless it is still a high clearance road.
With little wind and a dozen fishermen, I paddled around the lake twice (8 km if you paddle the bays too).
Jacko is a favorite to paddle so I will be back again soon.
We try to get our kayaks in the water in the river as soon as enough ice and snow melts to allow us easy access to launch and land. Our first choice is Pioneer Park. In early March when the gate to the boat launch is still locked, we have to transport our kayaks on wheels down to the river shore, and on our first launch, we had to pull the boat over layers of ice to get to the open water. In later paddling sessions, we were able to use the boat launch to unload and launch. When we ready the kayak for a paddle, there are no other boats in sight, but dog walkers are common. We launch and paddle upstream or downstream, alternating, but adjusting to wind conditions too.
The most common route is to paddle upstream first. It is 1.6 km to the Yellowhead Bridge. There is some faster water in the big S-turn east of the bridge. Turn-around spots vary according to the length of the paddle session planned and on wind conditions. We paddle up for somewhere from 40 – 80 minutes then turn back downstream.
On a sunny day, the sun glares down as I paddle upstream, reflecting in the river.
On a day with no wind, the going is slower upstream, about 3.5 km per hour, but much faster downstream.
When the wind blows from the west, the paddle downstream can be slow too.
We also paddle down to the Confluence then west on the Thompson River and back upstream. If we want a harder workout, we paddle up the North Thompson river and back.
Some Early season Paddling Tips:
The water is cold so either a dry entry or good boots helps to keep the feet warm.
to stay warm , we use a spray skirt, a paddling jacket, and paddling gloves.
If there is a cold wind, we usually wait for a better day.
Paddle close to the shoreline. If you capsize, it will be better to go to the shoreline than to try a wet, cold self-rescue.
I paddled around the east end of the lake and up the shoreline, then back around the rocky island to the launch area.
