Heffley Lake is one of the best lakes for paddling in the Kamloops area from ice-off to the end of the season, but it is even better to pick a day when it is not full of power boats. In shoulder season and on weekdays, the lake is fairly quiet and it is long enough to accommodate a lot of boats.
The boat launch is at the east end and the route to the main body of the lake passes by two small islands and a point before it opens up. Anyone who wants to paddle the whole lake, including all the bays, will cover 13 km which will take about 2.5 to 3 hours.
Almost all of the south shore is forested. The north shore has a number of homes overlooking the lake, under the slopes of Mt. Embleton. The far west end has a marshy area with few homes but it is the quietest part of the lake. The east end of the lake is the busiest area so we enjoy paddling all the way to the far end, paddling down one shoreline and coming back by the other.
On our way to Paul Lake Provincial Park or Pinantan Lake, we drive past the shores of Louis Lake. The lake is too shallow for swimming or fishing and it is too small and shallow for a bigger boat, but it is just right for a stand-up paddleboard outing.
There is a small pullout to drive down to the reedy lakeshore, but the grass makes an easy launch spot. The paddle around the shoreline is 3.2 km.
It is shallow all the way around the shoreline. The water was clear so small creatures could be seen below. Ducks dabbled on the lake and there was a chorus of toads in the marshy areas.
We kayak the larger lakes but smaller ones like Louis Lake are perfect for a morning of cruising on the paddleboard.
There is a big difference between paddling Paul Lake on a quiet day as compared to a busy weekend in the summer. On this sunny day in April, loons were calling across the lake. Kingfishers flew from tree to tree, chittering as they followed the shoreline. A great blue heron slowly worked its way along the lake to a new perch. Fish were jumping with the choronomid hatch. And two quiet kayakers paddled along the shoreline.
The first day in the kayak in 2016 was in February and the next 5 weeks was paddling in the rivers. Once the ice is off the lower lakes, we look to paddle them, but the first ones to thaw are smaller lakes like Jocko and Six Mile and they are full of fishermen too, so we wait for Paul Lake, Neskonlith Lake, then Heffley Lake and paddle each of those 2-3 times while the upper lakes thaw. Paul Lake is one the best lakes to paddle all year, offering good access, a longer paddle (12.2 km around), and great scenery. The best launch spot is at the Park beach.
The east end of the lake has some shallower areas, but these are no problem for a kayak.
Every year we see trees angled out over the lake as the roots become weaker where the shoreline erodes away from winter storms and power boat wash/waves. They lean, then fall in a winter storm.
The narrow spot of the lake is at Gibraltar Rock which stands dramatically over the lake.
Steady paddling around the whole shoreline is a 2 to 2.5 hour workout, depending on fitness and wind conditions. The best time to paddle Paul Lake is early in the morning or on weekdays when the power boats aren’t on the lake. We return to the lake a few times each year, along with Heffley Lake and Lac le Jeune, our favorite local lakes.
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Trapp Lake is a long narrow lake right on Highway 5A. It is surrounded by hills and rangelands, though there is some Crown land too. It is not known as a fishing lake, nor does it see much recreational use. There is a good hand launch spot for paddlers a short distance off the highway (at N50 27.931 W120 16.246).
We can go around the lake in either direction, but it will depend on the wind. On this day early in the morning the lake was calm and the reflections off the hills were displayed in the lake’s surface.
It was almost a shame to paddle since the movement of the boat sent ripples into the reflections.
The grasslands stretch up the hillsides in both directions.
The water quality of the lake is not the best and there can be an algae bloom on the lake mid-summer, but in fall it is a quiet, cool, muddy lake down in the bottom of the valley.
Paddling down one shore to the end and back up the other in a long loop is a 10.4 km paddle. The highway traffic is the drawback, but on a weekday morning the number of vehicles was comparatively low and I just tuned out the noise. In its own unique way, Trapp Lake is another beautiful spot in our area.
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My first day of paddling in 2016 was February 24th. The last day will be in December 9th, albeit the last 3 weeks will be in the Southern Hemisphere. November is still a fine month for paddling on the rivers in Kamloops.
Glimpse Lake is in the forest at the upper edge of the Douglas Lake grasslands. To get to the lake, turn onto the Douglas Lake Road at Nicola Lake and climb through the ranchlands for 7 km, then turn left onto the Lauder Road. Follow the Lauder Road for 16 km as it passes the Lauder Ranch and a section of the Nicola Lake Indian Reserve. At the starting edge of the lake at a cattleguard, a signed sideroad goes into Glimpse Lake Southwest Rec Site. It is a shady site with 8 campsites and a shallow shoreline.
The main road goes around to the north side of the lake and there is a good public boat launch for fishermen (electric motors only) and paddlers. There is also an open-forested recreation site (Glimpse Lake North) farther along the road with 17 campsites.
Paddlers can hand launch at either Rec Site, but the main boat launch is a good one and a better choice for both parking, launching, and landing. The paddle around the shoreline is about 6 km.
There are extensive shallows in the lake and in fall, the lake was down a couple of feet so paddlers have to be careful to stay out of the reeds, milfoil, and mud. The lake is popular with fishermen so it is best to pick non-prime times to visit the lake. A sign at the boat launch states that 12 000 Pennask rainbow trout were stocked in the lake.
The paddle around Glimpse Lake is a peaceful retreat off-season and a good choice for canoes or kayaks. In addition, the drive up the Lauder Road is a scenic one. The Charles Beaks cabin is passed not far above the Nicola River.
The Lauder Road climbs up through the open grasslands of the Douglas Plateau.
It is possible to return by backroads past Peterhope Lake too, but bring a current topo map and/or a GPS to navigate that route. I chose to backtrack, taking the time to enjoy the views along the way.
Surrey and Sussex Lake lie near to the Surrey Summit (1444 m /4738 feet) on the Coquihalla Highway, but the access route is off the Logan Lake Road. Going west towards Logan Lake for 7 km, we turn left onto the Surrey Lake Forest Service Road and follow the road up the hill for 6.9 km until it passes under the Coquihalla. Watch for a Surrey Lake Fishing Resort sign and turn right onto that sideroad. At 1.3 km, the Resort is reached, but look for another side road going to the right. This narrow road follows the western shoreline of Surrey Lake and beyond to Sussex Lake.
I found 3 spots to park and hand launch on the side of Surrey Lake. Paddlers could also ask to launch at the Resort which would involve a small day-use fee. The shoreline paddle is 4.6 km, including the shallow bay on the northeast side of the lake.
In fall this lake was very quiet. The cool morning temperatures left a few lingering mists, but there were some ducks in the shallow bays. There are a small handful of cabins on the lake in addition to the fishing resort, but no one was stirring on this day. Most of the shoreline is treed and even through there has been extensive logging in the area, most of the cut blocks are not visible from the lakes, except on one side of remote Sussex Lake.
The road continues over to Sussex Lake, but it is narrow and rough 0.6km to the Sussex Lake Rec Site. Bring an axe or chainsaw for any fallen trees. From Google Earth, there appears to be another route through a cutblock to the west that will be fine for an ATV, but I did not try to bring the truck on the track.
The Rec Site sits on the banks of the lake. There is a room for a few campers there, an outhouse and some user-made fire rings. A small hand launch area makes easy unloading. The paddle around the lake was 3.2km. There are no cabins at Sussex Lake; its just a nice high country spot for fishing or paddling.
After paddling the two lakes (7.8km), I came back down the FSR and stopped at Desmond Lake, visible from the Coquihalla. This small, marshy lake would be better suited to a paddleboard in the spring when it is full (1.7km around the shoreline).
Near Surrey and Sussex Lakes are more lakes – Frogmoore (a favorite), Bob Lake, and Mildred Lake, more spots for exploration in the High Country.
Isobel Lake is a fine destination for a short hike or to camp at the redeveloped Rec Site. Fishing is now restricted to youth, in this small, shallow lake stocked with rainbow trout. All around the shoreline is quite shallow, but the middle of the lake is up to 25 feet deep. For paddlers, the lake is only 2.5km around the perimeter, but it makes a quiet SUP choice for a cool fall day. I parked and launched at the boat launch area on the northeast corner of the lake.
In a counter-clockwise loop, we pass a fishing dock, added for youth and seniors. We then pass the Forest Inn, an outdoor shelter area for group use. The west end is very shallow and surrounded by bullrushes and reeds. The south shore has a number of small islands and logs to paddle around. On the eastern shoreline, we can paddle around the island in a narrow and shallow passage through the bullrushes.
Shallow water and pond growth extends far out into the bays around the lake. Fall colors were emerging and three islands are passed on the SUP loop around the lake.
In the summer this can be a busy place and on some days school groups come over from nearby McQueen Lake. On this last visit early in the morning, mist was still on the lake and there was no one around, with a few ducks on the lake to keep me company.
At the end of September and into the first days of October, we went into Murtle Lake for 4 days, paddling into the west arm.
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From Blue River we drove up the narrow Murtle FSR for 27 km to the parking area. The parking lot is well-laid out and has information boards and an outhouse. The portage in is 2.5 km and takes about 1.25 hours. The Park Operator was working on the track and so it was a bit rough, but we appreciated the maintenance being done on the bridges, the parking area, the launch area and the portage path.
I used a kayak cart, but I could see that a canoe cart (with bigger wheels) would be better for a longer kayak and a bigger load. Its still a good workout to get in to Murtle (and back out is harder after paddling). Paddlers can rent a cart at Blue River or pick it up at the lake.
From the end of the track, we launched our loaded kayaks into Murtle Lagoon. At the west end of the lagoon Snookwa Creek enters the lagoon, draining the southern slopes and the Stevens Lakes up in Indian Valley. The distance through the lagoon is 1.6km. There are two campgrounds right at entrance into the lake and we have stayed there before right next to the sandy beach. This is a good choice if conditions are windy on arrival. Paddlers either head north or west from this point. The first campsite on the way north is Strait Creek, a wonderful spot.
This time we pointed our kayaks to the northwest with no winds to slow us down. Our route passed Sandy Point Campground at 5.4 km. The Wavy Range dominated views to the east.
At 8.9 km we passed the point where the Park Operator’s cabin sits looking over the lake. By going in straight line, we saved some distance and Fairyslipper Island was passed at 11.2 km. There are 4 West Arm campgrounds not far past the island – Leo Island, Birch Beach, Cottonwood, and Tropicana. We paddled down the middle of the lake and found Leo Island unoccupied so we landed and set up a base camp for the duration of this trip, a first day total of 13 km of paddling.
Leo Island has 3 designated fire rings with room for 2-4 tents at each. There is also a bear-proof food cache and an outhouse. The operator had left some sections of windfallen trees for firewood. The beaches are sandy and the water is clear and clean, especially in the fall.
A sandy spit reaches out south from the campsite, but there is another sandspit on the other side too. When I hiked the Central Mountain Trail on another trip, I could see the sand bars on either side extending toward the shoreline of the lake.
north side spit
Nearby are 3 alternate campsites:
Cottonwood Campsite (0.6k m north)
Birch Beach (1.0 km northeast)
Tropicana (1.3km west)
Any of these sites will make a good basecamp for paddling and exploration of the west arm (more information on where to go in the next story).
Pass Lake is located on the Lac du Bois Road about 2.5km past the McQueen Lake-Isobel Lake turn-off. Access is through the Pass Lake Rec Site. There are 13 camping spots at this fishing lake and a good boat launch
This is a small lake and I used the SUP to do a 2.5km loop around the lake. Lakes with a perimeter of 2-4 km are just right for the board, leaving larger lakes to the kayak.
The shoreline is shallow but the water is about 30′ deep for much of the middle section of the lake.
At the west end of the lake is a former Agriculture Canada Field Research Station. This was established in 1886, at first as part of a federal forest fire lookout station, but later was made part of the Ag Canada Station in Brocklehurst which then was closed by the Conservative Government in 2013. The land is currently leased to local ranchers. When I paddled by, it was actively being used.
Beyond Pass Lake the road continues and becomes the Sawmill Lake Forest Service Road going into the high country near Saul Lake, Tranquille Lake, and beyond to Criss Creek. Another branch heads over the O’Connor Road to Mt. Hyde and back to Westsyde.
This is a popular campsite fishing spot so paddlers are advised to pick less busy times to paddle the small lake. On an early morning in September, there were no boats of the lake in an hour of quiet paddling.
We have hiked and biked around Stump Lake, but paddling the lake eluded us because of frequent strong winds. I resolved to get onto the lake early in the morning before the winds came up, so I set out to paddle as much of the lake as I could. To paddle the whole lake perimeter is about 19 km, a long stretch of paddling, but too long if the wind rises up. The winds did come, but I managed to complete 14 km of paddling first.
The best launch spot is midway along the west shore where there is a designated rest area.
Some of the shoreline has homes, but most of the southern shoreline has wetlands in the riparian zone and grasslands rising above.
On this early morning with some wind, there were no boats on the lake and little activity on the shoreline.
As the winds rose, I tucked into the more sheltered bays on the east shore, working my way south into the winds. The shoreline paddle heading north was much quicker with a tailwind.
The north end of the lake will be another day of paddling. Most of the larger lakes are done in 2 or more days, always watching the wind forecast.
Sailboarders and kitesurfers head to Stump Lake on a windy day, but paddlers have to watch for the wind forecast which comes out the day before. The north end of the lake will wait until next year now.
“The winds will blow their own freshness into you and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves. As age comes on, one source of enjoyment after another is closed, but nature’s sources never fail.” (John Muir)
The Interlakes Area of Highway 24 has many lakes to paddle and explore. Birch Lake is found west of McDonald Summit (4300 feet) on the Nehaliston Plateau just east of Lac des Roches. The turn off the highway is signed as Phinetta Lake. It goes south to the Opax Mountain Resort which owns the campsite/launch area at Birch Lake. Paddlers can stop here to pay the modest ($10) launch fee. There was also a self-registration deposit system at the lake office. The road goes down towards Phinetta Lake, then turns right where anarrow rough road leads us to the shores of Birch Lake.
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The Birch Lake Fish Camp has a nice boat launch in a scenic location.
Birch Lake sits in a basin surrounded by forested hills. The there are some shallow bays and one rocky island.
The lake was calm with blue sky and fluffy clouds. The birch trees were starting to turn color on the western shores.
The paddle around the perimeter of the lake is 7.5 km. This is a pleasant spot for paddlers. On the way out, I stopped to look at Phinetta Lake and decided it would be better for a SUP with its smaller size (along with nearby Goose Lake). The Phinetta Road continues on for 6km to the upper end of the Eakin Creek Valley offering an alternate route back east, coming out on Highway 24 highway at the bottom of the Big Hill.
There are a lot of rec sites next to lakes in the area. For anyone who loves to paddle, there are enough lakes within an hour’s drive of Interlakes to keep us paddling every day for a couple of weeks (at least) – Lac des Roches, Phinetta Lake, Latremouille Lake, Crystal Lake, Sheridan Lake, Deka Lake, Sulphurous Lake, Lynn Lake, Wavey Lake, Sheridan Lake, Hathaway Lake, Drewry Lake, Needa Lake, Eagan Lake, Bonaparte Lake, Caverhill Lake, Akehurst Lake, Bridge Lake, Janice Lake, Emar Lakes Circuit, and many more.
Up to now, I have not attempted to bring the long kayak to paddle the smaller lakes, but with the addition of a stand-up paddleboard, smaller lakes like Lac du Bois, Pass Lake, and Isobel Lake are now on “the list” of lakes to be paddled.
The best launch spot is at the southeast corner of the lake. Following the shoreline around the circuit is 3.3 km.
The long finger of land that sticks out into the lake is an esker, a winding gravelly moraine, formed by a stream running underneath a glacier as it retreated.
The lake is too muddy and shallow for fish. It is more like a large lagoon with riparian growth around the shoreline. I found a large turtle shell just above the northern shore and I have spotted muskrats swimming in the lake, along with ducks. We could see a number of pond creatures swimming below the board. Grasslands surround the lake on the north and east sides and a forested hill flanks the west side.
When I paddled around the lake, there was no one around except for a few ducks on the lake. The leaves were just starting to change color.
We have hiked past the shoreline of the lake many times, but this was my first time on the lake itself. Shooting photos from the SUP was a bit of challenge. I didn’t want to fall off the board into the cool, muddy lake so the steps of framing the picture, adjusting settings, focusing, and reviewing was hit-and-miss at best. I suspect kneeling or sitting will be required to get the photos I want.
The original goal was to paddle 50 lakes, but with the SUP now available, many smaller lakes are now on the long list bringing it to more than 100 lakes.
On a morning day with winds predicted to pick up in the afternoon, I headed south to Stump Lake to paddle for a couple of hours, but the winds were already strong by 9:00 in the morning so I had a backup plan ready – to paddle Peterhope Lake instead. Just past the end of Stump Lake is the Peterhope Lake Road. This is a good gravel road and the lake is 7.5 km up the hill. At the end of the lake is the popular North Peterhope Lake Rec Site. There are two good boat launches, easy access for paddlers.
The lake has a few reedy bays to explore. The north end is not used by fishermen since it is tooshallow. The dam for the lake is at the northernmost end. At the southwest corner is a narrow channel to a smaller lake, shallow but suitable for canoes or kayaks.
There are some homes along the east and west shores, but it was a quiet spot on a weekday in September. The distance around the lake, including the shallow areas was 6.75 km.
The campsite is a nice one with trailer access so it will be a busy spot on a weekend. We try to avoid paddling at busy fishing times so a weekday or off season would be a good time to choose to explore Peterhope Lake.
On the way back past Stump Lake, the skies were clearing, offering nice views down the lake.
I stopped at the lakeshore to look out over the lake. Its always windy on Stump Lake.
The plan is to paddle the north half of Stump one day and the south half another day, but windy days have been thwarting my plans. Or maybe I should try a different activity?
After years of kayaking, I decided to give Stand Up Paddleboarding a shot. The previous attempt had been on Kauai, where I was thrown around by the surf. Without instruction or practice, I was launched a few times and ended the whole experience discouraged and unsure about SUP.
One of the attractions for me is the simplicity of set-up. Hauling around an 18.5 foot kayak is always a lot of work, but once I am in the boat, I am happy to paddle for hours and the seaworthy kayak handles wind and waves well. On the other hand, going for a quick paddle on a smaller lake with a paddleboard is a tempting alternative.
I decided to take a lesson before buying a board. I called up PaddleSurfit at Heffley Lake and opted for a one-hour private lesson. I arrived and Bodie gave me the introduction and we were soon on the lake. Shaky at first, with Bodie’s guidance I found the right stance and my balance point, but my paddling was awkward and ineffective, except for going around in circles. I was guided in steps to the correct position and stroke, although it will take many hours of practice to make it natural and automatic.
By the end of the lesson, I was hooked. The next step was to get a paddleboard. From my research, there are no used ones in sight. New ones range in price from $700 to $2000, but I won’t be racing, doing yoga, or surfing so I chose a long (14′) touring paddleboard. Then there will be lots of hours of practice. Watch for me on a local lake.
The boat launch is at the east end and the route to the main body of the lake passes by two small islands and a point before it opens up. Anyone who wants to paddle the whole lake, including all the bays, will cover 13 km which will take about 2.5 to 3 hours.
Almost all of the south shore is forested. The north shore has a number of homes overlooking the lake, under the slopes of Mt. Embleton. The far west end has a marshy area with few homes but it is the quietest part of the lake. The east end of the lake is the busiest area so we enjoy paddling all the way to the far end, paddling down one shoreline and coming back by the other.
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