Category Archives: On the Lakes

Paddling Trapp Lake in April

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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)

 

Pack-Into Small Lakes

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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.

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?

 

Reflections: Paddling Stake Lake in Summer

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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.

 

 

Reflections – Fall Mornings on Jacko Lake

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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.

Reflections – A Windbreak on Stake

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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.

Reflections: Badger Lake in Early Summer

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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.

Another great day at Badger Lake…

Reflections: A Jacko Lake Summer Paddle

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On a warm summer day I drove to Jacko Lake for an early paddle around the lake.    there was a light wind on the lake and a few fishermen were already on the water.

Jacko Lake is a favorite, one I usually paddle 3 or 4 times each year.    It is close to town, it is scenic, and there is lots of room at the parking area, at the boat launch, and on the lake.

I snowshoed to the lake last winter and will return again in 2023.   We are fortunate to have such a nice spot so close to town.   A huge mine adjacent to the lake would have ruined it.

 

Reflections: McConnell Lake Paddle and Hike

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On a cloudy summer day the plan was for a “duathlon” – a paddle around McConnell Lake followed by a hike around the lake.

McConnell Lake boat launch

 

It was an early start and there was only one other boat on the lake.

On McConnell Lake

 

The paddle around the lake was 3 km.   After securing the boat, and changing to hiking shoes, the hike around the lake was 3.5 km.

Similar paddle and hike combinations are part of the summer routine.   Other locations include Stake Lake, Lac le Jeune, Paul Lake, Isobel Lake, McQueen Lake, and Roche Lake.

 

Reflections – Nicola Lake from Monck Park

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We camped at Monck Park and paddled Nicola Lake.    It can be a windy lake, but it can usually be paddled in the mornings.

monck-pano-1brOn this trip we paddled down the lake twice and up the lake once.    The shoreline south of the campground is more interesting.

monck-paddle

There are a number of rocky bluffs overlooking the lake and bays to explore.

img_6712r

Although we have paddled out across the lake, it is best to check the forecast first.    It is a big, windy lake and rough water can be found in the afternoons.

img_6710rOur favorite part of the lake is the north end, accessed from a pullout on Highway 5A.

More Information:

  • Nicola Lake North
  • A page will be developed then published over the winter proving general information on Nicola Lake.

 

Campbell Lake and Scuitto Lake

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Over the winter of 2022 – 2023, new pages will be added to the website with each page providing specific information (a summary guide) on the chosen lake.   Featured in this post are Campbell Lake and Scuitto Lake.

New pages were also added for these lakes – Heffley, Bleeker, community, Face, Glimpse, Isobel, Lac du Bois, Jacko, Little Shuswap, McGillivray, Lodgepole, Paska, Pat, Paul, Pillar, Pinantan, Red, Roche, Ross Moore, Stump, Sullivan, Surrey, Trapp, Tunkwa, Walloper Lake, and others.

See you on the water in March…

 

 

 

Paddling Desmond Lake

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Your first question will probably be. “Where’s Desmond Lake?”

You have probably spotted it from the Coquihalla Highway as you climb the hill toward Surrey Summit.    It lies below on the west side, a shallow, marshy lake on the Surrey Lake FSR.   There is no launch and only marshy, muddy shoreline.   A paddle around the shoreline is 2.2 km.

Much of the lake was shallow, but there were some marl shoals too, providing some clear water.    Two loons fished on the lake in the deep area on the east side.  Ducks and ducklings scuttled off as I paddled the shoreline.

It is probably rare for anyone to put a boat on this marshy lake:

I doubt I will paddle this one again, but I’m happy to have done it once…

 

Jacko Lake at the End of October

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By the end of October morning temperatures were cooler so monitoring forecasts for wind speeds is important.    Water temperatures take much longer to cool so as long as we dress appropriately, it is warm inside the kayak.    There were fishermen on the water on this cool fall morning.


Paddling around the lake, going into all the bays, takes just under an hour.

The morning sun was low on the horizon, filling the eastern skies.

Click an image for a lightbox view.

Paddling season is winding down now, but there prime fall days will resonate for weeks to come.

Reflections – On Scuitto Lake

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On a mid-October sunny morning, we paddled Scuitto Lake.   The lake levels had dropped quite a lot since spring from both evaporation and draw-down, but it was still a fine place to fish or paddle.

Early in the morning there was only one boat on the lake.    More fishermen arrived later.    All of them seemed to have some success on this fall day.

There is one larger island and two smaller ones.    One of the islands is completely below water in spring.    Along part of the southwestern side of the lake are a number of standing stumps.    In spring, swallows nest in holes in them.

Some of the stumps and roots would fit into a sculpture exhibit.

A page on Scuitto Lake will be developed over winter.   For now, we can reflect back to lakes we have paddled this year.