Category Archives: On the Water

Paddling routes…

On Murtle Lake

Kamloops Kayak Posted on by

In mid-September we drove to Blue River, then followed the Murtle Lake Forest Service Road to the end of the road.   We loaded our gear into portage packs and into the kayaks and fastened the boats to kayak carts, then portaged 2.5 km to the Murtle Lagoon.   At the launch, we reloaded the hatches and paddled west.   The original plan was to turn north and paddle 8.5 km up to the Strait Creek Campground.   On Day 2 we would hike to Wavy Crest Peak.   On Days 2 – 5 we would paddle down the west arm and back.   Smoke was forecast to arrive on Day 2, so we abandoned the hike and paddled west first.

With a 3 hour drive followed by loading the boats and packs, then a 1.5 hour portage, we got a later start and paddled through the lagoon out to Murtle Lake.   At the mouth of the lagoon are two campsites, each on a beach.  We had a 10 km headwind and some cloudy-smoky skies.

It takes about an hour to paddle across the wide bay/space to Sandy Point.    On our right was, the Wavy Range (part of the Cariboo Mountains) rises above Strait Lake and the north arm of Murtle Lake.

With windy conditions and some in the paddling group struggling with a longer paddle, it took 3 hours to get to the area near Leo Island.    We knew the lake well from having paddled it several times.   We had planned to camp in one of the 5 campgrounds in the area.   Some were full so we picked one that had lots of space.   We landed at Birch Beach and set up camp.

The sun lasted to about dinner time before disappearing behind clouds and smoke.

On the second day, we paddled to the west and explored the lake (another post to come).   The smoke continued to worsen by the end of the second day so we decided to paddle out on the third day.   The sun could be seen through the smoke in the morning.

We paddled east to Fairyslipper Island on a calm day.

This small island has golden sand beaches so I stopped to explore it.

The paddle back to the Lagoon only took 2 hours in calm conditions.    We left Ladyslipper Island and paddled across two wide bays to the lagoon.

Getting the loading done right, balancing of the boat on the cart, the ties done properly, and using a good portage pack can make the portage much easier.   We passed a number of people struggling with too much weight in the boat, ties coming loose, and the challenging pull.    We had been in to Murtle Lake quite a few times so we have established some practices that help us (article).

It was unfortunate that the smoke came in, but we had enjoyable paddling on the lake and so we will return again.

More Information:

 

 

Paddling the West Shore of Nicola Lake

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Nicola is a large, windy, and busy lake so we paddle it at strategic times.    There are 3 launch areas on the east shore of the lake and of the three, we enjoy the north end of the lake the most.   Another fine paddling area is along the west shoreline, south from Monck Park.   There are several launch spots in the park.   We chose one on a small beach at the southern edge of the campground.

Over 3 days we paddled the shoreline and on one afternoon we had a calm waters, with a textured sky above.

To the north of Monck Park are a series of homes along the shoreline.   There were a number of personal watercraft and larger power boats in that area, with the usual noise and wakes, okay for a few minutes, but not peaceful.

There are no homes on the steep shoreline to the south of Monck.   Open hilly slopes rise above the lake and there were few other boats in that area.

Rocky bluffs rise up from the lake at various points.

After the last bluff, a large bay leads to the Harmon Estates development, a good place to turn around, but this route still providing a 10 km paddle.

An osprey watched over the lake as I paddled by.

Rising above the west shore of Nicola Lake are rocky bluffs on an unnamed mountain.  Although there are no trails to the top, it would appear we could hike up to the northeast side of the mountain and traverse to the top of the cliffs.   That will be another day.

On the way out and back were a number of birds – a loon, spotted sandpapers, a bald eagle, a merganser, a kingfisher, a woodpecker, butterflies and dragonflies, and some small forest birds, all keeping me company along the shoreline.

 

 

On Jacko Lake in the Summer

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I paddle the river early in the season, then as the ice comes off the lakes, I paddle the lower lakes like Jacko Lake, Paul Lake, Pat Lake, and Trapp Lake.   As the weather warms I do a circuit of lakes which usually includes Stump Lake, Roche lake, Bleeker Lake, Scuitto Lake, Campbell Lake, Lac le Jeune, Stake Lake, Pass Lake, McConnell Lake, Walloper Lake, Paska Lake, Surrey Lake, Niskonith Lake, McGillivray Lake, Heffley Lake, Nicola Lake, Badger Lake, Knouff Lake, Pinantan Lake, Peterhope Lake, Glimpse Lake, East Barriere Lake, White Lake, Little Shuswap Lake, Red Lake, Shumway Lake, and others.   there are another large number of smaller lakes that I paddle once in a while.   A complete map of area lakes with links to articles can be found here (Kamloops Area Paddling Spots).

There are some lakes that I do more often, mostly because they are easy to get to and don’t have power boats or too many fishermen.   Stake Lake, Lac le Jeune, and Jacko Lake see many return visits.    Jacko Lake is a 4.2 km paddle around the shoreline and I usually do the lake twice for a longer workout.   An early morning start on a weekday is the best choice for Jacko since it is a popular fishing spot.

On a calm morning the golden hills reflect in the still waters of the lake.

Jacko Lake is fed and is drained by Peterson Creek.   It is surrounded by ranchlands.

A calm day on Jacko is like gliding through a painting….

I will paddle Jacko three times this year.  If I only had three lakes to paddle, Jacko, Stake, and Scuitto would be my choices.

 

 

Azure Lake and Clearwater Lake

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I took the water taxi from the campground area at the end of Clearwater Lake to the Rainbow Falls Marine Campsite on Azure Lake and paddled back to the start.    In the  first day, I paddled  my kayak for 15.5 km to Four and a Half Mile Campground in stormy conditions.    On the next morning I paddled for 5.7 km to the end of the lake, then down the Azure – Clearwater River for 3 km to Clearwater Lake.

Paddling down the Clearwater River is relatively easy, avoiding shallow gravel shoals on the east side and deadheads and sweepers on the west side.   The middle of the main channel is the best choice.

Once on the main lake, experienced paddlers go down either shoreline, not down the middle of the lake.   The choice depends on the direction of the wind and which campsites may be the end point for the day.   The western shoreline is a bit shorter with smaller bays.  From the north end of the lake to the narrow neck of the lake at Diver’s Bluff is 15.5  km.

As I paddled down the west shore (which is more scenic since there are better views of the Azure Ranges), I could see back to Mt. Huntley and the peaks on the north side of Azure Lake.   I passed by several campsites – Barella, Huntley View, and Archer Creek on my way to the Diver’s Bluff Point.

On the east side, Azure Peak and Zodiac Peak rise above the lake.   The ridges of Azure Peak and Zodiac Peak can be reached from Ivor Creek Campground, but there is no trail and the climb is 1800 m (5900 feet).

After Diver’s Bluff the lake starts to narros.    Grey clouds threatened another afternoon storm, but I got in before any difficult weather came in.   Nevertheless I faced a 10 km headwind all the way down the lake.

It is 5.7 km from Diver’s Bluff to the boat launch, but my truck was back at the campground so I paddled down the narrowing lake-river channel to just before the falls, another 2.7 km.

After 7 hours of continuous paddling I arrived at the landing spot.    I paddled 32 km that day, enough for a well-deserved rest that night.

I am not recommending this kind of trip.   Paddling on Azure Lake in a storm is not advisable, even for experienced paddlers.   Paddling all day can be done, but the route is best done in 4-5 days, camping at different marine campsites on the way back.   I have done it both ways and when I return to do the trip again, I will opt for 3 days, a compromise plan, but weather also adjusts our plans, so it may be another adventure on the lakes.

 

 

 

High Country Paddle and Hike

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When the weather gets hot an option is to drive to the high country (4000 feet+) and paddle one of the lakes, then go for one of the hikes nearby.    On this blue sky hot day, I paddled twice around Stake Lake, then hiked a snowshoe route nearby.   It was an early morning start and winds are usually calm until late morning in our area.   There was no one else on the lake.

We spot western painted turtles in a number of our area lakes, particularly murky lakes with marshy areas.   We were surprised to spot one on the western side of Stake Lake which is a clear-water lake.

Across the Lac le Jeune Road is a series of open marshes and a number of double tracks can be hiked or snowshoed, linked into a loop, although some route-finding is required.    The marsh reeds were starting to turn colour in late summer.

Butterflies were out on wildflowers along the route.    This skipper was spotted on clover.

A swampy area in the forest was surrounded by rushes and reeds.

There were lots of late-summer flowers, mostly taller varieties, but a few low-growing wildflowers like self-heal (prunella vulgaris) could be spotted with careful observation.

Going into the high country offers some relief from the hot summer sun, especially if combined with an early start and a forested route.   Paddling and hiking in the middle of the day in open areas is best left to shoulder seasons.

 

 

On Big Bar Lake

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I camped at Big Bar Lake Provincial Park to hike trails in the Marble Range, but I also paddled Big Bar Lake.   In sunny weather I paddled 3 times, doing the whole lake (12 km), with some sections twice.

With creeks running off limestone mountains, Bit Bar Lake is a marl lake with clear water shoals.

There were 4 pairs of loons on the lake, some with chicks born in the spring.

Rolling hills surround the lake, which is really in the southwest corner of the Cariboo.

Yellow water lilies were in bloom in several shallow bays.

The east and west ends have marshy areas.   In this bay, the Marble Range can be seen, the nearest peaks just 6 km south.

We hiked to the top of the Jesmond Lookout on one of the days and we looked down at Big Bar Lake from above.

We hope to return to the area to paddle White Lake and Meadow Lake, probably camping at Big Bar Lake again.

 

 

 

Minnie, Douglas, and Weyman

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My plan was to paddle Minnie Lake (and possibly Stoney Lake) on the Pennask Lake Road, then tour through the Douglas Plateau on the way back, but winds picked up and by the time I reached Minnie Lake, there were whitecaps on the larger open lake.

Minnie Lake

 

I decided to drive through to the Douglas Lake area and evaluate the winds on other lakes (Douglas, Chapperon, Rush, Salmon or possibly Glimpse Lake).   I turned off the Pennask Lake Road and headed over the hills to Douglas Lake.  The secondary backroad was a bit rougher in spots, but was fine for a truck or any high clearance vehicle.

The whole area is a large and beautiful grassland with open forest on the higher slopes.

An old abandoned homestead stood off the main road where the Douglas Lake Ranchlands give way to the Upper Nicola Douglas Lake Reserve (#3).

Along the Douglas Lake Road I spotted a rocky beach just below so I parked and hauled my kayak down to the shoreline.   I paddled the south shoreline in strong winds, avoiding the open lake where more whitecaps were cresting from winds blowing from the southwest.

I decided to follow the road east past Chapperon Lake, Rush Lake, and Salmon Lake, then over the hills and down into the Salmon River Canyon.      The winding and sometimes narrow road crosses the Salmon River then not far ahead is another bridge over Weyman Creek.  There is a small parking area on the north side and a hard-to-see trail climbs the hill following the creek into a canyon.   The trail ends at a spot overlooking Weyman Falls, but I had been there before and this time I scrambled down to a lower viewpoint of the 100 foot falls.

I hiked back out to my truck then finished the tour by going through Westwold to loop back to Kamloops on Highway 97.   I didn’t get to paddle Minnie Lake, but I had done that in the previous year (link – Minnie Lake), I did get to do a shorter paddle on Douglas Lake (a first for me), and I got to see Weyman Falls from the low end at full flow.   Another good day exploring the hills, waterways, and backroads of the Interior.

On Neskonlith Lake

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Neskonlith Lake is a 40 minute drive from Kamloops.   Access to the lake is through Neskonlith Provincial Park.   There is a hand launch spot not far past the first campsites.   I launched my kayak on a mild June day and paddled clockwise around the lake.   A circuit of the whole lake is 11.5 km and that goal is best done on a day with little wind.   On this day, I paddled the east end of the lake, a 6 km loop.

One of the main streams into the lake was filled with muddy water from the hills on the north and northeast side.   An osprey perched on the snag near the inlet.

There is a marshy area on the east side and red-winged blackbirds were busy on the rushes.

Some weather set in and winds made progress more difficult, but I continued down the south shore, bearing west into the wind.

Much of the hillside above the lake was burned in the fires of 2003.   Skeletal trees are now surrounded by new shrub growth.   The southern slopes of Mount Morrisey extend down toward the valley on the west end of the lake.

On the way back up the north shore of the lake were some western painted turtles basking in the sun on “waterlogged log ledges.”

Turtles are startled by sudden movements or noises, so if we glide past them quietly, they will stay in place.   This one was close to the boat launch at the end of my paddling loop.

After paddling the lake, I returned to Shuswap Road,  then decided to go up the McGillivray Forest Service Road, a 16 km climb to over 1400m, coming back through Sun Peaks for a scenic loop.

Another fine day in the hills…

 

 

On Red Lake

Kamloops Kayak Posted on by

Every year I drive the backroads (38 km) up to Red Lake and paddle the 8.5 km shoreline.   Since its a popular fishing lake, I try to go early on a weekday.   When I arrived at the boat launch there were only 3 other boats on the lake, a quiet paddle in the high country.

There are 3 launch spots on the lake, but the best one is just off Red Lake Road at a designated launch.

On the lake a mother loon was protecting this spring’s chicks.

There is a long channel with some marshy sections at the north end of the lake, another quiet spot.

As I paddled by reeds and rushes on the shoreline marsh, I could see many damselflies on the reeds in the process of moulting,   Most were clinging on, drying their wings before taking flight.

From Wikipedia: “When fully developed, the nymphs climb out of the water and take up a firm stance, the skin on the thorax splits and the adult form wriggles out. This has a soft body at first and hangs or stands on its empty larval case. It pumps haemolymph into its small limp wings, which expand to their full extent. The haemolymph is then pumped back into the abdomen, which also expands fully. The exoskeleton hardens and the colours become more vivid over the course of the next few days. Most damselflies emerge in daytime and in cool conditions the process takes several hours. On a hot day, the cuticle hardens rapidly and the adult can be flying away within half an hour.”

I stayed for quite a while and could see thousands of exoskeletons, nymphs ready to moult, and damselflies drying their wings, and damselflies in flight, a quiet miracle on the lake.

The best lakes to experience nature are smaller lakes with marshy bays.   Red Lake is a fine one, along with other lakes like Lac le Jeune West, Badger Lake, Knouff Lake, Bleeker Lake, Roche Lake, Saul Lake, Paska Lake, and many more.

 

 

 

 

 

Tranquille Bay to Cooney Bay

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On an overcast day, I launched my kayak at the Tranquille Wildlife Management Area parking pullout and paddled out into Tranquille Bay.  With no wind the skies were reflected in the calm floodwaters.

There are many route choices possible during freshet, but on this day I kayaked down to Cooney Bay and back.

At the mouth of Tranquille River, eagles were perched in snags, watching for their next meal.

On the way back, a muskrat swam near the boat with a mouthful of vegetation from foliage out in the bay.

I did a loop out among the “islands” which are just taller shrubs and trees standing above the floodlands.

This 8 km loop can be done in June and in high flood years,  much of July too.   It is a special place when there is no wind in the channels and bays of the floodlands.

 

 

On Jacko Lake

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Jacko Lake is a very popular fishing lake and since it is one of the first to be ice-free, it will be a busy place in spring before the other lakes open up.   On weekends and in prime times it stays busy right up to summer.   When I paddle the lake I go early in the morning and paddle around the lake (4.7 km) before many of the boats arrive.  On this day there was not much wind at launch time.

Yellow-headed blackbirds and ducks occupied the bays and the marshy shorelines.

 

Jacko has open slopes above the lake, mostly grasslands, open forest, and a few snags.

Algae was expanding in the lake, giving a greenish hue to the water, with green hills and dark trees reflected in the lake, all under cloudy skies.

By summer fishermen go to higher lakes, so I will be back to do two loops of the lake later in the paddling season.

 

 

Paddling Through the Floodlands

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When freshet arrives the low-lying floodlands fill with water and we can paddle out from the Tranquille Wildlife Preserve into Tranquille Bay.

An early start often means no wind.   At about 11:00 am the winds start and will be stronger yet by noon.

“Islands” of shrubs stand in the floodwaters.

The Thompson River and Kamloops Lake become one larger lake at this time of the year.

I paddled 2.5 km to the far side and entered a flood channel on the south shore.   A series of channels can be paddled for another 2.5 km east.

At the east end of the flood channels there are some side channels, some of which can be used to get back to the river.   This lagoon by the old pumphouse had a number of geese in the shallow water.   I portaged across the grass for about 10m to get back to the river.

I paddled downstream and crossed the river to the north side, entering more flood channels, working my way back to Tranquille Bay.

The whole loop was 9.7 km, 2.5 hours of paddling through the flooded lands.   After the river crests more birds, fish, insects, and other animals will settle into the area.  We spotted osprey, hawks, ravens, crows, blackbirds, geese, ducks, and some small birds this time.   On other explorations of the floodlands we have spotted river otters, beaver, muskrats, carp, herons, seagulls, western painted turtles, and pelicans.   On the shoreline we have spotted bears, coyotes, and deer.   Raptors patrol the skies.   The Tranquille Wildlife Preserve is a wonderful place to explore in flood season.

 

 

On Lac du Bois

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On a sunny May morning, I launched my kayak into marshy Lac du Bis and paddled the shoreline, a 3.3 km route.    There was lots to see and no one else around.

There were lots of ducks on the lake, including this coot.

In the morning the low sun shone with filtered light into the shaded bays of the lake.  A quiet and peaceful place.

Pairs of mating ducks dabbled or dove in the bays, keeping a watchful eye on the 18 foot long intruder.

On this day I spotted over 30 western painted turtles sunning on logs.

I must have approached a marsh wren nest so this small bird perched on top of the reeds and gave me a piece of its mind.

I was pleased with the variety of waterfowl on the lake, most of which scuttled away, but this grebe and I managed to share an arm of the lake.

After paddling for about 3.5 km, I landed and then secured my boat, so I could go for a short hike into the hills above to enjoy the spring growth in the upper grasslands.

 

Paddling Bleeker Lake

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Bleeker Lake is 2 km north of Roche Lake.   Take the Bleeker Lake FSR and follow the bumpy backroad to the Rec Site on the north shore of the lake.   there is a small campsite there and a rough boat launch.   It is a popular fishing lake, but the lake is large enough for paddlers too.   A circuit of the whole lake is about 5 km.

I launched from a spot next to a campsite while campground was closed for overnight use.

A few ducks were on the lake, including some barrow’s golden eyes.

There was still a bit of snow on the south shore, which is at the foot of a hill.   Some pussywillows were caught in  sunny spot along the shore of the lake.

Mating pairs of ducks were in the shallow parts of the lake on the 1.25 hour loop.

A ripple of wind arose near the end of the paddle as silver light appeared on the lake’s surface.

This is also a lake I enjoy in mid-summer, especially since flowering aquatic plants grow in the shallow, marshy areas (full of insects and other critters too) on the east and southeast end of the lake.  I hope to return and perhaps combine it will another paddle of nearby Hosli Lake (on a very rough road).

 

Paddling Scuitto Lake

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Scuitto Lake is one of our favorite lakes to paddle.   There is a nice Rec site with a good boat launch on the east shore of the lake, just off the Scuitto Lake Forest Service Road.  On an early May morning we paddled our kayaks out onto the lake following the shoreline in a clockwise loop.

When the lake was dammed, it flooded an number of trees, now standing as stumps along the shoreline.

Tree swallows were cruising along the shoreline, feeding on airborne insects.

On the western shoreline were a number of western painted turtles who have crawled up onto waterlogged perches to bask in the morning sun.

As we closed the loop, Mt. Vicars rose above the east shore of the lake.   We usually hike to the top each year (use the Search bar to find the article).

A different tree swallow kept its eye on me as I drifted by one of the stumps in the lake.

After paddling around the lake (5.7 km), I went back out for another shorter loop around the island and back.   We usually return for another paddle in early September when pelicans and herons are on Scuitto and Campbell Lake.

 

 

On Napier Lake

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I have driven past Napier Lake many times, but had never paddled it; the challenge was to find access to launch a boat.   After a number or stops along the road, I settled on a steep grassy slope near the north end of the lake.   There was a small pullout there to unload.   I attached wheels to the back of the kayak and pulled the boat down the steep hill, across some scrubby shrubs, then to the lakeshore.   Getting down there was not too bad, but I wasn’t looking forward to getting back up.

The Napier Lake Ranch is on the north end of the lake, but there is a small riparian zone on the northwest corner with a small gravel beach.   A rough launch, but once on the water, its a different matter.   When I launched into the lake, there was a steady wind from the south so I paddled into the headwind for 3.5 km.     The lake is a scenic paddle, but the wind dictated a route close to the shoreline, paddling in the lee of a series of hills.

At the south end of the lake, Droppingwater Creek cascades into the lake through a narrow canyon.   The creek originates on the eastern slopes of Hull Hill and flows through the Bute Lakes.   At the other end of the lake, the drainage goes into Ritchie Lake, then Trapp Lake, then Shumway Lake, and down Campbell Creek.

Colorful cliffs, mossy slopes,  and red ossier dogwood at the inlet on the southwest corner of the lake makes this an inviting place to paddle.

Strong tailwinds carried me back to the narrows.   Even the ducks took refuge in sheltered bays.

On the way back, the skies started to clear, and the sun shone on rocky hills rose above grassland slopes.

The final leg of the 7 km paddle was in light winds, passing the beautiful and open but steep slopes on both sides of the lake.

After landing, hauling the 18 foot kayak up a very steep slope was hard, but I will do it again just to paddle this fine valley-bottom lake.