If we drive up the Wells Gray corridor, the road ends at the boat launch on Clearwater Lake,  From that point on, it is boat access only.   Clearwater Lake stretches for 22 km northward and along the way are 8 marine campsites.   Beyond the end of the lake the Clearwater River drains Hobson and Azure Lakes.   One option is to take the water taxi to the end of Azure Lake and paddle all the way back, a total of about 50 km.   We have paddled the lake many times but this time we chose to launch and paddle up the east side of the lake to enjoy the quiet beaches of Clearwater Lake.

On a 3 day forecast of stormy weather we paddled up the lake and found the marine campsites mostly empty.   Bar View is a prime campsite with a sandy point and beach about 8.5 km up the lake.

We also paddled up to Ivor Creek (canoes and kayaks only) and Huckleberry campsites (both have fine beaches too) and back (10 km return) before the weather came in.

Rain fell to the south and north in waves.   We had our tarps ready and enjoyed watching the progress of the storms from our campsite.

Late in the afternoon, the sun started to shine through the waning rainclouds.  A promise of some blue skies first showed themselves in the west.

In the evening, the alpenglow on Mt. Huntley was an unexpected and welcome sight.

By the third day, the weather had cleared and we enjoyed a calm paddle back to the boat launch, sorry to leave the beautiful beaches of Clearwater Lake.

• Marine Campsites of Clearwater Lake – Part 1
• Marine Campsites of Clearwater Lake – Part 2
• Azure Lake
• Boat Launch – N52 09.742 W120 12.494
• Bar View – N52 13.995 W120 12.417
• Ivor Creek – N52 15.160 W120 12.400
• Huckleberry – N52 16.343 W120 12.415