On the May long weekend I drove through Cache Creek and down the Trans Canada Highway towards Spences Bridge.     I then turned onto the (signed) South Venables Valley Road.    It is paved for about half the distance to the valley.   After that it is good gravel.    I continued up the valley until I came to a hand launch spot about halfway up the lake.    Although the forecast had been for light winds, there was a strong breeze out of the south, so when I launched the kayak, I paddled south for a 3.8 km circuit around Venables Lake.   This is an out-of-the-way lake that sees few paddlers or fishermen.

Both ends of the lake have shallow water, but there was enough water in the lake to allow a full paddle of the lake.

A few images are shared here.    Click an image for a lightbox view and a caption.

on Venables Lake

Venables, looking north

driving north to the North Venables Road

pond at the south end of Venables Valley

bitterroot flowers on Red Hill

After paddling the lake, I drove north, then turned down the North Venables Road for a loop route.    the south road is better, but the north Road is a slower drive.    After reching the highway I pulled off at Red Hill to find flowering bitterroots, now emerging on the dry rocky hills.