Red Lake is a longer drive on backroads so if we go there to paddle we wait for good conditions. It is also a popular fishing lake so there can be a lineup to launch or land during prime times. For this reason I go to an informal launch on the south end of the lake. A paddle around the … Continue reading →
Campbell Lake is at the end of a long, bumpy road and it can be a busy spot in prime times so I try to paddle it off season. Over the last few years, there have been pelicans on the lake in late August and much of September so I schedule my time to coincide with their time on the … Continue reading →
Whenever conditions are marginal or time is short, we pick one of four lakes – Jacko Lake, Edith Lake, Stake Lake, or Paul Lake. The distance to the lakes is shorter, access is good to each lake, and they are enjoyable places to paddle. On this September morning, it was raining in town, but it was drier up at the … Continue reading →
For some of the larger lakes, we can paddle half of the lake at a time, taking the time to explore the bays and marshy areas. In the middle of September the paddle was on the north end of Roche Lake. We can paddle the channels between bulrushes on the north end, then head down the west shore and across … Continue reading →
As summer wound down, the nights became cooler and morning mists were starting to shroud the hills around the area. In an early paddle on Paul Lake, the sun was filtered through the low-hanging clouds. The lake was calm and quiet with no other boats in sight. I paddled down past Gibraltar Rock. Crows, eagles, loons, and a Canada jay … Continue reading →
In mid-September Face Lake was the destination for a morning paddle. There is no reasonable public launch on the lake so I checked in at the Mile High Lodge, paid a small parking and launch fee, and used the boat launch (parking in the Guest parking area). The folks at the lodge were again welcoming and wished me well. I … Continue reading →
Harper Lake is located in the hills east of Kamloops. The Harper Lake Forest Service Road turns off the Trans Canada Highway on the east side of the Neskonlith Indian Reserve, then climbs through the hills, bearing south. The final 6 km of the road is narrow and bumpy. There is a BC Rec Site on the northeast side of … Continue reading →
On a gusty late August morning I got an early start for a paddle on Heffley Lake. There is a good launch area at the east end of the lake, but it can be a busy spot at prime times so I got an early start. The area by the launch is protected from the wind by small islands in … Continue reading →
One of the lakes I enjoy paddling every summer is Glimpse Lake. It is located on the Douglas Lake Plateau (Nicola Lake > Douglas Lake Road > Lauder Road > Glimpse Lake). The road (91 km from Kamloops) is good all the way to the lake. There are two Rec Sites on the lake, but the best boat launch … Continue reading →
On a hot summer morning I got an early start and drove to Monte Lake. I use the hand launch area from the Monte Creek Forest Service Road on the north side of the lake. The lake was calm and I only saw one other boat on a paddle down the lake and back. There is a boat launch off … Continue reading →
A paddle and hike duathlon was a good choice for a warm summer day. A paddle around Stake Lake was followed by a hike on the Giant Firs Trail. The big trees on the trail are a welcome sight in both summer and winter. Some moments of both activities are found in this short video:
Continue reading →Peterhope Lake is accessed by going up a 7.5 km Forest Service Road from the south end of Stump Lake. There is a BC Rec Site there with camping spots and two boat launches. A paddle around the lake is about 6 km. The highlight is a narrow marsh channel which leads to a small lake on the southwest end. … Continue reading →
On a hot summer morning I drove up to Roche Lake Provincial Park, turning onto the Roche West Road to launch from a spot halfway up the lake. Roche Lake is a bit larger than most area lakes and a paddle around the whole shoreline is about 10 km but when the weather is hot, a loop on half the … Continue reading →
Morrisey Lake is a small, shallow lake near McGillivray Lake, east of Sun Peaks. Access is by the Morrisey Lake Forest Service Road, a bumpy gravel road that only goes to the lake. There are two small BC Rec Sites, one at either end. On this summer morning I drove to the far end and did a hand launch onto … Continue reading →
McGillivray Lake is located east of Sun Peaks Road by driving on the McGillivray Lake Forest Service Road. This is a good 5.7 km gravel road. The best launch spot is at the signed McGillivray Lake Outpost on the northwest corner of the lake. A paddle around the lakeshore is about 5.2 km. The shoreline is forested and there are … Continue reading →
Tunkwa Lake is one of the best rainbow trout fishing lakes in the province. It lies in the grasslands – forest zone to the southwest of Kamloops, accessible on paved roads from Logan Lake. There are several launch spots on the lake. On this summer day, I parked at the Day Use area and padded the 7.5 km loop around … Continue reading →