Even though snows still linger, we can start paddling on the river. Although the Pioneer Park boat launch is still closed, we can get our boat down to the river with a little extra work. Since the water is cold, we used a wetsuit and stayed close to the shoreline. The south-facing shoreline was clear of snow but the north-facing … Continue reading →
While paddling on Harper Lake, I spotted some movement at the remote west end of the lake. As I approached closer I could see two cubs in the open as well as the longer/larger mother partially hidden in the forest. Cougar cubs stay up to 2 years with their mother before they are driven off to fend for themselves. These … Continue reading →
We launched our kayaks in Comox Lake with the intention of paddling down the lake far enough to see the end of the glacier-fed lake, but strong winds came up so we ended up paddling a loop around the east end of the lake only. We parked adjacent to the campground and launched from the beach into the protected bay. … Continue reading →
On the west side of Stake Lake is an osprey nest at the top of a broken-top fir tree. Eggs were laid by the mating pair and then were incubated for about 40 days. The chicks hatched then nested for 50 – 60 days this summer and each time I returned to kayak the lake, I checked their progress. From … Continue reading →
Heffley Lake is one of our finest lakes to paddle and it can be a busy spot in summer so we usually paddle there in spring or fall. There is a good boat lunch on the east end suitable to cartop boats or kayaks, but the parking area is limited so it can be full on a weekend in summer. … Continue reading →
For fishermen or paddlers, Jacko Lake is one of the first lakes to be ice-free in spring and one of the last lakes to freeze over in late fall. It is surrounded by grasslands at 917m elevation (3000 feet). A paddle around the shoreline is about 4.4 km, an hour of paddling. Lakes above this are all surrounded by high … Continue reading →
We try to paddle Paul Lake each year in the spring and fall when there are few, if any, boats on the lake. On this last mid-October day the winds were calm for a quiet outing on the cooler waters of the lake. The lakeshore had receded quite dramatically with the whole lake surface down 3 – 4 feet. The … Continue reading →
Skimikin Lake lies in a valley between Turtle Valley and the end of the Salmon Arm of Shuswap Lake. It is a well-used recreational area with a fine BC Rec Site and numerous trails. For paddlers, there are several launch spots at the Rec Site. The lake is divided into two parts by a narrow point. In fall the water … Continue reading →
By October it is rare to see another boat on either the South or North Thompson Rivers. The boat launches remain open but we are more likely to see dog walkers than power boats. We continue to launch our kayak onto the river to paddle various routes on the river. Downstream is always easier but requires vehicle support so most … Continue reading →
The Puntledge River flows out of Comox Lake and continues right through the City of Courtenay, flowing into Comox Harbour. Kayakers can launch their boats at a public boat launch at the end of 20th Street in Courtenay Airpark. From there, paddlers can either go upstream for a ways or they can paddle downstream through the saltwater estuary to … Continue reading →
Phillips Lake lies on the Skimikin Lake Road between Turtle Valley and Skimikin. the fastest approach from Kamloops is to drive on Highway 1 East to Squilax and turn onto the Squilax – Turtle Valley Road. Follow the valley toward Skimikin then turn onto Ptarmigan Road. A good parking area and boat launch is located on the northwest side of … Continue reading →
We have paddled the Shuswap River three times before, starting from a hand launch just below the Skookumchuck Rapids and going downstream for 30 km to Enderby. We did this twice right during the salmon run (see the links below). an unique experience. This time we paddled a shorter route, the 12 km from the Trinity Bridge to Enderby. The … Continue reading →
When the winds are calm, Kamloops Lake is one of the best paddling spots in the Interior of B.C. The rugged hills on both side of the lake provide a scenic backdrop for paddling along the shoreline. On this last outing on the lake in mid-September, I chose to Launch from Tobiano, at Bruker Marina. There is a $10 fee … Continue reading →
Harper Lake is found in the hills south of the South Thompson River, above the Neskonlith Indian Reserve #1. The Harper Lake Forest Service Road starts at east end of the Reserve 2 km from the turn-off into Chase. The gravel road climbs through the hills for 6 km, ending on a narrow road down to the lake. There … Continue reading →
By the end of summer, the McArthur Island boat launch has its gate closed and the lagoon begins to dry out. In the first week of September, there was just enough water to paddle out of the channel in a kayak. A week later it would have been a muddy portage. I exited to the river and aimed the boat … Continue reading →
We returned to paddle Campbell Lake in late summer, choosing a sunny weekday to launch a kayak and explore the shoreline. The launch spot is at the Campbell Lake Recreation Site on the south side of the lake. To drive there go through Barnhartvale, then turn onto the Robbins Range Road, and then the Scuitto Lake Forest Service Road. From … Continue reading →