Every year a paddle across Kamloops Lake to Painted Bluffs is planned, but I vary the hike in the hills. To avoid the strong winds that can blow down Kamloops Lake in summer, I watch the weather forecast carefully. This year the launch point was in Savona and a double loop was chosen, one on the lake, and one in … Continue reading →
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 22km 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 … Continue reading →
We returned to paddle all of Mahood Lake and spent 3 days paddling, hiking, and camping in this quiet corner of Wells Gray Park. We launched our kayaks from the west end of the lake at the Provincial Park Campground. We had hoped to paddle down to Travertine Campsite on the north shore of the lake, but it was not … Continue reading →
On a recent paddling trip from Clearwater to Kamloops, we explored islands in the middle of the North Thompson River and camped on them during a 3 day journey. At the end of the first day of paddling we landed on the final island of Chu Chua Cottonwood Provincial Park. BC Parks describes the park as follows: “An area of … Continue reading →
The North Thompson and South Thompson Rivers provide many days of paddling each year. Downriver paddles are easier so we try to go at least 20km and arrange for a vehicle at each end. We started at the Valleyview Boat Launch. This is a busy spot on weekends with many floaters entering the water to drift down to Pioneer or … Continue reading →
We have enjoyed paddling Pinantan Lake, but we really like paddling up a narrow channel to the hidden upper lake. The entrance to the lagoon channel is at the east end of the lake. It can be paddled in a canoe or kayak, but there is a dam-like blockage partway through that requires getting out of the boat and pulling … Continue reading →
Paddling our rivers is a matter of picking the right launch and landing spots, the right date and time, and the right weather. We launched our boats at the end of Harrington Road next to the Golf Course in Westsyde. This spot is a good spot from March through October. We could have chosen to launch off the end of … Continue reading →
In the back valleys between Shuswap Lake and Adams Lake are a chain of lakes. Hummamilt Lake is the largest and a superb lake for paddling. To get to Hummamilt Lake, follow the North Shuswap Road past Anglemont on the way to Seymour Arm. Pass Albas Provincial Park and turn up the Celista Creek Forest Service Road. At 9.7 km, … Continue reading →
The South Thompson River from Chase to Kamloops provides excellent downriver paddling. We can divide the river route into 3 sections (based on accessible launch/landing sites) – Chase to Pritchard, Pritchard to Lafarge, and Lafarge to downtown Kamloops. We paddled from Lafarge to Pioneer Park in mid-June. [map style=”width: auto; height:400px; margin:20px 0px 20px 0px; border: 1px solid black;” maptype=”OSM … Continue reading →
It was raining on the West Chilcotin Plateau. While traveling east on Highway 20 there was a break in the weather right at Nimpo Lake, so I found a boat launch and paddled out into the quiet lake. There was no wind and no other boats on this larger lake. It is too big a lake to go all … Continue reading →
The drive to Bella Coola and back has long been a call-to-explore and a week was set aside into the calendar for the tour. It is 740 km each way so I got an early start on a Monday morning. The road is paved all the way to Anaheim Lake so I proceeded along the route, stopping for gas as … Continue reading →
In spring we paddle downriver, enjoying the green corridors of our valleys in our kayaks and canoes. We choose to go before the noise and wakes of powerboats take over the rivers. [map style=”width: auto; height:400px; margin:20px 0px 20px 0px; border: 1px solid black;” maptype=”OSM Cycle” gpx=”https://kamloopstrails.net/wp-content/uploads/Chase to Lafarge.gpx” elevation=”no” download=”no”] We paddled from the public beach at Chase on … Continue reading →
There is a chain of lakes in the upper Deadman’s Valley and Snohoosh Lake is the largest of them. It is a long, narrow, and winding lake bordering the Deadmans-Vidette Road. From the Trans Canada Highway, we have to drive 38 km to the south end of the lake. The backroad continues to wind around the shoreline of the lake … Continue reading →
When the North and South Thompson Rivers rise from the spring melt, the boat launch at McArthur Island can be used to access the Thompson River. During freshet, the volume of watyer increases and the current is stronger. Once we enter the river, we look for slower water to progress upstream. The north side shoreline can be followed towards Overlander … Continue reading →
One of the best paddling destinations we try to do every year is Clearwater Lake. The boat launch is at the very end of the Wells Gray Corridor Road. Beyond the launch is 22km of wilderness lake with treed shorelines and snow-capped mountains rising above. Along the shoreline are a few wilderness marine campsites. We have enjoyed going to the … Continue reading →
One of our best paddling lakes is Lac le Jeune. The ice comes off in the spring and we can paddle there in April, but at 4200 feet, we usually go to the lower lakes and the river first. Later in the season it is a busy place as boaters and fishermen fill the lake. Early in the season it … Continue reading →