Over the winter I purchased a folding kayak so that I could use a backpack to hike to hard-to-get-to-lakes with a kayak. The first lake for this adventure was Island Lake, a grasslands lake in the middle grasslands of Lac du Bois Protected Area. With the backpack on, i hiked from the trailhead to the lake on a faint single … Continue reading →
With rain forecast, paddling was sure to be a wet venture. Temperatures were mild so it was fine to kayak a local lake, but it was better to wear a spray skirt, a paddling jacket, gloves, and a hat. This was the first day of paddling on Edith Lake. There was a light rain for the whole paddle and the … Continue reading →
The forecast was for morning rain so I arrived at Jacko Lake at 7 am and launched my kayak. There were grey skies, but almost no wind. On a paddle around the lake I enjoyed seeing ducks – coots, mallards, and barrows golden-eyes, but there was also geese, loons, yellow-headed blackbirds, woodpeckers, and loons. Birds were exhibiting nesting behaviors, there … Continue reading →
On a mild but breezy April morning I paddled out into Little Shuswap Lake. The lake was very low so I used the boat launch on the river just below the bridge. Shallow water meant following the channel markers out into the middle of the lake, but I was able to paddle over on the north side of the lake … Continue reading →
Nicola Lake can be a windy spot so I wait for a good forecast before driving 50+ km south from Kamloops. There are a number of boat launches along the shoreline, but the lake was very low, making the launches a bit rocky. I did a counter-clockwise loop going to the north end of the lake, then around the shoreline … Continue reading →
Morgan Lake is a small lake in the Six Mile Hills area, west of Pat Lake. We used to call it The Slough, but it was dammed and stocked and now is a popular fishing lake, especially in spring. It is one of the first lakes in the hills to become ice-free. In April Pat Lake, Morgan Lake, and Stump … Continue reading →
In mid-April I returned to Trapp Lake for a second day of paddling, this time with a loop on the north end of the lake. Winds were light and the temperatures were moderate. Some video footage was taken with a 360 camera and mixed with mp4 video and photographs into a YouTube video: Trapp Lake is a favorite spring paddling … Continue reading →
On a calm spring day, Stump Lake called. There were lots of fishermen at the lake and the boat launches were packed so I went to a rocky hand launch spot at the north end of the lake. This is a less interesting area with highway on the west side and homes along the north shore, so I opted for … Continue reading →
Shumway Lake is the home of the Kamloops Canoe and Kayak Club and Kamloops Rowing Club and it has a well-developed facility with high performance and recreational programs for all ages. Since it is a private facility only members can park and launch at the facility. It is possible to haul a boat down the bank and launch into the … Continue reading →
In early April, the ice was off the lower elevation lakes, but windy days limited reasonable padding conditions. On a cool morning with a steady wind out of the south, I drove to Trapp Lake and launched out into the lake and paddled south, into the wind. The sheltered coves were still blocked in with ice, but the lake was … Continue reading →
In the early days of April, mornings are still cool (-2 to +2) and winds start late morning so the best time to paddle is mid-morning. It was all quiet at the Valleyview Boat Launch, but the river was very low, so the 18 foot kayak had to be hefted down to the rocky shoreline. A light breeze from the … Continue reading →
One of our best paddling outings is a circuit around Lac le Jeune. Interactive points of interest are embedded in the map below with photos, links, and other information. More information: Paddling Lac le Jeune Lakes Lac le Jeune Circuit
Continue reading →In early March we can paddle the rivers or the large lakes in the bottom of the valley. On a sunny morning I paddled downstream from Pioneer Park, under the Red Bridge, under the Train Bridge, through the Confluence of the two rivers, under the Overlander Bridge, and under/around the old Black Bridge before turning around close to Rabbit Island. … Continue reading →
The first day of kayaking for 2022 was March 2. In 2023, colder weather kept ice on the river and when it started to break up cold winds prohibited comfortable paddling. By March 12, we had signs of spring coming and on March 14 the winds were about 10 km out of the east. Boat launch gates were still locked … Continue reading →
I have paddled over 100 lakes in the area. Some have easy access, some have longer drives, some are accessed by rougher roads, and some have difficult access. When it comes to rough roads and difficult access, the issues are wear and tear on the truck, risks of getting stuck, and difficulty of access to the lake. There are a … Continue reading →
When the weather threatens rain, wind, and afternoon storms, Stake Lake is on of three lakes I paddle for an early morning kayaking workout. This July morning was calm, great for doing loops around the lake. A short video shares a few moments on the water: Stake Lake is a go-to destination for paddling, hiking, cross country skiing, and … Continue reading →
