We try to visit Painted Bluffs every year.   It can be done by driving the Sabiston Creek Road and then down to Copper Creek,  but this can be a long drive and off-trail awkward route.     Our preference is to paddle over from Savona, a 6.5 km route (each way) with a 1.5 km lake crossing.

There is a beach below the park suitable for landing a boat.   Be careful of poison ivy in the area behind the logs.   Follow the dry creek drainage into the foot of the hills, then pick your own route to explore the multi-hued cliffs, stained with copper, cinnabar, and iron.     Each time we explore the area, we pick a different route.   The combination of perspectives and light conditions makes each visit a new experience.

From the east side, we found new views down to the lake.

Each perspective brings new detail.

One of the few places the blazing-star can be seen is at Painted Bluffs in June and July.   It was in bloom on barren sandy hillsides.

After lunch on the beach, the winds had picked up.     This is always a risk in paddling Kamloops Lake.   Crossing Kamloops Lake is best done in ocean-kayaks (16’+).   We angled off into the wind, a 2.5 km challenging crossing, but once across, we followed the shoreline west with the wind at our backs.

Images of Painted Bluffs stay with us for the months to follow.