Tag Archives: Knouff Lake

Kayaking Sullivan Lake

Kamloops Kayak Posted on by

Sullivan Lake is a fine recreational lake on the Knouff Lake Road.    We can launch a kayak or canoe from the Recreation Site on the west side of the lake.     There is also a hand launch in the community of Knouff Lake.    A paddle around the entire lake is about 5 km, but we can paddle most of the lake, avoiding most of the private homes and marshy shallow bays in just about an hour.     On a pleasant June day I launched into the lake and paddled a clockwise loop.    There was only one other boat on the lake on this weekday morning.

There was an osprey circling overhead.    Loons were keeping an eye on a loon chick while an eagle watched them from a tree nearby.   Ducks and ducklings paddled along the shoreline.    There are 5 islands in the lake; I have landed and explored two of the islands.

The lake can be busy on weekends so a weekday morning is recommended.    The road is good all the way to Knouff Lake.   A grader was working on the road that day.    Beyond Sullivan Lake, the road is bumpy all the way to Badger Lake.    I will be back to paddle that lake soon.

A few images are shared here.    Click an image for a lightbox view.

 

 

 

 

 

On Community Lake

Kamloops Kayak Posted on by

Community Lake is on Community Mountain at 4500 feet.    Drive toward Knouff Lake, but turn off at the signed Community Lake FSR.   There is a Rec site at about the 6 km mark up the gravel road.     There is a good boat launch and lots of parking at the Rec Site.

The access road was in good shape.   On a cool morning there was no one else on the lake, but there were a few people camping at the Rec Site.

No wind on the lake and some darker clouds overhead provided some refelctions in the glassy water.

There are 5-6 islands in the lake and some shallow bays to explore.

Tod Mountain rises above the trees to the east 9 km away.

A paddle around the lake takes about an hour.   When I go to the lake, sometimes I fo around the lake twice, once in each direction.

Community Lake is one of my favorites, one I do every summer or fall.

On Sullivan Lake

Kamloops Kayak Posted on by

On a cool May morning, I drove up to Knouff Lake and launched my kayak at the Sullivan Lake Rec Site on the northwest corner of the lake.

The north end of the lake has lots of marshland with bullrushes, cattails, and reeds.   Red-winged blackbirds called out as I glided by.

A paddle around the lake is about 4.7 km.    One loop was enough for this day since I had a Mother’s Day appointment down at Heffley Lake.

I always enjoy both Sullivan and Badger Lake and I make sure they are both included in my rotation of lakes to be paddled each year.

Maps and more information can be found on http://www.kamlopstrails.net

 

 

Sullivan Lake

Kamloops Kayak Posted on by

Many people refer to this lake as Knouff Lake, but the maps name it Sullivan Lake.   Locals in the community at the south end,  the Resort at the north end, and fishermen mostly call this Knouff Lake.   Nevertheless, I launched from the Sullivan Lake West (Knouff) Recreation Site and paddled around the shoreline of the lake, a total of 5 km.

The lake sits in a natural basin between Mount Knouff to the west and Community Mountain to the east.   To the north is a smaller, shallow lake called Knouff Lake on the map, but locals sometimes call it Little Knouff.   I paddled on the smaller lake on a SUP in 2016, a 2.4 km loop.   Farther to the north (6.7 km) is Badger Lake, another fine destitation for paddling.

There were ducks and loons on the lake, but also a number of fishermen, most coming from the busy resort.

There are a number of shallow bays to explore in the northeast corner of the lake as well as 4 islands to paddle around and between.

We try to paddle this lake every year since it is one of the best in our area.

More information:

Badger Lake

Kamloops Kayak Posted on by

Badger Lake is a fine paddling destination, one of the forty lakes of our area within an hour’s drive.    To get to Badger Lake, turn off the Sun Peaks Road onto the Knouff Lake Road and continue past Sullivan Lake without turning off, until you reach the BC Forest Service Site on the northeastern side of the lake.   Some fishermen also take the Orchard Lake Road up from Highway 5.   Both are good roads once the road surface dries out.

Badger LakeThe Badger Lake Recreation Site has 18 campsites and a primitive boat launch.   The lake has clear water and some marl shoals.   I watched a loon swimming under my boat in a back channel, its black and white speckled back clear under the water.   The narrow channel to the west is called Spooney Lake and this quiet marsh-lined channel offers some additional paddling.   On a spring day, small rainbow trout were jumping with a recent mayfly hatch.   Eagles seemed to be everywhere.   I spoke to a fisherman who said he had spotted 18 on the previous day.   I couldn’t spot their nests, but they flew along the lakeshore and perched in the large trees overhead.   A large wooded island (800m x 200 m) separates Badger Lake from the Spooney Lake Channel.   The whole lake is surrounded by trees but at one point, snow-capped Mount Baldy filled the north horizon, 43 km away.   Much of the area to the north and west has been logged, but little of this can be seen from the water.

There are numerous backroads to explore on mountain bike and the Orchard Lake Trails are only 4.5 km down the backroad to the southwest (link to Orchard Lake Trails).  I have hiked the Orchard Lake Trails, but almost all of the trails can also be biked (deferring to any horseback riders since the trails are primarily a horse-hiker system.   The area is a bit remote so come prepared for wildlife, backroad conditions, unmarked routes, and few people.

Nearby Knouff Lake and Community Lake (link) are also good for paddling.    2013 is a good year to bring your boat onto all 3 lakes.