Tag Archives: Lac le Jeune

Rossmoore Lake Kayaking

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We look forward to kayaking Rossmoore Lake each year.     It is always a long and bumpy backroad route in to the lake and back out, but it is a remote and quiet spot in summer.    In 2023 the Rossmoore Fire was started near the lake by a lightning strike.     The fire burned for a couple of months, scorching over 17000 hectares.    By October, it was no longer a fire of note.     Winter snows blanketed the area and there has been no known outbreak.   Work on the TransMountain Pipeline nearby helped to keep the roads open and fallen trees cleared so the route to the lake was as usual.    I drove out the Long Lake Road and continued on to Ross Moore Lake.     There is a BC Rec Site at the lake with 4 camping spots and a hand launch area.    The access road down to the launch is requires high clearance.    On the day I went to the lake, there were 3 other fishermen on the lake, all with 4WD trucks and and rooftop racks.

When I launched the kayak, there was a light breeze on the lake.

There were many blackened trees around the lake.    The hillside up to the Ridge Lakes had multiple shades of black, brown, and green.    Much of the forest within view was burned.

While on the lake there were loons and ducks and some birds along the shorelines, but there was less habitat for small mammals and birds in the area.    The resilient lodgepole pine will fill in the areas over the next decades, after a number of post-fire succession of plant growth, part of the cycle for this area.

I returned by the McConnell Forest Service Road, better road, and the shortest route to the Rossmoore area.

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

 

 

 

 

 

Le Jeune Equinox

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On the first day of fall, I drove up to Lac le Jeune in the morning and paddled the east end of the lake.    There was no wind at the start and the lake water had a blue-silver glaze.

There was 3 still fishing boats with quiet electric motors on the lake, but no other paddlers and almost no ducks or geese.    Loons were fishing in the middle part of the lake.

I followed the shoreline, veering around fallen trees, and seeing more ready to fall over the winter.

The marshlands on the northeast side of the lake provided some color as the reeds, rushes, and sedges lose their greens and show yellows, oranges, and a bit of reds.

I don’t choose to paddle Lac le Jeune in the summer when there are too many boats on the lake and shoreline activity includes a lot of noise.   In the fall, the lake becomes quieter, especially on a cool mid-week morning.

The sun was shining through clouds and dark clouds to the east was contrasted with sunnier conditions to the west.    The wind picked up near the end of this paddle, the 77th day of kayaking this year.

Lac le Jeune is one of the best paddling lakes of our area.    This was my third time on the lake this year and I plan to paddle the west end and the smaller lake one more time before the weather becomes cold.

 

On a Hot Smoky Day

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When the summers get hot in Kamloops, driving to higher terrain may yield coller temperatures.   When the forest fire smoke fills the valleys, heading away from the source of the smoke may lead to clearer skies.    Lac le Jeune was a good spot in the dog days of summer.   We hiked 9 km through the hills, returning back to the beach at Lac le Jeune Provincial Park.

A paddle around the east end of the lake followed the hike, with little wind and warm temperatures.    Frequent splashes of lakewater on the head helped.

Damselflies hovered over shallow bays in the marshy east end of the lake.

Marsh cinquefoil was just starting to bloom along the marshy shoreline.

The lake was well-used by other kayakers, SUPs, fishermen, and swimmers on a hot summer day.   We hike, paddle, snowshoe, and camp at Lac le Jeune over most of the year, a close-to-Kamloops recreational retreat.

Shambrook and Lodgepole Lakes

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When we travel to the lakes of our area to the Interior, we usually try to go a lake that is large enough to warrant the time an effort to load up, drive, launch, reload, and drive back.   We prefer a lake that has a 5 km shoreline or longer.   If we choose a smaller lake, we try to paddle then hike or to try two lakes in the area.   On a hot summer day, two small lakes were chosen, Shambrook and Lodgepole Lakes.

 

 

No one paddles Shambrook Lake.   It lies between Walloper Lake and Lac le Jeune and it has very limited access.   It is right next to the road, but it required me to haul my 18 foot kayak to the shoreline and do a wet launch in the reeds.   Half of the lake is hidden behind a treed isthmus, out of sight.   I launched and paddled the 2 km shoreline.

 

 

On the north side is the Lac le Jeune Road with the Coquihalla Highway directly above.

 

 

The lake is mostly shallow and there are lots of fallen lodgepole trees to paddle around but it was a pleasant paddle, to be done once only.

I reloaded and secured the kayak, then drove up to Lodgepole Lake.   There are 3 spots to choose from to launch a kayak or canoe.   It is a small lake with only a 1.3 km paddling distance around the shoreline.

 

 

A loon and chick were on the lake, keeping an eye on the fishermen.

 

 

 

The loon chick was getting large enough to swim on its own, but stayed close enough to the parent, just in case.   Chicks can be attacked by bald eagles, osprey, or ravens if they swim too far from protective parents.

 

 

I thought about doing a third lake but all the loading, unloading, and securing the boat onto the truck’s roof takes time and patience so I settled for a 2 lake day instead.   I had paddled Lodgepole Lake before once on a smoky day, but Shambrook was a new lake for me, one more in 100+ lakes in the area.

 

 

 

On Ross Moore Lake

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Ross Moore Lake is a pleasant lake in the Lac le Jeune area, but its not easy to get to.   The best road access is to drive out onto the Brigade Lake Road, then turn onto the Long Lake Road.   After the last ranch, the road is not maintained very often so it will requires some slower driving on backroads, turning onto the Ross Moore FSR and continuing for another 6.5 km.    There is a small BC Recreation site at the southeast end of the lake where visitors can park, then launch a boat.   On this summer day, though, we drove across the dam on the south side and parked at a small pullout there.

 

Ross Moore is a quiet spot surrounded by forest at 1280m (4200 feet).

A paddle around the lakeshore is 3.4 km.

On the journey home, we drove the same road back, but then turned onto the McConnell Forest Service Road which took us back to the Lac le Jeune Road in 13 km.   We like the Long Lake Road a little better since it is more scenic, but either road is about the same in terms of road quality and distance.

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Stake Lake Loops

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When the weather gets hot, we often go to the high country to find shade, to be next to a lake, and to enjoy moderate in the hills trails.   In this last outing, we brought our kayaks and paddled 2 loops around the lake then hiked one loop around the lake.

We find the water in Stake Lake to be remarkably clear as follow the shoreline around for each 3.3 km loop.

After one loop, we swing the boat around to do the second loop in the opposite direction,   On the western shore there is an osprey nest so we paddle in close to see if there is any activity at the top of the broken tree,

Stake Lake is a relatively quiet lake in the summer  and we may see another paddler, but fishermen are not often encountered.

After paddling 4.6 km, we stowed the boat and hiked around the lake.   The main loop around the lake is 2.6 km, but there are many route options.

Although there is no striking scenery along the Stake Lake Trails (except for the basalt bluffs on McConnell Hill), there are birds, insects, flowers, marshes, wildlife, trees, lichens, fungi, and rocks to observe, especially if we hike quietly.   Wild strawberry season is approaching and the flowers lined the sides of the trails.

Butterflies and other pollinators are visiting the flowering plants of the area.

Bees are attracted to vetch and peavine in the open areas near the trails.

Caterpillars were cater-piling in the trees.

Various birds flitted from tree to tree along the loop.   Blackbirds and a kingfisher were on the shoreline.   A cedar waxwing flew from branch to branch in the open forest.

There were remarkably few mosquitoes, partly because there were lots of dragonflies and damselflies to prey on them.

Red columbine was displayed in forest glades or at the edges of trails.

Indian paintbrush was growing on dry open slopes and at the sides of trails.

Common blue butterflies were pollinating the strawberries.

We were tempted to go for another loop on the Stake Lake trails but we ended up with just three loops, but we will be back more times this summer for additional loops on the lake or on the trails.

Inks Lake

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Inks Lake lies in a basin just off the Lac le Jeune Road in the grasslands southeast of Sugarloaf Hill and west of Jacko Lake.   Because it is shallow, there is no fishing in the lake and in mid-summer algae expands throughout the lake.   It sees little recreational use, except for winter pond hockey and an occasional lakeside camper.   There is easy access for a hand-launched kayak, canoe, or paddleboard from the shoreline on the south side of the lake.

There are two back channels that can be paddled in spring and early summer.   These dry up in late summer in some years, leaving 3 separate smaller lakes.   If we follow the shoreline all the way around the lake, it is 2.6 km.   On this paddling day, I went around twice, reversing the direction after the first circuit for a 5.2 km route.

The Inks Lake basin collects the meltwaters from the southern slopes of Sugarloaf Hill and the western side of the Ironmask Hills.   There is no visible inlet or outlet stream, so the water becomes stagnant in the summer heat.

Even though the water was green with algae growth, there were lots of duck families, snipes, killdeer, herons, blackbirds, western painted turtles, damselflies, dragonflies, especially in the narrower back bays, out of sight from the roads.

 

 

Inks Lake is not really a destination lake; it would probably be a nicer paddle in spring since it would be one of the first lakes to be ice-free.   Because of all the wildlife activity though, it was an interesting and rewarding exploration,  even in summer.

To get to Inks Lake, take the Lac le Jeune Road.   Just after going through the underpass for the Ajax Mine Road, turn right and follow the dirt road to park at the lake’s edge.

 

 

Stake Lake Paddle

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Stake Lake has clear water, an easy launch, and open scenery, so it is a nice paddle from May through October.   When the weather gets hot, the lake is at 1321m (4333 feet) so it is cooler than the bottom of the valley in Kamloops.   A paddle around the shoreline is just 2.5 km so we usually do 2-3 loops, reversing the direction with each loop completion.

There were loons, lakeshore birds, dragonflies, damsel flies, and some ducks along the way.

 

To paddle Stake Lake, follow the Lac le Jeune Road south for 23 km and turn in to the signed parking area at the north end of the lake.   Stake Lake is a 4-season recreational area with cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, hiking, paddling, fishing, mountain biking, and trail running.   We spend many days in the area throughout the year.

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Walloper Lake Paddle

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Walloper Lake is located near the junction of the Coquihalla Highway (Hwy. 5S) and the Meadow Creek Road,  4 km west of Lac le Jeune.   The easiest access is in Walloper Lake Provincial Park (created in 1987) where there is dirt road and a boat launch area.   The lake is 43 hectares in size and has a maximum depth of 8m.    At 1311m elevation (4300 feet), the lakeshore is surrounded by wet, montane spruce forest and marshlands.   The source of the lake waters comes is Walloper Creek (from Lodgepole Lake) and Melba Creek (from the upper slopes of Chuwhels Mountain).     There is a dam at the south end of the lake that controls the reservoir, emptying into Meadow Creek (on its way to Logan Lake).   BC environment has installed and maintains an aerator in the lake.   The lake has a managed fishery with rainbow trout and is a popular destination for family fishing.

We launched and paddled close to the shoreline, going in and out of the bays and wetlands, a total of 5km

 

We spotted an eagle, an osprey, a great blue heron, American dippers, marsh wrens, a huge number of tadpoles, small jumping fish, redwing blackbirds, many dragonflies and damselflies, mayflies, and a loon with two chicks.   Even though its was a long weekend in summer, Walloper Lake was quiet for a morning paddle.   We will return to paddle this high country lake each summer.

More information:

 

 

Ross Moore Lake

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Ross Moore Lake can be hard to get to.   We have skied and snowshoed into the lake in winter.   We have biked into the lake from Lac le Jeune and run to the lake from a parking area area Fred Lake, but driving in with a  kayak requires a circuitous route via the Long Lake Road.   Most of the 15 km backroad route is unmarked so a good map or a GPS is helpful.

Ross Moore RouteThere is a small Recreation Site on the southeast corner of the lake for a hand launch.

ross Moore LakeThe lake sits at 4185 feet (m) and a paddle around the shoreline is about 3 km.

IMG_1463rRoss Moore is surrounded by high country forest with some swampy areas and some flooded trees along the shoreline.   The Rocky Mountain Rangers cabin stands on the north shore of the lake

IMG_1462r IMG_1457r

 

There were loons on the lake, killdeer on the shoreline, and deer along the route in.   Although it is a bit of a journey in with a kayak, it is a nice lake for a shorter paddle on a summer or fall day.

ross moore panor

Lac le Jeune Circuit

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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 is a quieter destination for a 9.5 km paddle.

Lac le Jeune Lakes ImageWe enjoy paddling both lakes, going through the water tunnel under the road.   The smaller lake to the west has extensive marshes.   Yellow and red-winged blackbirds and marsh wrens filled the reeds and bullrushes with sound.   A hatch must have also been in progress because fish were jumping all over the west lake.

Lac le Jeune paddle 002rSouth shoreline Lac le Jeune paddle 008ryellow-winged blackbird
Lac le Jeune paddle 010rmarsh wren Lac le Jeune paddle 015rthe water tunnel

When the winds pick up, we usually avoid the larger lakes, but Lac le Jeune is higher on the Interior Plateau so the winds are not the gusting cross-valley east-west winds found at lower altitudes.   We followed the shoreline, ducking into the lee of bays when we could.   For local paddling Lac le Jeune, Paul Lake, and Heffley Lake are our three best choices for the spring (for many return outings).

Lac le Jeune, Stake, and McConnell Lakes

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All of the images need to be redone, which is planned….

We set a target of paddling on 40 lakes in our region, but the number will probably be closer to 60 by the time we finish. The lakes have to be big enough to provide a good workout, be within about a hour and half drive, and be reasonably free of power boats.

McConnell Lake

We like McConnell Lake. There are usually eagles, ospreys, and loons on the lake (and sometimes herons), but it is a small lake and it gets a fair number of fishermen, canoes, and kayaks. The parking area is a good one for a hand launch and it is an easy drive from town. We have to go around the 2.65 km lake shoreline twice to get a better workout, but it is a busy place on weekends (pick a weekday instead).

McConnell Lake paddleStake Lake

We cross country ski, snowshoe, bike, hike, and run on the Stake Lake Trails, but we also go to Stake Lake to paddle once or twice each year. It is an easy drive and launch, and it is a good spot when larger lakes are too windy. There are usually not many boats on the lake. It is a shallow lake which makes interesting paddling.

Stake Lake 001bbrThe shoreline is an easy 2.4 km paddle so we paddle around the lake twice (once in each direction). There is an osprey nest on the east shore so we usually see the pair flying over the lake for fish.

Stake is a great spot for a double-outing so we often bring a bike or walking shoes along too, locking our boats on the rack while we do a loop on the trails.

stake lake paddleLac le Jeune

Lac le Jeune is one of our favorites. It is a large enough lake to get a good workout, there is lots of room for other boats, and there is a varied shoreline. We can also paddle under the bridge and do the little west lake, making the whole loop a 9.5 km paddle. Most types of kayaks are fine on Lac le Jeune, but on a windy day, the smaller boats are advised to stay close to shore. Since we camp at Lac le Jeune every year, we get several paddles on the area lakes, including an annual full lake loop.

lac le jeune paddleWe try to visit the swampy area at the far west end every year. If you glide quietly to the reeds, you will often spot a variety of birds. We usually go to the far east end too for the blooming lilies. Damselflies hatch in July and dragonflies come afterwards. Visiting blue damselflies on yellow lilies is a favorite annual ritual.

LLJeune July 010br“What sets a canoeing expedition apart is that it purifies you more rapidly and inescapably than any other travel. Travel a thousand miles by train and you are a brute; pedal five hundred on a bicycle and you remain basically a bourgeois; paddle a hundred in a canoe and you are already a child of nature.” – Pierre Elliott Trudeau