Tag Archives: Lac le Jeune area

Our Paddling Corridor

Kamloops Kayak Posted on by

From Kamloops we have many lakes and rivers that we can pick for a day of paddling. Since wind is always an issue for paddlers, we are best to check the weather forecast before selecting a destination.   With the summer of 2017, we also had smoky days to think about and higher lakes tended to have less smoke than lakes and rivers closer to the valleys.   When weather, air quality, or wind may be an issue, we can just head up the Paddling Corridor and stop any one of the 16 lakes in less than an hour’s drive.   Some of the choices are not as easy to get to or may be more difficult in shoulder season, but the main lakes are reliable for most of the paddling season.   In the Google map below, click on the icons to see the location, an article, and a photo.   The map can be enlarged, panned, and shared.

 

Notes:

  • There are some access issues for Face Lake, Dominic Lake, Frogmoore Lake, and Sussex Lake.   A good high-clearance vehicle is helpful.   Paddlers can also choose to pay a launch fee at the lodges on Face Lake and Dominic Lake to avoid a rougher road.   Check the articles for more information.
  • In summer, Mamit Lake and Inks Lake become algae-filled, making them less pleasant to paddle.
  • All of the remaining lakes are fine choices for a day of paddling.

 

 

Surrey and Sussex Lakes

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Surrey and Sussex Lake lie near to the Surrey Summit (1444 m /4738 feet) on the Coquihalla Highway, but the access route is off the Logan Lake Road.   Going west towards Logan Lake for 7 km, we turn left onto the Surrey Lake Forest Service Road and follow the road up the hill for 6.9 km until it passes under the Coquihalla.   Watch for a Surrey Lake Fishing Resort sign and turn right onto that sideroad.   At 1.3 km, the Resort is reached, but look for another side road going to the right.   This narrow road follows the western shoreline of Surrey Lake and beyond to Sussex Lake.

Surrey and Sussex LakeI found 3 spots to park and hand launch on the side of Surrey Lake.   Paddlers could also ask to launch at the Resort which would involve a small day-use fee.   The shoreline paddle is 4.6 km, including the shallow bay on the northeast side of the lake.

IMG_0875rIn fall this lake was very quiet.   The cool morning temperatures left a few lingering mists, but there were some ducks in the shallow bays.   There are a small handful of cabins on the lake in addition to the fishing resort, but no one was stirring on this day.   Most of the shoreline is treed and even through there has been extensive logging in the area, most of the cut blocks are not visible from the lakes, except on one side of remote Sussex Lake.

IMG_0879rThe road continues over to Sussex Lake, but it is narrow and rough 0.6km to the Sussex Lake Rec Site.   Bring an axe or chainsaw for any fallen trees.   From Google Earth, there IMG_6618rappears to be another route through a cutblock to the west that will be fine for an ATV, but I did not try to bring the truck on the track.

The Rec Site sits on the banks of the lake.   There is a room for a few campers there, an outhouse and some user-made fire rings.   A small hand launch area makes easy unloading.   The paddle around the lake was 3.2km.   There are no cabins at Sussex Lake;   its just a nice high country spot for fishing or paddling.

After paddling the two lakes (7.8km), I came back down the FSR and stopped at Desmond Lake, visible from the Coquihalla.   This small, marshy lake would be better suited to a paddleboard in the spring when it is full (1.7km around the shoreline).

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Near Surrey and Sussex Lakes are more lakes – Frogmoore (a favorite), Bob Lake, and Mildred Lake, more spots for exploration in the High Country.

Paska Lake

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Paska Lake is a higher plateau lake, attracting more fishermen in the middle of summer when the lower lakes are not very productive.   To reach Paska, take the road to Logan Lake and turn north onto the Paska Lake Road and watch for the rec site 12 km up.   A gravel boat launch makes a good spot to put a canoe or kayak into the water at this 4720 foot elevation lake.   A paddle around the circumference is about 4.3 km.   There is a lot of shallow water on this 50 hectare lake, perfect for exploration with a kayak.

PaskaThis is a quiet spot mid-week, but the campsite can fill up on weekends and the quad squad takes over the hills.   With about 40 lakes to paddle in within an hour’s drive, Paska is one more choice. best suited to a hot summer day.

Paska 009br

Find a quiet day and follow the shoreline, leaving no trace but the ripples of the boat.

Paska 011br

Walloper Lake

Kamloops Kayak Posted on by

We try to paddle every lake in our area, following the shoreline, exploring bays, watching for wildlife, waterfowl, and aquatic plants.   We have to paddle around fishermen and snags.   Sometimes we go around the lake twice, once in each direction.

On a quiet afternoon, I launched from the provincial recreation site on the north shore, not far from the fishing dock.  The paddle was a leisurely one, inspecting the dark, weedy waters of the lake.   The loop along the shoreline is 4.7km.

I was surprised by how much noise there was from the highway above. The water was murky, though a few small fish jumped in the bays at the edge of the drop offs.

A few cabins and home hug the north side. Swampy zones were more interesting at the east and west ends of the lake. Great blue herons stood on the shoreline.   This is a fishing lake, not a destination for paddling, although it makes a good alternate spot for a short paddle.