paddling Archives - Page 11 of 12

Green Lake East

Posted on July 15, 2016 by Kamloops KayakNovember 29, 2024

Green Lake has clear green water and a forested shoreline. It is a marl lake, a lime-rich mud-bottom and gravel post-glacial lake, common to a number of the larger BC Interior lakes. The Marble Range stands above the Cariboo to the west and silts and sediments rich in calcite and lime have worked their way into the lake basin by glacial scouring, deposition, and run-off. The result is the green-blue water of the lake, especially in the shallow areas. The lake is 17 km from end to end and a paddle around the whole shoreline would be 45 km, so we focused on the southeast end of the lake for this trip.

Although private homes line about half of the southern shore of the lake, there are 13 lake access lanes for boaters to launch canoes or kayaks. There are also BC Parks campgrounds and lakeshore lands so many more launch spots are possible. One of the best spots is at the end of the Green Lake South Road where there is good parking and a hand-launch spot at the edge of the forested shoreline of the east end of the lake.

Some deeper bays allow for exploration. We paddled through a narrow channel to get into a hidden back bay. The islands and bays of the east end provide some interesting paddle exploration areas.

Weekends can be busy in summer, but for the most part the lake is fairly quiet on weekdays and off-season. The South Cariboo is relatively flat providing wider skies for afternoon views across the lake and for evening sunsets.

Winds arise in the late morning in most Interior lakes so paddling is best done in the morning or evenings.

Many of our lakes are over-built with private homes with little access to the shoreline for visitors. Large powerboats and other loud noise-makers dominate the open waters. Some of the lakes become trophic, unhealthy for water plants and animals because of increased phosphorus and fecal coliform from shoreline degradation, seeping septic fields, cattle manure, and run-off rich in fertilizers. But Green Lake has so far been able to avoid the worst ravages of overuse. For now it is still a place to enjoy the lakewaters, the forest, and quiet of rural areas.

We explored the shoreline of the Boyd Bay Wetlands at the western end of the lake in the previous year and we will return to paddle there in the next year. Over time we will complete all 45 km of shoreline at Green Lake.

“Take a course in good water and air; and in the eternal youth of Nature you may renew your own. Go quietly, alone; no harm will befall you.” (John Muir)

Early River Kayaking

Posted on March 21, 2016 by Kamloops KayakNovember 29, 2024

The first day of paddling on the river was in February and the last day will be in November this year. When we paddle early in the season, the river is cold so there are some things we can do to make the experience more reasonable.

Check the weather forecast in the last 24 hours. Wind is the critical issue. Pick wind-free days which are few, but on many days the winds don’t arise until about 11:30 in the morning, a result of warming of the hills in the valley.
Paddle parts of the river that have a good hand launch with close parking. The best two local choices are Pioneer Park and Valleyview Boat Launch. McArthur Island is only suitable for higher water conditions. Riverside Park and Harrington Road are okay, but we have to haul the boat from the parking areas down to the beach and back. The South Thompson is an easier river to paddle upstream than the North Thompson.

3. The sit-on-top style of kayak or open hull kayaks (like the Costco ones) are not as warm as the traditional style kayaks. Either way, we want to wear a good sprayskirt in the early season.

4. Warm hands make a big difference. We keep our hands dry and wear paddling gloves. There are overgloves (pogies) available, but they are needed on the ocean where spray is a factor, not on the river in town.

5. Dry feet help too. Usually at least one foot has to be in the water to launch the boat. We wear neoprene boots for this. We have seen people that use rubber boots to launch, then change once on the water. Some paddlers leave their boat partly in the water, get into the boat, and use hip thrusts to move the boat off the beach into the water (this works).

6. Since the water is cold, we definitely don’t want to capsize so we only use very stable boats at this time of the year. Although we can perform self-rescue, we stay closer to the shoreline and if we did capsize, we would pull our boats to the shoreline right away. In general, we avoid turbulent water early in the season.

7. Wear a good paddling jacket. There are paddling-specific jackets with latex rubber gaskets for the neck and arm sleeves. These keep the paddler dry, but the jackets are expensive so some type of layering can also be used. We don’t use wetsuits or dry suits on the river, but if we were crossing a big lake, we would.

8. Some kayaks have good seats that don’t get cold in cold water, but if the seat is just plastic, an inflatable pad (Thermarest makes these) works well.

If we can stay warm and dry, paddling in the early season is a nice experience and best of all, there will be no one else out there but the ducks and geese.

Trapp Lake

Posted on November 25, 2015 by Kamloops KayakNovember 29, 2024

Trapp Lake is a long narrow lake right on Highway 5A. It is surrounded by hills and rangelands, though there is some Crown land too. It is not known as a fishing lake, nor does it see much recreational use. There is a good hand launch spot for paddlers a short distance off the highway (at N50 27.931 W120 16.246).

We can go around the lake in either direction, but it will depend on the wind. On this day early in the morning the lake was calm and the reflections off the hills were displayed in the lake’s surface.

It was almost a shame to paddle since the movement of the boat sent ripples into the reflections.

The grasslands stretch up the hillsides in both directions.

The water quality of the lake is not the best and there can be an algae bloom on the lake mid-summer, but in fall it is a quiet, cool, muddy lake down in the bottom of the valley.

Paddling down one shore to the end and back up the other in a long loop is a 10.4 km paddle. The highway traffic is the drawback, but on a weekday morning the number of vehicles was comparatively low and I just tuned out the noise. In its own unique way, Trapp Lake is another beautiful spot in our area.

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Lac le Jeune Circuit

Posted on May 15, 2015 by Kamloops KayakNovember 29, 2024

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.

We 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.

South shoreline	yellow-winged blackbird
marsh wren	the 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).

Eagle River Run

Posted on September 15, 2014 by Kamloops KayakNovember 29, 2024

The Eagle River runs west from Eagle Pass in the Monashees down to Sicamous and into Shuswap Lake. There is really not enough water in the upper end of the river to paddle, but when the Perry River joins the river, there is enough water to paddle from Craigellachie or Malakwa. On the upper river there are fallen trees, sweepers, deadheads, and logjams to contend with so it is only suitable for experienced paddlers. Eagle River meanders all the way making the distance much longer in a boat. We launched at the Malakwa Suspension Bridge which is only 21 km from the lake, but it took us 39.6km to paddle the river. At times we were paddling east on our way downriver.

The upper section had some faster water, but many hazards too. At one point 6 km downstream, the entire river was blocked by a logjam with only a 4 foot opening, followed by an obstacle-slalom course. I was able to get through, but another person capsized and the third person portaged around the section. For the first two hours, we had to slow down the kayaks in the river, scout the best line, and paddle adeptly around various hazards. At a good landing/launch spot downstream the river became slower, more clear of hazards, and it started to meander even more. This would be a good/safer spot for most kayakers to launch (see the locations coordinates below).

From this point, it is just a long paddle to the lake. We took 7 hours in all. Next time, we will start about 6 km downstream and we will pull out at the dog park just past the Cambie-Solsqua Bridge, shortening the route by about 13km. We ended up paddling out into the lake where there were powerboats, windy conditions, and nowhere to land near parking. We landed near the bridge, but this is a busy area with limited parking opportunities. In the lower river, there is also a set of rapids then a fish weir to negotiate.

We enjoyed the wildlife corridor, especially with the early run of the sockeye salmon. The fish jumped out of the water and predators patrolled the shoreline. We spotted a bear, many eagles, herons, and turkey vultures.

For recreational paddlers, the lower river would be a good choice, avoiding the upper river and lower river obstacles. Paddling this river in high water conditions would be for experienced paddlers only. The Eagle River is scenic and interesting, worth a day of paddling and exploration.

Coordinates (east to west):

Malakwa Suspension Bridge launch area (on the north side) – N50 46.448 W118 47.677
Danger area – logjams, sweepers, deadheads – N50 55.298 W118 48.329
A good launch area below the danger area – N50 54.776 W118 48.401
Cambie Bridge – N50 53.546 W118 52.112
Launch/landing spot (steep bank) at the end of a dirt road – N50 52.447 W118 55.811
Golf course (steep bank), but a possible landing/lunch spot – N50 50.844 W118 57.132
Lower Rapids – N50 50.987 W118 57.526
Cambie-Solsqua Bridge – N50 50.354 W118 58.425
Dog Park – N50 50.332 W118 58.592 (180m past the bridge on the north side)
paddlers can also choose to follow the river to the lake and back to the bridge area

Back to Badger

Posted on August 29, 2014 by Kamloops KayakNovember 29, 2024

Badger Lake is one of our favorite lakes to paddle. To launch your boat in Badger Lake, take the road to Sun Peaks, then turn onto the Knouff Lake Road. Continue past Sullivan/Knouff Lake and don't turn off on any of the side roads. An intersection is reached, but continue straight through and around the lake. The road leads to a BC Recreation Site on the east shore. There is a good boat launch, used mainly by fishermen and paddlers.

All of the shoreline is interesting, but the best parts of the lake to paddle are the back bays on the west side, sometimes called Spooney Lake. The area is shallow and surrounded by marshes. There are often birds and sometimes deer or moose grazing in the shallows. The entire loop is 7km to 9km, depending on how you choose to do the back areas. The whole area is usually quiet and peaceful, perfect for a day of paddling.

Upstream in March

Posted on April 3, 2014 by Kamloops KayakNovember 29, 2024

In Kamloops, we can paddle on our rivers in 9 of the 12 months of the year. With a cool spring, the first day of paddling on the river this year was the last day of March. From Pioneer Park, the upstream paddle is easier when the flow rates are down. With a reduced current, we can progress east on the South Thompson River more quickly, but it is still a good workout, especially early in the season as we build our paddling endurance levels. The Valleyview Boat Launch is about 5.75 km. The paddlewheeler Wanda Sue is berthed just east of that, a good place to turn around.

Many geese and some ducks were in pairs or small groups on the shoreline. One great blue heron probed the shallows of the river off Shuswap Road. The best part of paddling at this time of the year is the complete absence of power boats. Although the river goes right through the middle of town, most sections are quiet, especially on a weekday morning. There were 3 other kayaks on the river and one rower too.

We paddle on the river in the early season before the noisy power boats overwhelm the river. They seem oblivious to the intrusiveness of the noise, the wake, and their speed in such a narrow space. When they arrive on the river, we move to the upland lakes.

Maligne Marine

Posted on November 25, 2013 by Kamloops KayakNovember 29, 2024

Maligne Lake is a prime spot to paddle. Information for paddlers follows.

Launch Spot

Drive past the Maligne Lodge and continue across the Maligne River bridge over to the public boat launch. Location – N52 48.550 W117 38.596

Picnic Spots

There a number of designated picnic spots/landings along the lake. Most of these have a beach to land on and picnic tables. See this link for locations.

Power Boats

Powerful tour boats go down the lake to a point just outside of Spirit Island. They put up a big wake so paddlers are advised to paddle close to the shore on either side. Fishermen have to use electric motors so the lake is fairly quiet for most of the time. The Park Ranger also has a power boat, but we didn’t see the Ranger in the 4 days we were there.

Samson Narrows

The lake narrows off at 13km down the lake. The tour boats are supposed to slow down, but paddlers are still advised to time their passage through the narrows well. Location – N52 39.105 W117 30.888

Fisherman’s Cove Campsite

This marine campsite has 8 tent pads, 8 roomy food caches, an outhouse, and picnic tables/firepits in a common area near the beach. It sits on the east shore in a protected bay. Maximum stay is 2 nights and a permit is required (go to the Parks Service in Jasper first). We like the view from the shoreline. Location – N52 39.141 W117 30.210

Spirit Cove

The tour boats go down the lake just past Spirit Island so that tourists can see and photograph Coronet Glacier, then they turn back and land at a dock in the cove. There are washrooms and some trails at the cove. This is where the photos of Spirit Island are usually taken. We landed at the beach in the cove to have lunch and enjoy the view. Location – N52 38.635 W117 29.538

Coronet Creek Campsite

At the far end of the lake, about 23km down the lake if you follow the shoreline (recommended). It sits around the east side of the Coronet Creek outwash. There are 8 tent pads, 8 roomy food bins, picnic tables, firepits, and an outhouse. Bring you own toilet paper. The beach faces east over to the outlet from the Monkhead River. There is a good protected beach for landings and launches. The Coronet Creek/Coronet Glacier trail starts at the campground. The maximum length of a stay at this site is 2 days and a permit is needed. Location – N52 35.755 W117 25.930

Wildlife

Deer roamed through the campsites. We saw fresh bear scats up the Coronet Creek Trail. There were ospreys and loons on the lake.

Weather

Winds often come up in the afternoon, so paddling along the shoreline in the morning is recommended. The water is cold so caution needs to be taken when paddling down the lake and back. We watched a number of novices heading down the middle of the lake in rental canoes, unprepared for the boat wash and strong winds. With some good luck, you will have sunny weather and light winds.

Roche Lake and Jacko Lake

Posted on August 31, 2013 by Kamloops KayakNovember 29, 2024

These are popular fishing lakes so if you want to paddle around the shoreline, pick a weekday or go there in shoulder season. Both have interesting shorelines to explore.

Jacko Lake

Paddle this lake before the new Ajax Mine opens. After that, it will be a disaster zone. Drive toward Lac le Jeune and just past Inks Lake, turn east on a gravel road. Follow the road to a grassy parking area and a good area to launch. The distance around the shoreline is 3.5km (if you go into all the small bays). Grasslands border the lake. On a windy day, the lake is down in a bowl so you will get some protection, but there are only a few trees so just stay close to the shoreline.

Roche Lake

Roche Lake lies at a higher elevation (3762 feet) than the grassland lakes below so is mostly surrounded by uplands forests. On a hot day, this is a good choice, but it also gets a lot of summer use since there are two BC Parks campsites, one on each side of the lake, a resort, and private cabins. We prefer to paddle Roche in the shoulder season. The distance around the shoreline is about 8.8 km.

These lakes are the domain of fishermen so give a wide berth to their boats and lines. Pick times that are less busy and respect the quiet of the lake.

Lac le Jeune, Stake, and McConnell Lakes

Posted on August 29, 2013 by Kamloops KayakNovember 29, 2024

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).

Stake 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.

The 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.

Lac 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.

We 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.

“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

North Thompson Run

Posted on July 23, 2013 by Kamloops KayakNovember 29, 2024

The run down the North Thompson River from McLure to Kamloops is about 36 km. We launched from the McLure Ferry on the west side in our ocean-going kayaks.

In high water, the river runs faster and all the island channels open up. We immediately chose the channel behind a larger island and we continued to take these types of channels all the way down the river. The river was running quickly, and we were in no hurry, but we still averaged 9.6 km/hour, about twice as fast as steady paddling on flat water.

The North Thompson has many gravel and sand shoals which are a danger to power boats, but pose no hazard to shallow-draught kayaks. There was some swirling water and some spots of fast-running water, but the route down the North Thompson is a pleasant route, best suited to longer boats and experienced paddlers, but relatively easy for most of the route.

The one challenging area is the Heffley Rapids. Just below the Jamieson Creek outlet, the river moves quickly and crosses rocky ground resulting in sections of rapids over a one kilometre distance. The first rapid is usually the biggest one and it is best to pick a good route through standing waves, intersecting side channels, and bumpy sections. It is possible to be flipped over (I was a few years ago), so care and precision is needed. It is usually a lot of fun and more exciting than the long sections of slow water, but the Heffley Rapids are not for inexperienced paddlers. Even having done this a few times, we usually stop at a small beach above the rapids and then we walk the shoreline to scout out a good route.

In fast water, the route from the McLure Ferry to Harrington Road in Westsyde took only 4 hours. There is a lot of slow-moving water from Heffley to Westsyde, but there is nowhere to land so the last section is a leisurely paddle to the landing. We find the river to be quiet, scenic, and interesting. The North Thompson has back eddies, channels, islands, swirling water, a few rapids a lot of hidden beaches, and more opportunities for wildlife sightings. The river is navigable in a kayak from above Clearwater all the way to Kamloops, but it is rare to see a paddler on the river. Our next trip will be a long route from Clearwater all the way to Kamloops, with an overnight stay on islands in the middle of the river along the way.

Painted Bluffs on Kamloops Lake

Posted on July 19, 2013 by Kamloops KayakNovember 29, 2024

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 is a long and 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.

Freshet Flapping

Posted on July 16, 2013 by Kamloops KayakNovember 29, 2024

The floodlands out from Tranquille invite paddlers an opportunity to paddle for about 10km through channels, bays, and lagoon-like mazes of wetland vegetation. Launching out of Tranquille, both sides of the river await exploration.

As the freshet approaches in June, the wildlife also moves in. The earliest residents are ducks, geese, blackbirds, and other nesting waterfowl and wetland birds. Under the water, fish and aquatic invertebrates proliferate and the larger birds like great blue herons and pelicans also move in. With the abundance of life also come the predators. Bald and golden eagles, ospreys, red-tailed hawks, and even kites and peregrines can be spotted. Painted turtles sun themsleves on logs. All are best seen while drifting quietly.

Paddling requires both hands and attention to balance, so calm conditions and a slow approach facilitate seeing and photographing wildlife. When we paddle out into this area in June and July, we try to take our time and keep the focus on exploration. On the last venture, a number of dead-end channels were found. As the river recedes at the end of freshet, through channels start to disappear, but new surprises can still be found – wild asparagus, knotweed in flower, amphibians, and wading birds.

Framing all of this are the hills and skies of the Thompson River Valley, a favorite place.

Battle Bluff Reflections

Posted on June 7, 2013 by Kamloops KayakNovember 29, 2024

From Tranquille Bay or Cooney Bay, paddlers can follow the shoreline to Battle Bluff, which is a sheer face rising 1150 feet from the lake. The shoreline to the east is often protected from the wind, but there is usually some wind around the point. When there is no wind, the walls of the bluffs are reflected in the lake.

Paddling close to the rock, the reflection creates a strong optical illusion.

Sometimes it is hard for our eyes and our brains to make sense of the scene. How many logs?

The paddle around Cooney Bay and beyond to the end of Battle Bluff and back is an 8 km journey. On this last trip, bighorn sheep were grazing on the shoreline, ospreys were scouting for fish, mergansers perched on logs, poison ivy was spotted on the shoreline, Tranquille Creek was surging out into the bay, and eagles cirlced overhead. The lake can be very peaceful, but strong winds are always a possibility. Will the new marina at Tobiano bring more power boats into the lake?

Clearwater Marine Campsites (Part Two)

Posted on March 12, 2013 by Kamloops KayakNovember 29, 2024

Clearwater Marine Campsites Part Two is the second in a series on paddle camping on Clearwater Lake.

From the boat launch to most of the marine campsites we will paddle north, but Caribou Beach Campsite is southwest, only 750 metres away. If it is a blustery day, this is a good backcountry destination. We found 4-5 sites with beach front and lots of trees. There are two distinct camping areas. We liked the two facing south, although they were farther from the woodpile, the bearproof cache, and the outhouse.

If you paddle north, the nearest campsites are Divers Bluff (6.2 km up the lake) on the west side, Bar View (8.4 km) on east side and Ivor Creek (10.5 km) on the east side.

We like Divers Bluff with south-facing sites. The beach is small, but the sites are fairly open, though not very private. Swimmers dive off the cliffs in warm weather. There is a trail going up to a viewpoint above the campsite. The lake is narrower here, a good spot to cross over to Bar View and Ivor.

Farther up the lake are 3 more official sites and two unofficial ones. Archer (15 km) and Huckleberry are prime spots farther up the lake. Barella Creek is the most northern campsite on the lake.

Archer has fine views up and down the lake as well as alpine views of Zodiac and Azure Mountains. The point has beaches on both sites. Campsites are set up above the beaches. This is our favorite campsite on the lake. Huckleberry is another nice campsite, also suitable to power boats. It has a good stream and lots of beach. Barella Creek also lies next to a creek, but it can be a little swampy and buggy. The beach is nice later in the summer, though. For anyone planning to portage or paddle upstream, this is the closest campsite.

For a three night tour in good weather, I would camp the first night at Divers Bluff, the second night at Archer, then return to Ivor Creek or Bar View before paddling back to the boat launch. Watch for my blue Delta 18.5 foot kayak out there too.

Part Three features photos of the campsites. (Don’t you wish it was summer now?)

Marine Campsites on Clearwater Lake (Part 1)

Posted on March 11, 2013 by Kamloops KayakNovember 29, 2024

At the end of the Wells Gray corridor, the road ends at Clearwater Lake. Further progress is marine access only. The lake runs for 24km north and has 7 campsites along its shores. Beyond is an upriver paddle to Azure Lake or a rough portage. Some people take the water taxi to the end of Azure and then paddle back. Whichever choice you make, camping on Clearwater Lake is a prime destination for paddle camping. Some things you need to know include:

early season campers may find deadfall and facilities yet to be maintained.
high water may flood out campsites in June; in 2012, all sites were closed for a while
mosquitoes start mid June and continue through mid to late July
the prime camping season is May, August, and September
bear-proof food caches are found in every campsite
outhouses are found at every site, but bring your own paper, just in case
firepits can be found at every campground, but not at every tent site
firewood is cut by the contractor, using deadfall from near the area
you may have to haul firewood from the cache/woodpile to your firepit
firewood may be wet; you may have to be patient to maintain a campfire
the contractor goes up the lake each day and checks in at the marine campsites; pay your fees at the lauch and keep your receipts with you
some of the campsites are more open to the winds blowing up and down the lake, especially those on a point
most campgrounds are next to a creek flowing into the lake; treat your water just to be safe
campsites with a sandy bach are more likely to be stop for a power boat or groups
Ivor Creek is a canoe-kayak only campsite with 3 tent pads; we also saw room on the beach for a few more
the busiest campsites are Bar View and Huckleberry
east-side campsites get the afternoon sun after a day of paddling
cross the lake only in calm winds which is usually in the morning or evening;
the narrowest part of the lake is at the south end and is 2.5 km wide near the middle of the lake
on a windy day, stay close to the shoreline
Part Two of this series will feature images and information on specific campsites

Kamloops Kayak

Paddling the lakes and rivers

Tag Archives: paddling

Green Lake East

Early River Kayaking

Trapp Lake

Lac le Jeune Circuit

Eagle River Run

Back to Badger

Upstream in March

Maligne Marine

Roche Lake and Jacko Lake

Lac le Jeune, Stake, and McConnell Lakes

North Thompson Run

Painted Bluffs on Kamloops Lake

Freshet Flapping

Battle Bluff Reflections

Clearwater Marine Campsites (Part Two)

Marine Campsites on Clearwater Lake (Part 1)

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