Tag Archives: paddling

Stump Lake Recreation Site

Kamloops Kayak Posted on by

Stump Lake is a fine lake to paddle, but with two caveats.     It is a windy lake so we need to check the wind forecasts in advance.    Second, there has been limited access to the lake to launch a boat.    The lake has risen, flooding some lakeside cabins and the main boat launch area on the west shore.    Since it is a popular fishing lake (kokanee), the one official ramp is always full.     there are three other informal access points, but they are also busy spots.    In the last few years I have used the roughest access point, hauling the kayak down to the rocky shoreline.    There was a Rec Site on the east side of the lake, but the access road was in poor shape and the site was run-down.    I landed my kayak in the little bay and checked it out and was disappointed.    But that has all changed now.    BC Rec Sites and Trails has rebuilt the site.   Access is from the south, at the start of the Peterhope Lake Road.    the road has been graded and re-fenced all the way to the campsite, where there are 16 campsites, a boat launch, washrooms, and parking.

I launched my kayak from the gravel shoreline and paddled south along the shoreline of the lake.

Stump Lake is a large lake so we paddle a loop route over part of the lake, changing the route each time.

Next time I will again choose this launch area and I will paddle north.   Recommended!

More information:

 

 

Edith AM

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With wind and rain forecast for the day, starting about 9 am, I decided to head out to Edith Lake early.     I was on the water by 7:15 and enjoyed cool, but calm conditions.    At the time of the morning, there were no other boats yet on the lake.     Along the way were loons, geese, ducks (mallards, goldeneyes, and grebes), blackbirds, meadowlarks, swallows, rising fish, and killdeer.     A circuit of the lake, including all the back bays takes under an hour, but if we continuously paddle, it makes a good workout to start the day.

The main part of the lake sees a lot of fishing boats, but boats do not venture to the back bays much.   These are surrounded by grassland hills and are shallow near the end.    As I paddled back to the boat launch, more fishermen were arriving.

Edith is one of my go-to lakes for a shorter paddle so I try to keep a good pace as a workout, but I also enjoy the quiet, rural setting of this close-to-home lake.

 

 

Pass Lake Kayaking

Kamloops Kayak Posted on by

On a grey and drizzly morning I drove up through the Lac du Bois Grasslands and continued to Pass Lake  at 19km.    I drove down the short access road to the Pass Lake Recreation Site.     There are two boat launches and lots of parking.    I launched into the lake and paddled twice around the shoreline, a 5 km outing.    there were a few fly fishermen on the lake, but it was still a quiet spot.    There were loons, including a nesting one on the shoreline, an eagle, ducks, geese, red-winged blackbirds, marsh wrens, a painted turtle, and a fresh hatch on the lake

 

The lake was calm for the first third, then wind and rain passed through the area, and it calmed down for the final part of the second loop on the lake.

This lake is a good lake to paddle in the spring, one I will continue to kayak for the years to come.    More information – Pass Lake

 

 

 

 

 

Bleeker Lake Kayaking

Kamloops Kayak Posted on by

On a mild spring day in early May I drove gravel roads to the Roche Lake area, then turned onto the Bleeker Lake Forest Service Road to the BC Rec Site on the north side of the lake.      On a Sunday morning the Rec Site was full and there were three other informal sites nearby also being used, but when I launched the kayak, there were no other boats on the lake.      A paddle around the shoreline is about 4.5 km and it took me one hour of steady paddling.

Bleeker lake has shallow areas on either end of the lake, but it can all be paddled in spring.   With intermittent inflow, the lake drops significantly in summer, partly from evaporation and partly from draw-down (a dammed lake).    Large sections of the lake become choked with aquatic vegetation in summer.   The lake has also had recent winter kill, but there is an aeration system in the lake to support the fishery.    On this day there were many ducks on the lake, a loon, and a bald eagle watching for a lunch meal.

This is a lake I paddle each spring, but I do not return for a second day of paddling in summer or fall.    I will be back in May of 2025 (but I may go past Bleeker to brave the rough road into Hosli Lake).

A few images from the day’s paddling are shared here.    Click an image for a lightbox view.

 

 

More Information – Bleeker Lake

 

Nicola Lake (On April Fools Day)

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On April Fools Day there was no wind forecast for morning in the Merritt area.     Nicola Lake is about 60 km south on Highway 5A so an early start ensured a launch time in calm conditions.    There are a few boat launches along Nicola Lake and the first one just off the highway has a picnic area and a gravel launch area.    there was no one else on the lake as I paddled south along the shoreline.    On this loop route I spotted ducks, geese, crows, and eagles.    The lake was flat and it was quiet, except when a truck went by the lake.     I paddled south then crossed the lake to come back on the other side.

 

There are a small number of summer homes on the northwestern shore, then a series of rocky bluffs.     Near the end of the lake are farmlands.

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

 

 

This was an 8.2 km paddle taking about 1.6 hours.    Finding calm water on Nicola Lake is always a blessing and the fine spring weather made this an ideal outing.      The goal is to paddle each lake at least once and the bigger lakes usually get more than one day of paddling, with subsequent days on a different part of the lake.

 

 

Trapp Lake in March

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At the end of March, the valley bottom lakes were ice-free.    Some of them are larger lakes so we have to pick a mild day with little wind.    The chain of lakes (Trapp, Shumway, Napier, Stump, and Nicola) on Highway 5A South are good choices at this time of year.    Trapp Lake is a long narrow lake next to the highway, but there is good access for paddlers.   The whole lake is a longer paddle, so I usually do the north or south end on one day, then the other at another time.     This is an alkali lake with no fishing so it is rare to see another boat on the lake.    In summer the algae multiplies so spring is the best season to paddle the lake.

I paddled up the west side of the lake and followed the shoreline in a clockwise loop, a 6.1 km kayaking day.

Grasslands hills rise steeply on the west side of the lake.     Wind-streaked (lenticular) clouds painted the skies above.

Trapp Lake

On the way back down the east side of the lake, the sun shone through the clouds and the wind died down.

Trapp LakeThe east side of the lake is mostly steep wooded slopes.     Trees by the shoreline sometimes tilt over the lake’s waters.

TrappIn a  few sheltered bays on the east side, ice shelves persisted.

Trapp

 

More Information on Trapp Lake – link.

In this phase the upland lakes are still ice-bound, but paddling on the lakes will be a bi-weekly schedule with the Highway 5A lakes, but also lakes in the Thompson River Valley (Little Shuswap, White Lake, Shuswap Lake, Kamloops Lake, and some benchland lakes too).

Thanks for visiting KamloopsKayak.

 

Paddle Bluff

Kamloops Kayak Posted on by

On a mild and calm day on the second day of spring, I drove down the bumpy road to Cooney Bay, then hauled my kayak down to the shoreline of the estuary.    I launched in a shallow channel and worked my way out to Kamloops Lake.    There were swans, geese, ducks, and gulls in the channels and on the lake.    With no wind and the sun breaking through clouds, it was a perfect day for a paddle.    I padded around Cooney Bay then continued along the bluffs going west.

The goal for the day was to paddle around the base of Battle Bluff, then turn around and paddle back the same way.

Kamloops Lake is often a windy area so when the forecast is for no wind, Kamloops Lake, Nicola Lake, Little Shuswap Lake. or Stump Lake are on the list for a longer paddle.    This one was about 1.5 hours.    the next time I paddle the lake, it will be from the west end.     Some images from the paddle are shared here.    click an image for a lightbox view.

 

 

 

 

 

River Daze

Kamloops Kayak Posted on by

The first few days of paddling each year are spent on the river, launching from Pioneer Park, Riverside Park, or Valleyview.     Once the weather warms and the winds abate, the valley-bottom lakes are next.    On a calm March morning the winds were light and the sun was out on the South Thompson River.

There were ducks and geese on the river.     On the shore were crows, magpies, and an occasional dog walker.     A swan flew overhead, heading upstream.     I paddled up past the Yellowhead Highway Bridge and turned around, happy with a one hour paddle on the river.

Three and a Half Bridges Each Way

Kamloops Kayak Posted on by

In mid-March the weather was perfect for an early paddle on the rivers.    From Pioneer Park, the route was downstream, under the Red Bridge, then under the Train Bridge toward the Confluence of the South Thompson and the North Thompson Rivers.

There are a number of sand and gravel bars at the Confluence so it is best to stick to the south shore, passing under a third bridge (Overlander Bridge) and beyond down the Thompson River to the old bridge pylons from the old (1925 to 1961) Black Bridge.

Beyond the pylons, we can still see the footings of the older-yet White Bridge (1901-1925).     At low water, these are rocky high spots in the river.    Paddling around these, I returned back upstream, paddling toward the morning sun.

There is a bit of turbulent water at the Confluence.    Progress upstream is slow.

Paddling down toward Rabbit Island and back is about 6 km.    This is a better paddle in the early or late season when there are no powerboats on the river.    Paddling on a day without strong winds is always a good practice.

Here is a good article on the bridges – The Bridges of Kamloops

 

 

 

 

Reflections: Edith Lake on a Grey, Windy Day

Kamloops Kayak Posted on by

When the weather is marginal I got out to one of 4 lakes – Jacko, Edith, Paul, or Edith Lake.    On a day that was forecast for wind and rain, I got an early start.

On the open part of the lake, it was a bit windy and cool, but I did a counter-clockwise loop and entered the back channels, more protected from the wind.


There are two out-and-back bays on that end of the lake, both protected from the wind, but also hidden, with no other boats in sight.


The end of the back channel is surrounded by grazing lands.    I usually round the deadhead and return by the other shore.

A circuit around the lake takes about 50 minutes so I go around twice, once in each direction on some days.   On this day it was under an hour of paddling, a shorter outing for a busy day.

I will be back to paddle the lake again, then in winter to snowshoe around the lake.

 

Reflections: On Jacko Lake in the Rain

Kamloops Kayak Posted on by

The forecast was for rain and a bit of wind coming up late that morning, so I headed out to Jacko Lake for an early paddle in the drizzle.

There was one fisherman on the lake, but otherwise it was the swallows, eagles, blackbirds, sandpipers, American dippers. ducks, dragonflies, and one kayaker on the lake, in the rain.

Click an image for a lightbox view.

In spite of the rain and a bit of wind, this was a fine paddle, one of 78 in 2023.

 

Kayaking Nicola Lake from Monck Park

Kamloops Kayak Posted on by

On a fall day I launched my kayak from Monck Park and paddled south on Nicola Lake.   Nicola Lake can be very windy and even a calm day can soon turn into a breezy one.  

A short TikTok video shares some of these moments:

 

@dsmith941

Kayaking Nicola Lake (from Monck Park #paddling

♬ original sound – dsmith941 – dsmith941

Logan Lake

Kamloops Kayak Posted on by

 

On a fall day I drove to Logan Lake to paddle the lake, then I hiked one of the trails.    There is a good launch spot at the campground on the east end of the lake.

I paddled twice around the lake (3.6 km), then secured the boat to go for a hike.    A few images are shared here.   Click an image for a lightbox view.

This is a nice spot for a combination paddle-and-hike and is a recommended outing.

 

 

 

 

Nicola Lake from Monck Park

Kamloops Kayak Posted on by

On a cool, grey day with a smattering of rain I drove down to Monck Park and launched the kayak onto Nicola Lake.

Nicola Lake can be a windy spot and some cool winds were blowing down the lake so I stayed on the shoreline of the lake, enjoying the quiet paddle in spite of the conditions.

Nicola Lake is a big lake so I launch out of three spots (north south, and middle-west) and do different loops each time.    For 2023 this was my second time on the lake, day 67 of paddling.     After paddling I secured the boat, then hiked the trails.

A few moments from the paddle will soon be on the Ramble On YouTube Channel. 

 

 

 

 

 

Cool Fall Winds on McConnell Lake

Kamloops Kayak Posted on by

When there are winds forecast I try to get an earlier start because the winds get stronger by late morning.    I also chose a smaller sheltered lake and one of the best for this kind of day is McConnell Lake.   I launched early, the only boat on the lake that morning.

I paddled twice around the lake, once in each direction.    The wind was consistent at 10 – 15 km/hour.

Near the end of the second lap, the winds died down for a short time, but were back just after I finished the paddle.


After paddling I secured the boat, then went for a hike on the trail, exploring the forest before returning back to town.

A few moments from the paddle on the lake are shared here in a short YouTube video on the Ramble On Channel.

 

 

Kayaking Edith Lake

Kamloops Kayak Posted on by

On a cool, sunny late September morning I chose Edith Lake for an hour of paddling.    When I got there I found out that the World Fly Fishing Championships were scheduled for that day.   Eight women’s teams would be on the lake so I paddled out right away.

The back bays were quiet with no fishing boats, a perfect day for kayaking.

The competitors were clustered around the area out from the boat launch.    Fishing was slow, but the organizers were hovering nearby to count and measure the fish caught.    I gave the cluster of boats a wide berth as I completed a single loop of the lakeshore.

Edith Lake is one of my “go-to lakes.”    It is closest to home, the paddling is always good (except at the busiest times, which I avoid), and it is a scenic spot for an hour or two of paddling.

Watch for a short YouTube video on the Ramble On Channel.