It is a longer drive on gravel roads to get to Saul and Tranquille Lakes. I have been to Tranquille Lake four times, passing Saul Lake on the Sawmill Lake Road on three of these days. On one trip I drove to Tranquille Lake and paddled around the lake, then drive back to Saul Lake and paddled it too. There is a signed turn … Continue reading →
On a spring day I hiked the Outer Inks Trails to Dam Lake, then followed a series of tracks to the Spade Lakes, and then back on different trails. The trailhead is on a dirt road accessed by turning off the Coquihalla Highway at the Inks Lake Interchange. Most of these “trails” are double tracks used by ranchers, loggers, and backcountry recreationalists, including dirt bikes and … Continue reading →
On a rainy day in June, overcast skies and wet weather discouraged hiking or paddling outings in the hills, but if the winds are not a factor, another choice is to go to a smaller lake with a kayak to paddle for about an hour. To stay comfortable, a rain jacket is needed and a spray skirt (or equivalent) can keep the legs dry. … Continue reading →
In a past spring we traveled to Central Washington to hike the desert lands over a two week period. We did a circle route, camping at State Parks and doing a new hike each day. We went through Grand Coulee then stayed at Steamboat Rock and in the next two days, we did two hikes venturing out from this lovely campground. We drove to … Continue reading →
On a mid-June day I drove west toward Savona, then turned up the Six Mile Lake (Pat Lake) Road to go to the lakeshore. This route was the old road from Kamloops to Savona going around the southern end of Six Mile Hill and down to the Tunkwa Lake Road. When the Trans Canada Highway was improved, a route was cut through the Six … Continue reading →
On a hot day I got an early start to hike through the Vista Hills from the pipeline track. Rather than follow signed (official) trails, I went onto a faint single track over to the fenceline. From there I was off-trail, working my way up the slopes on the western edge of Kenna Cartwright Park. I went to the top of the hill … Continue reading →
In early June I drove south on Highway 5A past Stump Lake, then turned east on the Peterhope Lake Road. There is a nice Recreation Site 7 kms up the road. I used the first boat launch unload and head into the lake in my kayak. I paddled around the lake, including a marsh channel to a small lake on the southwest corner. … Continue reading →
We traveled into the Washington State Desert Lands in spring to do early-season hikes for two weeks. We drove through Osoyoos then south across the border through Omak and series of small towns following highways and secondary roads. We camped at State Parks, then drove to trailheads for a good hike each day. On one of those days we camped at Dry Falls and … Continue reading →
At the end of May, the forecast called for windy conditions in Kamloops, but a little better higher in the hills so I headed up the Lac le Jeune Road and continued onto the Logan Lake Road, then turned onto the Paska Lake Road. The best launch spot is in the Rec Site. I unloaded by boat and parked by the washrooms. The winds … Continue reading →
Deadman River flows from the lakes on the Bonaparte Plateau and drains to the west for 40 km before it falls over the cliffs into Deadman Canyon. The river continues down Deadman Valley all the way to the Thompson River. To get to Deadman Falls, we need to drive west past Kamloops Lake, then turn north up the Deadman – Vidette Road (56 km) to … Continue reading →
