There are 3 access points to launch a boat on Kamloops Lake – Savona, Tobiano, and Cooney Bay.  To paddle into Cooney Bay, drive to Tranquille, but stay left and drive to the end of the bumpy road.   From the parking lot, boats have to be hauled down to the edge of the river through the cottonwoods.   From the beach paddlers can launch into the river to get around the point past the outlet of Tranquille Creek and into Cooney Bay.

Even on a windy day, Cooney Bay is partly sheltered by bluffs.   Rocky hills and dry slopes rise above the north side of the lake.   This is a good area to spot bald eagles, ospreys, loons, and sometimes pelicans.

A great blue heron launched from the beach as we paddled down to Battle Bluff.

The paddle around the bay and down to the rocky cliffs of Battle Bluff is 3.2 km.  Winds may be stronger around the first part of Battle Bluff, but if not, the additional distance is another 1 km.   A return shoreline paddle is 8.4 km.   The shoreline past Battle Bluff is less interesting.   On a calm day we have also crossed the lake and have done a loop route.

We spotted a number of birds from our kayaks, including one of the newly-fledged immature eagles from the aerie near Battle Bluff.

Kamloops Lake is not a good choice for most paddlers on a windy day, but on a calm day, the paddling is excellent and there will likely be no one around, especially on a weekday.

The whole area is very scenic and worth the extra effort to get the boats down to the shoreline and back.

More information:

• The Eagle’s Aerie
• Kamloops Lake Loop
• A Tour of the East End of Kamloops Lake