Stand up paddleboarding has quickly become a favourite watersport to many. Just as nice is lying down and taking in the sun.
Image Credit: INSTAGRAM/Erin Melba
August 24, 2019 - 7:00 PM
The last true summer weekend is coming up, and you should make the most of it. With a few warm weeks left, it’s a perfect time to enjoy one of the fastest-growing water sports. Here is a list of some of the best spots around the Thompson Okanagan to do some stand-up paddleboarding and enjoy the warm sun and serene waters.
VERNON
If you’re not already near Vernon, this one is worth travelling to. Kalamalka turns a beautiful blue-green every summer. During Labour Day weekend, the city is home to the Kalamaka Classic Stand Up Paddleboard Festival. You can get your paddleboard rentals from Kalavida Surf Shop, which claims to be the original B.C. paddleboard shop. There are many great spots to paddleboard in the area, but Kal Beach on Kalamaka lake is nearby to city amenities and offers calm waters for paddleboarders.
KAMLOOPS
If you want to get your paddleboard fix near Kamloops there are lots of areas to choose from. Some of the local favourites include major rivers, calm hideaways, and larger lakes that you could spend all day paddling on.
If you want to go with the flow, try riding the rivers. The North and South Thompson rivers both have launch spots which can carry you downstream, making for a leisurely trip. Boaters tend to frequent these areas, which can add a core-challenging workout of handling the waves. Be sure to always wear a lifejacket when doing water activities, especially on these rivers.
If you want to paddle along the South Thompson River, you can launch from many spots including Riverside Park, Pioneer Park and McArthur Island Park. For riders wishing to go on the North Thompson, you can launch from Harrington Drive in Westsyde, Rae-mor Park, the Tournament Capital Ranch, and from the McLure ferry and Little Fort Ferry.
Kamloops Lake is a large body of water with dozens of kilometers of shoreline waiting to be explored. You can check out the balancing rock that lies atop one of the many hoodoos, or admire the Painted Bluffs provincial park, which you can only get to from the water. You can launch from Bruker Marina in Tobiano or the west end of the lake in Savona.
Check out Heffley Lake if you want to do some paddleboarding and follow it with gorgeous hikes. Heffley Lake is about 30 minutes from Kamloops, and there is a boat launch at the north end of the lake.
If you want to check out another relatively calm spot, head to Paul Lake, about 30 minutes from Kamloops. The lake doesn’t have a public boat launch, although a few residents on the lake might take their boat for a cruise. The view of Gibraltar rock makes it an ideal spot for catching the perfect snapshot.
If you’re into adventures, folklore, and history, paddle out to Rattlesnake Island on Okanagan Lake. The island itself is full of character, with its history marked on the surface. Remnants of what would’ve been a miniature golf course remain, as do some building foundations. In 1970 Eddie Haymour bought the land and planned to create a tourist destination. Read more about that story here. Check out what all the hullabaloo was about with about a 3 to 3.5-kilometer paddle from Peachland beach, where you can rent a board for the day. You can keep it mellow by staying closer to the shoreline of Swim Bay.
You can also check out Kelowna’s paddleboard trail - 27 kilometers of shoreline that is motorized-boater free. By keeping boaters at bay, you can travel along the trail without the worry of waves. It can get pretty busy at the start of the season, but by checking it out near the end of the summer months, you’ll likely be able to find a place for yourself to relax on your board.
PENTICTON
Penticton is home to some of the best beaches in the Okanagan. From Penticton you can enter Okanagan Lake from the sandy beaches off Okanagan Lake Drive where there's plenty of parking. Head north toward Naramata where you can find secluded beach spots, plenty of hoodoos and funky clay beds. Or you can head to the other side of town drop into Skaha Lake where you can cruise along the sandy shore. Check out this little addition.
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