Paddleboarders on Okanagan Lake
(CARLI BERRY / iNFOnews.ca)
June 26, 2022 - 6:04 PM
Area lakes aren't just for boaters. The quickest and easiest way for just about anyone to hit the water this summer requires just two things: A paddleboard and a lake — and we have plenty of lakes.
We put together some great paddleboard spots that both tourists and residents can enjoy this summer once the weather warms up, unless you have a wetsuit.
Bluebird Beach
Located along Lakeshore Road, this spot is perfect for residents looking to escape crowded spots like Gyro Beach during the summer. Trees provide shade and paddleboarders and kayakers can glide along Okanagan Lake’s shore to reach other beaches like Sarsons Beach which are typically less crowded.
You can find this beach at 4006 Lakeshore Rd.
Bluebird Beach in Kelowna
(CARLI BERRY / iNFOnews.ca)
Kelowna Paddle Trail
A 27-kilometre trail on Okanagan Lake from McKinley Beach to Bertram Creek Regional Park. The trail is along Kelowna's shoreline and many buoys guide you along the way. Paddle by over 20 beaches and parks, three waterfront resorts, two bird sanctuaries, and downtown Kelowna, according to Tourism Kelowna.
Pebble Beach in West Kelowna
This is a bit of a destination. Start at Pebble Beach and head to the right towards Peachland. You'll pass a cave and a bunch of massive boulders. Keep your eyes on the rocks and you'll find this hidden gem.
Find the beach at 2600 Whitworth Road in West Kelowna.
This image can be found north of Pebble Beach in West Kelowna.
Image Credit: Marshall Jones
Heffley Lake
Bodie Shandro owns Paddle Surfit on Heffley Lake and was a trailblazer in introducing paddleboarding to Canada. He had the first professionally certified stand-up paddleboard school and paddleboard rentals in the country, he said.
“It’s stunningly beautiful, perfectly clean, super calm, there’s a lot of wildlife,” he said.
The lake is eight kilometres long so it’s great to relax, paddle on, do yoga and look at the wildlife.
Find Heffley Lake on your way to Sun Peaks.
Johnson Lake
Located west of Adams Lake, Shandro also suggested paddlers check out Johnson Lake with its stunning blue water. However, it does pose a bit of a challenge if the wind picks up, Shandro said.
“Any lake or any river you can stand up paddleboard on, pretty much, so there’s a lot of opportunities. Where we live, there’s paddling everywhere,” he said.
Johnson Lake is on the west side of Adams Lake.
Heli-paddling on remote B.C. lakes
If you’d like an even more remote experienced, Shandro does helicopter tours with paddleboards and paddlers. Kayakers can paddle on remote lakes in the Blue River area, northeast of Kamloops, that have never been paddled on before this summer, he said.
Mabel Lake
Mabel Lake Provincial Park in the Shuswap has a great launch spot for paddlers at the south end of the lake. The winds are almost non-existent between July and August, according to Mabel Lake Resort.
Find Mabel Lake north of Shuswap Falls.
Do you have a favourite paddling spot? Let us know in the comments below.
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