Crawling Valley Reservoir

In early July, we put in at Crawling Valley Reservoir. The easiest access was at the Crawling Valley Campground on the SW corner, just a few kms north of Bassano and northwest of Brooks maybe 40 minutes. There was no fee to launch but there was a bit of paperwork at the main office (mostly trying to control the spread of invasives through an inspection).

We launched off the main beach, which was lovely. All the usual beach amenities were there and there was a roped swimming area. We carried about 50 feet over the sand. The water looked great. The alternative was to use the old boat launch just beside the beach (pictured below).

This was our first trip so we turned left off the beach, paddled past the marina entrance and campground and into a swampy area on the west side of the lake. Then we worked our way up the lake and into an old coolie.

The lake bottom was a mix of sand and weeds and we saw a lot of cattle on the shore. There was no real wind near the shore. The reservoir is huge and had an enormous shoreline to explore. Despite a a constant parade of boats out of the marina on a Saturday afternoon, we hardly saw anyone on the lake.

The submerged coolie went quite a ways back into the surrounding ranch and, again, we saw a lot of cows plus shore birds.

We eventually turned back and let the slight wind blow us back to the beach. And an easy alternative would have been to paddle across the face of the dam to the east side and explore the islands there.

Overall, one of the nicest paddles of the summer and I would definitely go back again the next time I'm in the area.

Lake Newell

In early July, we were headed to the Cypress Hills. We stopped at Brooks for gas and detoured about 12km south of town to Kinbrook Island Provincial Park on Lake Newell for lunch. The park is lovely, with lots of camping, a beach, food stand, toilets, etc. Friends who have worked here describe this as a bit of a party campground on the long weekends.

Lake Newell is pretty big and was really rolling the day we were there (pictures don't really do it justice) so we had lunch on the beach and walked around. You could either get in off the beach (maybe a 150-foot carry from the parking lot). Or you could use the boat launch at the sailing club.

On the east side of the island is a sheltered part of the lake (there is a berm enclosing it) that we were told was full of birds. Access is from a small three-car parking spot (just follow the only road north from the beach and, if you hit the sailing club, you went too far) with a short walk through the trees to a dock.

The dock floats (sort of) and was pretty tippy. We got out boats in on the side, using the submerged part of the dock as a launching platform. This was a moderately challenging launch that was not for the faint of heart. It would have been easier to get a SUP or a canoe in off the dock itself.

We paddled the very calm waters north, basically doing a clockwise loop in about 75 minutes. There were lots of birds here, even though we were entering the quiet period of the summer.

The reedy islands at the south end of this area were a bit confusing and we ended up pushing through some reeds at the end to get headed back in the right direction.

There were no big waves to speak of in here but there was some stiff wind and it was a real grind to get back across the pond to the dock. My wife ended up drafting me. This would have sucked on a SUP.

Overall, a nice enough lake. I would have liked to have paddled the main lake but that is totally wind dependent. Crawling Valley Reservoir just north of Bassano (maybe a 40-minute drive west) is nicer and would be my choice if I was in the area again.

Buffalo Lake, The Narrows and Rochon Sands

On Canada Day, we paddled Buffalo Lake again. Last year, we put it in the NE corner at Buffalo Lake Provincial Recreation Area (also called Boss Hill). This year, we put in in the SW corner at the Narrows Provincial Recreation Area. The Narrows is a campground abutting (from what I can tell) Parlby Creek, which connect the main lake to the east with a small basin to the west.

The creek is about 50 feet wide and about 2km end-to-end (the reed beds make it hard to know when you are out in the lakes proper).

When you enter the campground, you just follow the road and there are six or so entry points like this one. This was the first we came to and had a picnic table and some sketchy pit toilets. Parking is right across the road from the entry and it is a gentle slope into the water. 

We paddled east out into the lake. I'd say that the water levels are down some, based on where the reeds are. It was overcast and still when we started.

As were got out onto the lake it started to clear and the wind picked up. We took a tour of the western part of the lake and then ground our way back to the creek against the wind. Lots of bird life, including pelicans.

 

Back in the creek, we were bushed but pushed towards the western end to see the other lake. 

Lots of nice reflections and birds but kind of a meh paddle. The water was murky and it was also a bit disinteresting 8km paddle. We then decided to drive to Rochon Sands to see what that was like. Cute summer village and a larger provincial campground. There was a good beach area with toilets, picnic tables, a playground and about a 300-foot carry from the car.

The water here (like at Boss Hill) is very shallow (people were hip deep more than a hundred feet from shore) and the edge of the water was a touch green (you could step over that). It was windy as hell here!

There is also a boat launch accessible from the campground where you can drop right beside the water and park in behind.

Overall, nearby Haunted Lakes is probably nicer (albeit smaller). If I was in the area again, I'd try Dried Meat Lake or go west an hour or so to Sylvan Lake. 

Peanut Lake

At the end of June, I drove up towards Barrhead to try Peanut Lake. Peanut is a small lake (maybe 1.5km perimeter) and you could easily do two or three laps in an hour.

Access is at the municipal campground run by the County of Barrhead. There is a boat launch sign and space to turn around just outside the campground but the launch itself is no longer in service and basically unworkable.

There are camping and picnic sites with tables and fire pits, some pit toilets that really needed to be cleaned, and you can drop and park about 20 feet from the dock. I got in on the right side of the dock by setting my boat in the water/mud/slime, stepping in, and poling out.

 

The photo above is basically the entire paddle: some slime, reeds, and poplar forest. There is nothing of any real interest but a fair number of the usual water and shore birds.

Apparently the water the was nice on the May long weekend. It was extremely green and full of algae by June. No smell but lots of the slime that clings to your paddle like a wet towel. The picture below gives to a sense of how much slime there was--at least twenty feet to the shore.

I made two laps and actually quite enjoyed the paddle. There was no one on the lake and the only noise was the wind in the trees and a the few birds. The sun was hot, there was a slight breeze, and I had a great time.

As much as I enjoy the paddle, I won't be back. Lac La Nonne and Thunder Lake are both very close by and offer much better paddling.

Mayatan Lake

In late June, I took a neighbour out to Mayatan Lake to try kayaking after work. The launch was busy with a group of canoeists as well as some folks dropping in fishing boats.

The water in the western basin was in great shape and we had a lovely paddle around.

 

We saw about 12 beavers out and about, including a bunch kits.

We decided we'd try the eastern basin. I had heard the channel was impassable earlier in the spring due to the water level being low.

It was possible to get through and I only scraped once, near the eastern end.

The eastern basin was very slimy right at the edge.

Things cleared up as we got into deeper parts.

Overall, a nice paddle and good place to learn. Coming back, he was paddling like a pro!