Griffin, Victor, and Clanwilliam Lakes, near Three Valley Gap

Last September, I made three stops on my way back from the Okanagan to check out possible paddling sites along Highway 1 around Three Valley Gap. I was keeping the boats dry so we could paddle in Banff so we didn't paddle any of these--just scouted them.

Griffin Lake

Griffin Lake is about 3km west of Three Valley Gap and is best accessed coming from the west. The lake runs NW to SE and is about 1.5km long and maybe 400m across.

While it looks like you might be able to sneak boat in at the west end of the lake by the rental cabins, this access has been quite aggressively sealed off. The best option is halfway down the lake (green arrow) at the pullout in the first set of trees after you can see the lake. This pullout comes up fast and you have to be prepared to aggressively decelerate off the highway.

There is lots of room to park but no other facilities. Access is down a little trail towards the lake (which is obvious), shown below. While the carry is only about 20m, the trail drops quite steeply.

This is the drop.

This is the reverse. It is very steep and would suck if it was at all wet. You might be able to wind your way through the trees on a gentler path, minding where you put your feet (note to BC Parks: when there is no public toilet, everywhere becomes a public toilet).

The launch is shallow and easy and reasonably clean.

Despite the overcast day, the lake was quite pretty, with the train track running down the other side. This is the look east.

And this is the look west. 

One day, when we're coming back from BC and I'm not trying to keep the boats dry so we can paddle in Banff, we will put in here.

Victor Lake

Victor Lake is located 5km east of Three Valley Gap and is best approached from the west. The lake runs roughly east-west and is about 600m long and 100m wide. 

While officially a provincial park (which is weird), this is basically just a roadside pull out with no services. It gets rave reviews online even though it was full of garbage when we were there. You have basically two options to get off the road: the official pullout (green arrow) or a gravel pullout (orange arrow).

The official pullout has lots of room but zero realistic lake access. You are about 4 or 5 meters above the lake and the drop is very sharp, rocky, with no real lip at the bottom to stand on.

You could lower your boat down this rain gulley (there is a 1.5m drop before the slope starts). Getting in and out at the bottom would be tricky.

I also pulled out at the gravel pullout but seem to have not taken any pictures. Basically the same issue of a steep slope. Maybe you could walk your boat 100-200m to the east edge of the lake along the highway and bushwhack an entry. I'm just gonna write this lake off.

Clanwilliam Lake

Clanwilliam Lake is located 6km east of Three Valley Gap and is best approached from the east. The lake runs roughly east-west and is about 1km long and 100m wide. This was quite a pretty little lake that looked like something out of a model railway diorama.

Again, for whatever reason, I didn't take any pictures. Your best access is a small parking lot on the west end (green arrow). There is a sign here about unexploded avalanche ordinance (!) so don't pick up any garbage you find. The lake itself looked doable (if small) if you were so inclined. Three Valley Lake is just down the road about 5 minutes and offers a much better paddle.