The Thompson River flows from the confluence in Kamloops downstream for km into Kamloops Lake.   The lake is 26 – 29 km (depending on where we define the lake starts) long and is to 1.2 to 3 km wide.   The lake drains into the continuation of the Thompson River at Savona.

Most of the lake is surrounded by rocky bluffs.   The two flatter areas are at Cooney Bay on the east side and at Savona on the west end.

The river flows west and the lake turns northwest to Six Mile Point, then bends to the southwest.     This is particularly noticeable when winds blow down the lake.   Leeward shores can be on either side of Six Mile Point.

The lake is at 335m (1100 feet) elevation and is in a drier ecosystem.   Rocky hills give way to arid grasslands on the benches, then ponderosa pine forests on the hills above.

There are only a few access points to the lake.   Savona is the easiest access point, but there is access at Tobiano and at Cooney Bay too.

The lake swells during freshet and the lake levels rise as much as 9m.   In this photo (from Rousseau Mountain) taken in late summer, beaches are clearly wider than in June.

Most of the water passes through the lake within 60 days, but it varies with the season.  The deepest point in the lake is about 500 feet (152m).   The lake water is generally warm, mainly the influence of the South Thompson River from Shuswap Lake.

Although the water coming in to Kamloops is generally clean, the water in Kamloops Lake is another matter.   By Cooney Bay a number of users have drawn water out of the rivers and have discharged fluids back into the river, most notably from Domtar Pulp Mill,  the City of Kamloops Sewage Treatment Plant, MolyCop, Afton Mine, Lafarge, and other smaller operations.   When we paddle on Kamloops Lake, we bring our own drinking water…

Kamloops Lake has been called “a widening of the Thompson River.”   With steep cliffs surrounding the lake it gets relatively little use (except for near Savona) except for seasonal fishing and boating.   We paddle on the lake a few times each year and will continue to return as often as we can.

More information:

• Article – Where’s the Love for Kamloops Lake?
• Kamloops Lake Loop
• A Tour of the East End of Kamloops Lake
• Painted Bluffs on Kamloops Lake
• Thompson River Water Quality Assessment
• Kamloops Lake (Hydrology)