Why I love Kayaking Caples Lake

This is by far one of the best places I have kayaked so far. Yes I am just getting out, and haven’t been to too many places yet, BUT this one truly is a must! There is over 600 acres of lake and 6 miles of shoreline to explore!! The water is so clear and beautiful. The shallower waters expose gorgeous bolders. We also saw huge rainbow trout swimming right under our kayaks, as well as crawdads on the shorelines. Some of the biggest fish we have seen, are in this area. The Mountains in the distance are absolutely beautiful. It is so nice being able to paddle around the lake and listen to the birds chirping away.

Preparing for weather changes

Because this lake is at 7800 feet I would be prepared for changing weather. I have been there in the summer months with my bikini on and found myself caught in a thunder storm, lol! One time, Tim and I were there and we were heading back to the launch area from the back of the lake. There was a thunder storm coming so we were paddling as fast as we could across the widest part of the lake. The wind had picked up and the waves were like an ocean. The front of our kayaks were bouncing up and down and the spray was hitting us in the face and chest. It was seriously like being in the ocean, which I thought was SUPER fun!! Tim didn’t care much for it though, lol! After we got off the lake the rain settled down and we sat at the waters edge for awhile and listened to the roar of the thunder. This picture was taken right after we got off the lake and changed clothes 🙂

Of course, this has not happened every time I have been there. The other two times I have been there the water, and weather, were both calm and beautiful! But we were told by one of the store employee’s at the resort that it is very common for thunderstorms to appear in the afternoon.

When preparing to go to Caples Lake,  I pack the following things in my water proof bag:

1. -sunscreen
2. -lunch
3. -snacks
4. -big water bottle
5. -towel
6. -light rain jacket with a hood
7. -camera
8. -$10 fee money
9. -extra change of clothes

How to get there and where to park

While driving up highway 88 heading east you will notice how beautiful this area is! Passing silver lake and then the exit to Kirkwood resort, you will see a gorgeous lake to your right (Caples). It doesn’t look that big from the road, but believe me there is a whole hidden area that is absolutely breath taking! There are a couple of areas to park, two of them are fee areas, and then there are some wide dirt areas to pull over and leave your car off the highway. I personally don’t mind paying the $10 fee for parking. My car is close and in a safe area not just right off the road.

• The first area is at the Caples Lake boat launch. You will need to see the cashier at the little store to the right of the boat launch to pay your fee.
• The other fee area is just past the lodge on the right hand side. This is a big parking lot and they have fee stations. These fee stations have envelopes that you will need to place your money in and fill out, so be sure you have a pen.

Now go explore the lake!

After paying your fees, grab your kayak and paddles, and don’t forget your life jacket. Then it is time to get on the lake! Head across the main body of the lake opposite of the boat launch. Next, you will veer to the left a little and follow the shoreline. Pretty soon you will start to see some big, gorgeous bolders protruding from the lake. The water will start to become shallower and crystal clear. From here, you will go past a couple of islands. I have actually seen people camping on these islands :). If you keep going you will also see a few coves. Don’t forget to check them out as well! There are some beautiful areas at the back of the lake where you can pull off, eat your lunch, and enjoy the sound of nature. At the back of the lake, there is a small waterfall that feeds into the lake. You can only see a little of it from your kayak. Next time I go, I want to park my kayak on the beach and hike a little ways back to see if there is a better view of the waterfall.

I can’t say it enough, this lake is so beautiful and peaceful. I could spend hours on this lake just exploring and sitting and taking in the peaceful sounds. It is so good for my mind and stress level while I am out there just simply “listening”. You may hear the occasional hiker walking by because there is a hiking trail that follows the lake, but overall it is so quiet. I haven’t gone on the hiking trail yet but it’s on the list :).

This picture is one of the areas we stopped and had some lunch. This day the weather was very beautiful, it was sunny the whole time!

After you’re finished kayaking (if you have parked at the boat launch/resort area), you can sit on the beach area by the cabins for a bit, and enjoy the beautiful view of the lake. Yes, I said cabins :). The resort has cabins that you can rent. If you go to this link you can find out much more about pricing etc… http://capleslakeresort.com/summer/

Again, I highly recommend this lake for your next kayaking trip!

Have you kayaked this lake before? If so, what was your experience? I look forward to reading your comments about this beautiful lake!

Chat Soon,

Trudy