2020 has been a year that started with the threat of nuclear war and went downhill from there. Despite this, there has been one consistent bright spot that I will fondly remember for years to come. 2020 was the year everyone went outside. 2020 was the year that we stayed home; but found nature just outside our doorstep. 2020 was the year that more people than ever wanted to try SUP! Everyone who I've interacted with this summer has made 2020 just a little bit better, a little bit brighter, and I want to sincerely thank all of you for that. I hope we can carry this momentum forward to 2021 and beyond. Long after we leave the negatives of 2020 behind.

Hand pumps are a great way to warm up before paddling, but sometimes you just want to save your energy for the water. This is where electric pumps come into play.

Many of the lakes around Edmonton are shallow and laden with nutrients. These factors combine to make some paddle destinations less desirable later in the season due to the build-up of algae and weeds. June is a great time for exploring these spots as we can experience hot weather and cool water with fewer weeds. Here are my picks for June:

Big Lake
Nestled between Edmonton and St. Albert is a birder's paradise and a fantastic place to go for a paddle when water levels are high and weed growth is low. Big Lake is the primary feature of Lois Hole Centennial Provincial Park, and is recognized as a "globally significant Important Bird Area". Make sure your sound is on before you play this video for a taste of what you can expect when visiting this bird sanctuary. Big Lake is a shallow, double-lobed lake with a narrow channel connecting the two halves, and can easily be a 15km+ round trip.

Big Lake is best accessed from the Sturgeon River at ​Riel Recreation Park in St. Albert as the parking lot at Lois Hole Park is well set back from the water.

Islet Lake
June 26 note: Alberta Health has issued a Blue-green algae advisory for Islet Lake. I recommend paddling elsewhere for the remainder of 2020 (or until the advisory is lifted). It is still a great place to visit. 

I recommended Hermitage Park as a picnic and paddle location for May, but for June I recommend travelling a little further from the city. Islet Lake is about 45 minutes east of Edmonton and home to 10's of km of trails, nice wooded day-use picnic areas, basic facilities and a small lake with a large central island. It's a great place to spend the day with a little bit of everything for everyone. Bring bug spray.

Access to Islet Lake is available via the Islet Lake Staging Area.

Astotin Lake
Located in Elk Island National Park (park fee required) is a beautiful lake dotted with islands. Bison sightings are almost guaranteed (most likely on the drive to the lake). The day-use area has ample parking, a large beach, well maintained facilities with flush toilets and an outdoor shower. Canoe, kayak, and SUP rentals are available on the lake from Haskin Canoe (obviously I'd prefer you rent from me). Camping is also available.

Access to Astotin Lake is available from the Elk Island National park turn-off on Yellowhead Trail. Note that the access road is a popular cycling destination and bison are present. Drive carefully.

Pembina River
Note: As of June 30, river levels are high/potentially unsafe. This run is not recommended at the current levels.
If you like your paddles to be a little more adrenaline filled, and have the necessary equipment and training, the Pembina River might be for you! We may not have extreme whitewater nearby, but this class I-II whitewater is only an hour from Edmonton and a better fit for the intermediate paddler anyway. The Pembina is best known as a river for tubing, but it's absolutely more fun to run on a SUP.

The start point is Pembina River Tubing (paid parking) and finishes at the Pembina River Provincial Park day use area. Be sure to check river levels before leaving. This is best run during "normal" levels, and can be dangerous at higher flows. I'm always looking for paddle partners to do trips like these as they are not something to be run solo. If you think this might be in your future, let me know!

Honourable Mentions
North Saskatchewan River - This could be an entry every month. The river valley looks fantastic during the height of summer. It will be featured in July.

Sturgeon River - Featured in my May post and good as long as water levels are high. Same start point as Big Lake.

Hubbles Lake/Allan Beach - A fantastic lake with private beach access just west of Stony Plain.

Any large lake of your choice - There are plenty of lakes that I simply can't cover in this blog. Popular lakes include Lake Wabamun, Lac Ste. Anne, Pigeon Lake, Gull Lake, etc. Be sure check the weather, stay close to shore, and avoid lakes or sections of lakes that develop blue-green algae. The latest advisories can be found here.

Sorry for the delay on posting the June list and my July list will be up in very short order. Feel free to include your own paddle suggestions in the comments below, tag @chadhasapaddle on Instagram or email your favourite spots to [email protected]

Safe paddling!

Filming your adventure is an excellent way to share it with friends and family, and get more people stoked on SUP. Read on to find out why I don't leave home without a 360 camera:

May long weekend typically marks the unofficial start of camping season in Alberta. While we will need to wait a little longer to camp this year; some of the best paddling is available in the spring and it does not need to wait. Stand up paddle boarding offers great physical distancing opportunities as long as your route to and from the water is given proper consideration as well. Best of all, there are plenty of options to paddle right in and around Edmonton.

Edmonton experiences spring melt and run-off during March and April every year (late April this year). By May, all nearby lakes and rivers are open, and water levels are high. This makes May the best time for exploring small and shallow waterways that won't be accessible later in the season. These are also the safest places to paddle when the water is cold. These are my picks for May:

Sturgeon River
The Sturgeon River flows between Big Lake in northwest Edmonton, through St. Albert, and ultimately into the North Saskatchewan River, near Fort Saskatchewan. The section between Big Lake and downtown St. Albert is a beautiful paddle only accessible when water levels are high. The river passes under many bridges, including an iconic CN trestle bridge (built in 1907), and offers views of downtown. Wildlife sightings are guaranteed; with beavers, muskrats, ducks and geese most likely to be present. This paddle is a must do before water levels drop and it becomes less accessible.

Parking and water access is available from Riel Recreation Park and downtown St. Albert.

Hermitage Park
Nestled at the confluence of the Kennedale Ravine and the North Saskatchewan River is one of Edmonton's most scenic and natural parks. Hermitage Park features open grasslands, steep hills, treed hikes. and (most importantly) a pond that you are permitted to paddle on. Sometimes the pond is even stocked with fish.

Hermitage Park is a great place to bring the family on the long weekend. You can bring your dog, have a picnic with a campfire, take a hike and go for a paddle in a safe body of water. While you're at Hermitage, be sure to visit the tornado memorial at the north end of the pond.

Whitemud Creek
For the more adventurous paddler, springtime provides a unique opportunity as spring run-off fills the banks of the Whitemud Creek. By May, April's class I to II whitewater sections have become smaller riffles, and by June exposed rocks will replace the open water. Time is really of the essence with this one. If you have river experience, grab a buddy for safety and take advantage of this unique opportunity to experience the Whitemud Ravine from the water. You won't regret it. 

The entire stretch of the creek within city limits is navigable during high water, but a common place to start is just upstream of Snow Valley in the Whitemud Park parking lot. From there, it should take about 1.5 hours to get to the river. Paddlers must be aware that tree falls are common in the ravine and present a hazard that must be respected. If starting further upstream, beaver dams will also be present. No matter where you start, be alert for hazards, and expect to portage several times along your route.

Honourable Mentions
North Saskatchewan River - Always a great option. Be aware that spring means colder water and stronger currents. Make sure your take-out location is safe before you launch.

Astotin Lake (Elk Island National Park) - Access is currently closed due to covid 19. If it opens in May, the beach, many islands and bison will be worth the trip.

Big Lake - If you launch on the Sturgeon River and go southwest instead of northeast, you'll hit Big Lake. Great for longer paddles, bird watching and sunsets.

Telford Lake (Leduc) - Long and narrow lake with a lot of parking and great water access. Home of the Leduc Boat Club.

Chickakoo Lake (Parkland County) - Currently closed due to covid 19. When open, it is an excellent picnic and day use paddling alternative to Heritage Park for those west of Edmonton.

This list is just scratching the surface and will grow over time. Feel free to include your own suggestions in the comments below or email your favourite spots to [email protected] to have them added. My June list will be coming out in a couple weeks. Safe paddling.