A gorgeous day kayaking from Lake Isle Kayaking Adventures.
Location: Lake Isle Kayaking Adventures is at Lake Isle 53413, Range Rd 62, AB T0E 0W0. Once you arrive at the end of the road (the road converts into a boat launch), turn left and park on the grass where it says Lake Isle Kayaking Adventures parking. Follow the arrows until you reach Cynthia at the check-in table. Below is a map to locate the correct destination.
Map to get to Lake Isle Kayaking Adventures
Table of Contents
Prices for a single kayak rental (including PFD and paddle):
12 years old and older:
- $25 for one hour
- $45 for two hours
- $65 for three hours
- $20 per hour after three hours
- Method of payment: cash
Children under 6 years old:
- no charge
Children aged 7 to 11 years old:
- $15/hour
Contact Info
- Pre-booking is required to reserve your kayak, preferably by text the day before or early morning the day of kayaking, at the latest.
- Text Cynthia at 780-241-5034 (the reception isn’t the best for a call to go through).
- Facebook is another option, but she might not immediately see your message.
- Children under six years old must ride with their parent or guardian.
- Lessons are provided with kayak rental if required.
Hours of Operation
- May: 10 am to 6 pm
- Summer: 10 am to 7 pm
- September hours: 11:30 am to 5:30 pm
- Check the Facebook group for the most up-to-date hours
Additional Information
- A liability agreement form requires a signature before going kayaking.
- If it’s too windy, Cynthia won’t rent out her kayaks. She’ll text you to ask you to reschedule for another day that works for you.
- She doesn’t have any double kayaks, only single kayaks.
- Cynthia has ten kayaks available. Perfect for a birthday, anniversary or any other special event.
- You might get a different kayak every time you go. If you prefer to sit closer to the bottom of the kayak instead of higher up, mention that to Cynthia. You might not have your preference if it’s busy, but it’s worth asking.
Gear provided
- Kayak, for the allocated time you choose
- PFD (you can choose to bring your own, if you prefer)
- a paddle
Kayaking Close to Edmonton
If you’re looking for a kayaking location close to Edmonton, you’re in luck! Lake Isle Kayaking Adventures, located one hour west of Edmonton, provides kayaks for rent from one hour up to six hours. Wonderful, Cynthia will greet you with a welcoming smile.
Cynthia is always ready to suggest where you can kayak around Lake Isle. If you’d like to rent a kayak, she’ll show you the kayak she’s picked out for you, along with a paddle and PFD. You must sign a liability agreement stating that she won’t be liable if anything happens.
Bring Snacks
She’ll ask if you brought your snacks, like I always do. It’s an excellent idea to be prepared! The kayaking adventure isn’t only for exercise; it’s also a chance to chill next to the islands and eat food. Having a power bar handy in case you get hungry after all your hard work is always a fantastic idea.
Bring Appropriate Clothing
Another idea is to bring a windbreaker in case the winds pick up. Lake water can sometimes end up in your kayak if you cross channels.
Different Directions to Kayak Leaving Lake Isle Kayaking Adventures
There are so many options for kayaking at Lake Isle. To help you decide where to go kayaking from Lake Isle Kayaking Adventures, here are four recommended loops, each with a three-hour duration.
1. Lake Isle Kayaking Adventures Loop One
Making It Worthwhile to Kayak at Lake Isle Kayaking Adventures
If you’re up for it, three hours kayaking makes sense for $65, making driving for one hour there and back from Edmonton worthwhile. Samsung Health tracked this loop once I remembered to turn it on halfway through my trip. Cynthia suggested this direction (the island in grey on the map shows a dot where I stopped). Many animals can often be spotted there.
Pelican Sightings
Pelicans can be found close to Lake Isle Kayaking Adventures on your trip to the northeast, as shown in the picture below. You can tell it was a gorgeous, calm day for kayaking. Make sure you bring your camera. There are lots of opportunities to snap pictures! Water acting like a mirror is a treat when you see your reflection.
Time to Reach the Island
Enjoying kayaking to the island.
I’m wearing my Keen Newport Sandals, making getting in and out of the kayak easier.
It takes about thirty to forty-five minutes one way to reach the island if you go straight there. If you want to spend less time kayaking, this option is a smaller loop and takes a shorter amount of time, approximately one and a half hours, kayaking from Lake Island Kayaking Adventures and back.
Loop direction: Leaving Lake Isle Kayaking Adventures
For my journey, I went from the flag on land to number one and kayaked to the island’s south side, as shown on the map above. If you get hungry, it’s an excellent place to stop. The island creates a shelter from the wind (close to shore) where you can hang out in an eddy, allowing your kayak to stay in the same position. Depending on the time of year, you might be lucky to be surrounded by beautiful blooming yellow pond lilies.
After filling up on a kayaking snack, go around the island. If you have time, stop on the north side of the island. You might be able to see some animals.
Seeing Animals
Close to shore, if you get out of your kayak, you might see a fawn, which I spotted on the island. Ducks and loons can also be seen swimming near your kayak.
You might be lucky enough to see a loon while kayaking. After exploring, keep going around the island, paddling your way back to Lake Isle Kayaking Adventures. There tends to be wind coming from the northeast. You’ll have to paddle hard if there’s wind, especially in the channel.
2. Kayaking Adventures Loop Two
I went on this second loop with Kris. We went to the other side of the lake, towards the other shore. Kayaking numbers two and three allow you to see another island and the other side of the lake, where you’ll see houses or cottages. Going on a weekend day has a higher possibility of running into boaters and water traffic. If you choose a weekday in the summer, fewer people tend to be on the lake.
On this day, the water was a bit choppier, as you can see by the picture. We spent a bit of time kayaking close to the island. Kris thought that I was taking too many pictures and snacking for longer than required. As you can see by the photo, he took my rope, joking that he’d pull me back, but he suggested we head back toward Lake Isle Kayaking Adventures.
It was nice to spend some time relaxing and enjoying the outdoors.
Photo credit: Kristopher Findling
I’m wearing my MEC Fulcrum Guide PFD, which conveniently has pockets for my phone and readily available snacks.
Sometimes, plans change, and doing the entire loop isn’t possible, even if you’d like to. If we had dilly-dallied any longer, we would have been late returning the kayaks, which would have been inconsiderate for the next people who had reserved them. Be considerate and bring back your kayak on time for the next person.
3. Kayaking Adventures Loop Three
Kayak Cancellations at Lake Isle Kayaking Adventures
Cynthia had cancelled my booking the previous day since it had been too windy. The following day was a bit less windy, but I still cautiously watched the waves not to get caught and flip my kayak. When the conditions aren’t the best, staying close to shore and not wandering off too far is a fantastic idea to avoid getting yourself in trouble. I took the same route as last time, as it seemed like a safe bet. There wasn’t a lot of boat traffic by number three, as cottages and houses aren’t located in that area.
Large waves came into the kayak as the wind picked up in that channel by number three. The wind tends to die down and dial back up at any given time, without warning.
Channels
Even the smallest channels can feel like an uphill battle. The waves felt huge, and stopping wasn’t an option; I had to paddle hard and fast to get to the other side. Paddling against the wind was extremely hard work, and seeing the dark clouds rolling towards my kayak was also intimidating.
Don’t stop in a channel when the wind is against you! You take the chance to flip your kayak. This time, the wind was coming towards me, and the waves were going sideways into my kayak, a scary feeling. The goal was to get to the other side as quickly as possible. Once you reach the shore and find yourself in an eddy, away from the wind, you can stop for a breather.
Before returning to Lake Isle Kayaking Adventures, what should you do with your spare time?
Having a little over an hour remaining, I decided to venture down the other direction and explore that area. The boat traffic around numbers five, six and seven is less busy as they don’t seem to travel as much in that region. It was still difficult to manage the wind. Whenever I took a break, the wind would push me back in the opposite direction. That was frustrating! Closer to the shore, in some weeds (yuck!), I kept my kayak relatively stable without adjusting my bow.
You’ll probably have to paddle and readjust your kayak’s direction many times with the wind, causing possible exhaustion. You might consider going back early to return your kayak. It was a thought that crossed my mind, but I did convince myself to stay out the entire three hours.
Making the Best of Your Time
You’ll want to consider the time spent driving to Lake Isle Kayaking Adventures. If you love kayaking as much as I do, even though you’re exhausted, take a deep breath and power through. The money has already been spent. Just tell yourself, “You love this, remember!” If you keep thinking that you love it out here, before you know it, the time will have passed, allowing you to stay on the water as long as you intended. That’s a win!
4. Lake Isle Kayaking Adventures Loop Four
When feeling adventurous and having put a lot of effort into getting in shape, you might consider this loop to get some exercise instead of focusing on snacking!
I was fortunate to take a picture of a pelican lifting out of the water and heading away from the lake.
The sun was shining, and the water was calm. It was an excellent day to kayak.
This picture shows how calm it was that day.
Experienced Route
The channel is extensive from number four to number eight. Only take this route if you are experienced. You’ll want to ensure you don’t stop in the middle of the channel, as boats won’t be able to see you. If you’re constantly moving your paddle in the channel, there’s a higher chance for the light to bounce off your paddle, and it will make you more visible to boat traffic. It takes everyone to ensure safety. Always be on the lookout for boats. You never know if they’ll see you or if they are on the lookout for kayakers.
It takes one hour to cross the channel and reach the far island. It’s advisable not to stop in the channel in case the weather changes and to avoid getting hit by a boat. Going closer to the north shore by number four and following the shore back down can work, but remember that it will take you twice as long to get back.
Close to Shore or Open Water?
As you can see from the direction I took to get to number three, it was along the shore, which was less dangerous. Another consideration would be to continue as far as the next point on shore and then cross directly over to number four, allowing a short crossing to the island. This would minimize your time in the channel and limit your chances of encountering a boat. You could repeat the same path on the way back. It wouldn’t be a loop, but it would ensure your safety.
Kayaking Quickly
As shown on the map, the darker purple from number seven to number eight was completed more quickly. Many boaters play in that area, which features water skiing and tubing. Even as an experienced kayaker myself, it felt nerve-racking and worrisome that I wouldn’t be seen. Being on the lookout is always a terrific idea, but you never know how close a boat will get to you.
Tip: If you want to cross that channel, I recommend kayaking with a partner in separate boats. This allows for double sets of eyes watching out for your safety. It would also increase boat visibility as more paddles move and reflect in the water.
On this calm day, I was able to cross the channel. It’s not recommended to do so when it’s windy.
Breaks
A short fifteen-minute break allowed for snacking and refuelling by the far island at number four, but most of my time on this loop was spent kayaking. If you’re looking to get exercise, this is an excellent three-hour loop to consider.
Final Thoughts
I highly recommend kayaking at Lake Isle Kayaking Adventures. Getting to this location is straightforward and easy to get in and out of the water by renting a kayak on site. Renting from here is affordable; better yet, Cynthia is a cheery lady always willing to help you. Connecting with a warm person full of advice and exciting stories is fantastic. The price is right for some tremendous kayaking!
Additional Links
- Guide to Kayaking in Revelstoke
- How to get Better at Kayaking?
- Kayaking Desolation Sound: 11 Tips for the Best Trip Ever
- 15 Awesome Kayaking Gifts for Moms
- How to Have an Awesome Day Kayaking with Dad
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