Kayaking Channel

For 20 years, I had wanted to take up some kind of paddling/rowing sport.  In the summer of 2000, as my rock climbing career was winding down due to chronic injuries, I turned on the TV and watched the kayaking competition at the Sydney olympics.  Within a few days, I was up at Big Bear Lake, renting a kayak and experiencing it myself for the first time; within a few weeks, I bought my first kayak (Old Town Loon 111). 

Below is my kayaking “life list” (so far).  Locations are rated on a star system, * = least favorite to ***** = most favorite.  Click on a location to see pictures and in some cases descriptions and maps.  You can also view my all of my kayaking posts here. 

  1. Tenaya Lake (Yosemite National Park, Northern Sierra) *****
  2. Manly Lake (Death Valley National Park, Mojave Desert) ****
  3. Ellery Lake (Northern Sierra) ****
  4. Tioga Lake (Northern Sierra) ****
  5. Fallen Leaf Lake (South Lake Tahoe) **** NEW!
  6. Big Virginia Lake (Eastern Sierra) **** NEW!
  7. Rock Creek Lake (Eastern Sierra) ****
  8. Convict Lake (Eastern Sierra) ****
  9. North Lake (Eastern Sierra) **** NEW!
  10. North Fork of Bishop Creek (Eastern Sierra) NEW!
  11. Gull Lake (Eastern Sierra) ****
  12. June Lake (Eastern Sierra) ****
  13. Mono Lake (Eastern Sierra)  **** More: [1] NEW: [2]
  14. Spooner Lake (Northern Sierra) ****
  15. Lundy Lake (Eastern Sierra) NEW!
  16. Rush Creek (Eastern Sierra) **** NEW!
  17. Little Virginia Lake (Eastern Sierra) *** NEW!
  18. Lower Intake 2 (Eastern Sierra) **** NEW!
  19. Upper Twin Lake (Eastern Sierra) **** NEW!
  20. Lower Twin Lake (Eastern Sierra) **** NEW!
  21. Lake Tahoe (Northern Sierra) *** More: [1] NEW: [2]
  22. Twin Lakes (Eastern Sierra) ***
  23. Lake Mamie (Eastern Sierra) ***
  24. Lake George (Eastern Sierra) ***
  25. Lake Mary (Eastern Sierra) ***
  26. Silver Lake (Eastern Sierra) ***
  27. Klondike Lake (Eastern Sierra) *** NEW!
  28. Big Bear Lake (Southern California) ***
  29. Newport Harbor (Southern California) ***
  30. La Jolla (Southern California) ***
  31. Carson River (Nevada) *** NEW!
  32. Washoe Lake (Nevada) *** NEW!
  33. East Walker River (Eastern Sierra) ** NEW!
  34. Little Washoe Lake (Nevada) ** NEW!
  35. Owens River (Eastern Sierra) ** NEW!
  36. Topaz Lake (Northern Sierra) **
  37. Donner Lake (Northern Sierra) **
  38. Grant Lake (Eastern Sierra) ** NEW!
  39. Lake Silverwood (Southern California) *