On a spring day I drove out to the north shore of Shuswap Lake and parked at the Scotch Creek Park boat launch.     I paddled across to Copper Island and landed on the east side of the island.   I secured the kayak, put on my hiking shoes and hiked the trail loop.   the route winds up the northeast side of the rocky island, then traverses the top ridge on the south side.    at the west end the trail winds down to a rocky bench, then winds around the forested north side back to the start.    the north slopes were treed and mossy.    Wildflowers were blooming on the top ridge and on the open western slopes.   I stopped to enjoy the emerging perennials and leafing shrubs.

A few flowering plants were photographed on the island and now shared here –  meadow death camas (Zigadenus elegans), heart-leaved arnica (Arnica cordifolia), Oregon grape (Mahonia aquifolium sp.), saskatoon (Amelanchier ainifolia), narrow–leaved desert parsley (Lomatium triternatum), rough gooseneck moss (Hylocomiadelphus triquetrus), and small-flowered woodland star (Lithophragma parviflorum).

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meadow death camas

rough gooseneck moss

saskatoon

Oregon grape

fern-leaved desert parsley

heart-leaved arnica

The paddle across the lake, the island loop, and the paddle back was 7.25 km.   Time well-spent…