Sometimes, the best adventures are the ones you squeeze into the tightest windows. With Mother’s Day falling on Sunday, we didn’t want to miss out on the family celebrations, but we also couldn’t resist a sunny weekend out in nature. The solution? A one-night mission to Bluey Lake, located about 40 minutes outside of Merritt, BC.
Here’s the breakdown of our beautiful weekend.
The Road Less Traveled (For a Reason)
The trek into Bluey Lake involves a notorious dirt road. While the guidebooks recommend a 4×4 vehicle, we decided to test the limits of our Mazda.
I have to give a massive shoutout to Kaden—he drove wonderfully and navigated obstacles of the road calmly. However, the Mazda had other plans. We bottomed out, and the dreaded check engine light flickered on before we even reached the site. It was a high-stress start to the trip, but we pushed forward, determined to get some lakeside peace.
Scoring the “Last” Spot
Bluey Lake is first-come, first-serve, and the sites were disappearing fast. We managed to snag a spot just in time; by later that evening, the park was completely full.
Once we were settled, the stress of the drive melted away. We spent the afternoon:
- Walking the trails to take in the views of the water.
- Setting up camp and getting organized.
- Feasting on a Walmart haul of “fun snacks” (the best part of any camping trip).
- Roasting hot dogs over an open fire for a classic campsite dinner.
Morning Calm & Blue Water
The next morning started slow and chilly. We whipped up some oatmeal and kept a roaring fire going while we waited for the sun to warm us up.
Once the warmth hit, we took to the water. Bluey Lake lives up to its name—the water is a stunning, bright blue that looks almost tropical against the BC wilderness. I hopped on the paddleboard with Kaden on the back, fly rod in hand.
The Fishing Report: While Kaden didn’t have any luck landing a fish this time, soaking in the sun in the middle of that blue water was a massive win in its own right.
Making it Back for Brunch
By late morning, it was time to hustle. We packed up the gear, loaded the (hopefully okay) Mazda, and headed back into Merritt for a quick lunch before hitting the highway.
