On the Lower Adams River Trails
In early April I hiked from the Wade Road parking area (by the bridge) down the river toward the outflow and back through the forest, a 7 km route. The trails were all in good shape, they were quiet, and the hike by the river was a welcome change. The trails are all part of Tsútcwecw Provincial Park, formerly Roderick Haig Brown Park.
All of the trails are well-cared for and make easy walking/hiking. The river divides into channels about 1 km down so the trails stay on the east side of the channels, except for a loop route on an island.
In early April the river was low, sweeping by quietly on its way to Shuswap Lake.
Cedars, cottonwoods, and birch line the trails all the way down to the outlet.
Gravel bars are exposed early in the year, but will be covered over as the river swells. In the fall, the sockeye will swim upriver to the shallow, clean water to spawn.
The trails have a number of open spots to see the river, the forest, and the hills beyond.
The views vary from beside the main channel, to wide gravel bars, to back channels, to shallow fast-flowing side channels, each one unique and rewarding.
As the river approaches the lake, the trail bears east to cross a spawning channel and a junction with another trailhead.
I looped back through the forest, taking different trails where I could, returning to the Wade Road parking area in 2.5 hours. We plan to return to hike the other way, up the Adams River in the near future.