If we get a stretch of mild winter weather, the snow in open areas at the bottom of the valley can melt and then we can hike/walk the beaches and routes along the rivers.    From McArthur Island we can go across an ice shelf, then wade across a channel to get to the beaches of Rabbit Island.    The hike across, then around the island is about 5 km.   The middle of the island is private property (Kruger), but the beach and shoreline areas are public lands to the high water mark.  

The wide beach on the north side of the island is one of the best beaches of our area.    A channel of the Thompson River separates McArthur Island from Rabbit Island.  

There were signs of coyote, bear, geese, beaver, and deer on the island, but in January there were no human footprints.  

All photos by the author/hiker.    Click an image for a lightbox view and a caption.  

north side of the island

north beach across to McArthur Island

beach with Mt. Peter and Paul to the east

west corner of the island looking downstream

an orphaned dock

cottonwoods mid-Island

beaver activity

a rose in the root stalk

Rabbit Island

on the south side

the river on the south side of the island

the east end of the island

And, a YouTube video of the hike:

Watch for me over on the island again before spring.