From the west side of Tranquille Creek an old double track winds up through the hills. After 0.8 km, the track veers left, but a series of ridges climbs north following the line of the canyon to the final viewpoint on a steep hill sometimes called “the Pimple,” but we prefer to call Tranquille Viewpoint. On the lower double track, … Continue reading…
At the end of 2015, Kamloops Trails pauses to look back and also to look ahead. 2015 Just a few days ago, Kamloops Trails achieved a milestone – 1000 articles published. Earlier in the month, the Number of Site Visits (meter at the bottom of the site) passed the 3 000 000 mark. The year started slowly because of major … Continue reading…
Information on the main Kamloops area hiking trails is now found on a companion website: Kamloops Hiking Trails (www.kamloopshikingtrails.net) The rest of the lesser-known trails in the area will be shown on a Google Map here and the relevant articles can be found by using a search using the keyword/tag listed on the Google Map. Kamloops Trails Google Map The … Continue reading…
Although we have visited the Guardsmen many times, we often take different routes in and out. Details on how to get to the area are already documented on this site (type Guardsmen into the Search box). On this trip, we followed a track and game trail into the vale between Wheeler Mountain and the Mara hills. Eskers from the last … Continue reading…
In 2013, get into the outdoors and find those special spots. Find a slot canyon, look through a natural arch, climb a volcanic plug, scramble eroded ridges above the hoodoos, and hike into a canyon between two rock pillars. Here are 5 for your list: 1. Tranquille Slot Canyons – see Playing the Slots 2. Red Plateau Arch – Dewdrop … Continue reading…
As we travel northwest along the Tranquille Canyon, we can see a line of rugged mountains/hills overlooking the river. Volcanic cliffs and eroded bluffs loom over the canyon starting with Mount Mara, then Wheeler Mountain, and Opax Mountain. The fourth in this line is Watching Hill. It sits over the confluence of Watching Creek and the Tranquille River. The … Continue reading…
Kamloops area rockhounds have uncovered many locations where agates can be found. Agates have been used for ornamental purposes, carving, and display since ancient times. Agates are formed through volcanic processes when crystalline silicas bond into layers within a pocket in the lava. Quartz layers may also be present in the nodules, Our area is well-know for its chalcedonies. Chalcedony … Continue reading…
If you expand your hiking to areas beyond the established trails, you can choose to explore and you may find some surprises. Here are a few: 1. Mara Mountain gullies, hoodoos and craggy cliffs on the south side a gentle grassland hike on the north side a large cleft canyon on top 2. Bearcat Caves underground limestone caves in the … Continue reading…
The Shuswap River rises high in the Monashee Range on the west side of the Monashee Divide behind Mt. Begbie, Blanket Mountain, and the Greenbush Basin. It flows south into Sugar Lake, and south then west towards Lumby. At Shuswap Falls, it turns north and continues until it flows into Mabel Lake. Twenty five kilometres north, the river flows out … Continue reading…
This is a unique spot. The route starts at the gate on the Tranquille Red Lake Road and follows the rough road up onto the Mara Bench. This road continues on to climb into Pruden Pass behind Mount Mara. It is sometimes used as a gradual route to the top of Mount Mara. Side trails also go out to the … Continue reading…
Wheeler is the middle mountain in the 3 that run north south from the Thompson River towards the plateau to the north. Mara Mountain is divided from Wheeler in Pruden Pass. Wheeler is divided from Opax Mountain by Hanging Valley. Such a large area so close to Kamloops should see lots of activity, but access routes to all 3 are … Continue reading…
