Peterson Creek has cut a deep gorge through the hills south of the Thompson River Valley. Trails follow the benchlands and sidehills of the creek gully from the City into the hills. Peterson Creek Park is 94 ha and has 30km of hiking trails. Trails going north-south are more gradual. All east-west trails have to descend into the gully and …Continue reading…
With multiple access points and steep trails it is hard to get to know which trails are best to combine for a hike. Rather than do one post on this area, several recommended route options will be listed separately. This loop can be started from the Sahali area or from the main entrance near 6th Avenue. In this post, directions …Continue reading…
After a fresh snowfall we had a half day of sunshine for a snowy hike in Peterson Creek Park before winter snow and cold temperatures returned. It was icy under the freshly-fallen snow, but microspikes on hiking boots made hiking the trails enjoyable and rewarding. I saw other people wearing soft winter boots, but they are not supportive of ankles …Continue reading…
On a hot summer morning we got an early start to avoid the heat. We parked at the Church and walked down to the Summit Drive entrance into the Peterson Creek Trails. The canyon was dry and all signs of spring were gone as we hiked to the Tom Moore Trail and up to the old reservoir. The water in …Continue reading…
On a windy spring day we hiked a loop route through Peterson Creek Park, staying as close to the canyon rim as we could. We crossed the creek on a side trail and followed a single track on the east side of the canyon that we call the East Rim Trail. There are a few interesting trees on the slopes …Continue reading…
We can hike a loop route through Peterson Creek Park to the east side of eeh gorge and back by following existing trails. From the trailhead at the corner of Summit and Whiteshield Crescent South, we hiked east to the edge of the canyon then followed the Tom Moore Trail to the Billy Miner Trail junction where we descended to …Continue reading…
When we moved to Kamloops in 1976, Peterson Creek was the first area we explored and hiked. There were few trail signs there and the park boundaries had not been defined. Some of the rails were only faint game tracks or scramble routes across the slopes. Over the years, more trails were added, some were decommissioned, and mountain bikers “excavated” …Continue reading…
When I first arrived in Kamloops in 1976, Peterson Creek was the first place I explored. I followed various tracks and trails before it was a City Park, before there were any signs, designated trailheads, or established boundaries. I found out that the trails ventured onto private property on the south end and on the east side and by just …Continue reading…
One of Kamloops finest parks is Peterson Creek Park, a gorge that runs right into the downtown area. The creek starts high on the rocky slopes of Chuwhels Mountain at 1746m (5730 feet). Meltwaters drain to the east for 4km into Connolly Lake, then east down through douglas fir forests continuing east. We have crossed Peterson Creek at various points …Continue reading…
On a grey and smoky morning I hiked the Mariposa Trail up Peterson Creek Park, then crossed the creek. I went straight up the hill to the top of Tower Hill, a steep 225 m of elevation climb in 0.66 km. This is not a recommended route. It is much easier to follow the trails north, then link up a …Continue reading…
In winter we don’t always have good driving conditions to get to trails and at times the snow is either too deep or it is icy. Over the years we have found good backroads near to town to run, walk, or hike (or all 3 as in this particular day). One of the best choices is the Goose Lake …Continue reading…
November was a month of recovery, walking and hiking area trails, with a different route each day. On a snowy day we hiked up the Sugarloaf Hill trail, around the northwest flank close to the highway. Some of the route was stomped in, but we were breaking trail past the small lake at the foot of the forested slopes. The …Continue reading…
After being released from the hospital, I was allowed to walk/hike, but with moderate distances and routes. I was not allowed to drive for a month so getting to some trails was a challenge on some days, but I was able to find snowy trails and routes to hike each day. On one of these days, we walked the West …Continue reading…
When winter roads become difficult to drive and trails are covered in snow, an alternative outing is to hike/walk plowed backroads. One of the best is the Goose Lake Road. From a parking area at the east end of the road to the Peterson Creek crossing and back is about 6.7 km. I sometimes run the road, using a …Continue reading…
The Sunset Trail is at the far west end of Kenna Cartwright Park. We usually hike up there from Hillside Drive past the prison, but the work on the Trans Mountain Pipeline has cut off that access. The hike from the main parking lot to the end of the Sunset Trail is about 3 km with a number of trail …Continue reading…
Peterson Creek Park offers many trail choices for some rewarding hiking throughout the year. The steep gorge makes some routes more difficult, but also offers some interesting loop routes. One favorite loop is to follow the Tom Moore Trail upstream, then take a side trail down to the creek and come back along the East side, staying close to the …Continue reading…