I started exploring this area in 1976 and I continue to follow tracks and routes wherever they lead, with the aid of map, compass, GPSr and camera. After many dead-ends, but also many discoveries, I chose to share this information. Getting out 12 months each year, I continue to explore trails, tracks, routes, and waterways of the Kamloops area and beyond.
Pillar Lake Provincial Park is located on the Chase Creek Road between Falkland and Chase. The main attraction is a a conglomerate stone pillar in the forest above Pillar Lake. On a September day i paddled Pillar Lake, parking at the Rec site on the shoreline. Directly above the parking area is the signed trailhead. The trail climbs the hillside … Continue reading…
There are a number of basalt bluffs surrounding McConnell Hill and trails go by the ones on the west and southwest sides, but there is a set on the northeast corner too, forming a kind of “basalt amphitheater.” To get to the site, the route goes around the east side of Stake Lake, then turns onto trails to get to … Continue reading…
Near the fall Equinox we hiked from the Ridge Mountain FSR to a loop route above Lac le Jeune. We hiked a good trail along the Fire Break around the north flank of Ridge Mountain. We then took a flagged single track which brought us up on top of Ridge Mountain. This ridge is inconspicuous from the north side, but … Continue reading…
Painted Bluffs Provincial Park is located on the north side of Kamloops Lake, east of Copper Creek. It is accessible by hiking over the hills or by boat. There are no trails into the park so anyone wanting to hike there has to take a bearing and go over the hills, ridges, and gullies to the rim of the bluffs. … Continue reading…
Above the Valleyview area and below Juniper Ridge is a benchland area that was once submerged under a glacial lake. It has since been carved by erosion into ridges and gullies. Some of the ridges are now narrow “spines” and there are some informal trails and routes up, along, and down the spines. Some of the best ones are accessed … Continue reading…
Zupjok Peak is a lesser-known hike in the Coquihalla Summit, but it is a fine hike with excellent views from the alpine. Click an image for a lightbox view and a caption: A video is also available on YouTube. More Information: Kamloops Trails Channel on YouTube Zupjok Peak Trail Hiking Zupjok Peak
Continue reading...The Sparks Lake Fire of 2021 burned over 90 000 hectares of forest from Red Lake up over the Bonaparte Plateau, including much of Bonaparte Provincial Park. The trails are closed and the roads are not fully accessible. Where the fire burned hot, all traces of trail markers and even the trail itself is hidden by regeneration growth. … Continue reading…
Estekwalan is located above the village of Falkland between Kamloops and Vernon. It is accessed by backroads from Falkland or Westwold. On this September morning we drove in from Westwold (Station Road > Station Bay FSR > Rob Roy FSR) on dry gravel roads. All trails up and down Estekwalan are steep and difficult. Once on top of the mountain, … Continue reading…
A paddle and hike duathlon was a good choice for a warm summer day. A paddle around Stake Lake was followed by a hike on the Giant Firs Trail. The big trees on the trail are a welcome sight in both summer and winter. Some moments of both activities are found in this short video:
Continue reading...Gulf Islands National Park Reserve has park lands on most of the southern Gulf Islands, including Mayne Island. Campbell Point, Georgeson Island, and a chain of islets on the east coast of Mayne are on the edge of Georgia Strait. There is a short trail along the ridge of Campbell Point which can be hiked. We hiked to the end, … Continue reading…
We hiked on a loop route on the McQueen Lake Trails in late August. We avoid accessing any of the trails when students are on the site (a request from the McQueen Lake Environmental Education Center). We got an early start and hiked trails which steered away from the Overnight Center. We hiked along the Red Trail along McQueen Lake, … Continue reading…
On a hot summer morning we got an early start and drove to the Tranquille /Slot Canyons Trailhead, just off the Tranquille – Criss Creek Road. We hiked down the steep trail to the river and established a base on the riverside. We waded and scrambled through the North Slot. On deep pool could be managed on tiptoes without swimming. … Continue reading…
We have hiked on the Mount Revelstoke Trails a number of times and on some of those outings, we hiked from the end of the Mt. Revelstoke Parkway along the Miller and Eva Lake Trail, then up the Jade Lakes Trail to Jade Pass. The hike to Jade Pass without going to Eva Lake is about 6.4 km (each way). … Continue reading…
A favorite combination for summer recreation is to paddle a lake, then hike around it. In August I launched my kayak and paddled the 3 km loop around the lake. After securing the boat, I hiked the 3.5 km trail around the lake, enjoying some of the larger douglas fir trees by the single-track trail. There were a few hikers … Continue reading…
Over the years we have hiked the Asulkan Trail in Glacier National Park many times. One winter we skied up into Asulkan Pass from Wheeler Hut and back. This is one of the most scenic routes in the province. A new Kamloops Trails video is now available on YouTube: Click the YouTube link for more KamloopsTrails videos.
Continue reading...On hot summer days we can get an early start, hike flatter routes, and look for shaded trails. The Tranquille River Trail is a good choice for a morning hike. We hiked up the main trail to the water treatment plant, then we took a secondary trail through the forest to hike farther up the creek. By the hoodoos on … Continue reading…
