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.
The high country on the Bonaparte Plateau is heavily forested with many lakes. The higher elevation means an early winter and late snows in the spring. Late spring hikes are possible, but expect a muddy road, late drifts, and wet feet. Even in summer the trail into Skoatl Point can be a wet hike. The mosquitoes of June-July follow, so … Continue reading…
We had time to do two separate outings – one on the cliffs and hills to the east, north, and west of Battle Bluff and another on the water around the foot of Battle Bluff. Click any photo to enlarge it.
Continue reading...A trail loop can be found in the south-facing hills to the west of Mount Mara. Drive just past the junction with Tranquille on the Lake. Cross the railroad tracks and look for the parking area and gate on the right. Cross the stile and climb onto the double track just above. Follow the signs as the route gives way … Continue reading…
Opax Mountain lies north of Wheeler Mountain, in the area between McQueen Lake and Tranquille Canyon. There are 3 routes to the top, but our favorite has long been a hiking route from Lac du Bois to the top of the mountain. Park at Lac du Bois and hike the old road past the gate around the north side. Follow … Continue reading…
The double track up from Tranquiulle is the old wagon road to the Wheeler Mountain homesteads (1906-1918). The route winds up the hills on a south-facing slope with no trees so it makes a good fall hike. The road can be driven with a 4WD, but it is a nice hike to the edge of the big gully at the … Continue reading…
Red Plateau was formed from a large lava flow. The towering cliffs form a line over the Dewdrop Range. On first glance it appears to be a solid wall, but when you explore the foot of the escarpment, it is easy to see ridges and gullies running north – south. The main hike up the cliffs approaches the first … Continue reading…
We have heard about the Petrified Forest in the hills above Barnhartvale for a long time, but we never had the exact location. Roland Neave referred to it in his book, Hiking the High Points. It is noted in various rockhounding journals. There was even a two-part newspaper article in December 2000 by author Peter Grauer. There is a Min-File … Continue reading…
The Gus Johnson-Lac le Jeune Loop Trail is a four-season trail. This week we biked around the lake, but we have also hiked it, run it, and cross country skied the route. Recent wind storms have brought down many trees which won’t impede hikers, but it is more of a challenge to mountain bike right now. Nevertheless it is a … Continue reading…
There are a few places that warrant an off-trail route to a unique spot. The Garden of the Trolls is a small area on a bench between the Dewdrop Range and Red Plateau. The rock features of the area can't been seen until you are right there, amongst the 25-30 standing rocks. Each one ranges from 8' to 20' … Continue reading…
Coal Hill routes seem to change each time we climb to the top. As the area becomes better known, new bike trails appear and replace old double and single track routes. Fencelines fall into disrepair and we see more evidence of human visits. Wildlife is infrequent now. The views from the top have always been wonderful with grasslands on 3 … Continue reading…
Manning Park has a lot of great hiking trails but only 3-4 of all the hikes can be called the premier routes of the area. One of these is the Skyline Trail. There are two distinct sections that both traverse the ridges to the north and west of the the Lightning Lakes Chain. Although Skyline II can be done … Continue reading…
The area above Pratt Road in Barnhartvale is a a rugged area with surprisingly-remote hiking for the intrepid. Access has changed as new homes have been built off the end of Pratt Road. The two original access routes are now cut off and hikers now have to follow a very steep fibre-optic line to the highlands. Drive up Tod Road … Continue reading…
The old wagon route from Tranquille to Pruden Pass was used to connect the Wheeler Mountain homesteaders community with the sanatorium and homes in the Tranquille area. The road now sits inside Lac du Bois Grasslands Protected Area and has gradually become rougher and more difficult to drive with the gate often locked. Now it is a 4WD route up … Continue reading…
The Dewdrop Trail starts at the flats in the Dewdrop Range and climbs 2000 feet to the top of Red Plateau, then follows a route along the rim, skirting the edge of the drop-off and rounding the heads of gullies. After the Castle Butte turn-off it starts to become more difficult to follow, but it does go on, and eventually … Continue reading…
The Interior Plateau area is a series of mountains and valleys with many hills and ridges between. Many of our mountains have backroads or trails to the top. Our whole area has thousands of hills, some of which are accessible, but many have no trails and are rarely visited. Each of these hills has its own uniqueness. Each hill’s shape, … Continue reading…
While we hiked the South Helmcken Trail, we made our way along a forest path to the falls, but on our way back, we kept our eyes open, carefully noting what was found on the sides of the trail. We found many mushrooms and fungi, wild ginger, rattlesnake plantain in flower, rein orchids, queen's cup in berry, Indian pipe, and … Continue reading…
