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.
An extensive trail/backroad/track network extends between Johnson Lake and South Barriere Lake. To access the trails, take the Agate Bay Road from Louis Creek. This scenic paved road comes to an end at Adams Lake, but the turn-off to Johnson Lake is about 11km to the west (at N51 07.331, W119 49.990). Follow this road north to Johnson Lake. The … Continue reading…
Special Note – Frolek Cattle Company does not appreciate anyone writing about access to their lands so I have edited this post accordingly. This post serves to warn hikers and bikers that they are concerned and I am advising readers to act responsibly. And, now that I know this, the content of this post has been edited and I will … Continue reading…
My friend Russ Walton introduced us to this hike. Park at the top of Ida Lane at the black gate and proceed toward Deep Lake. As you start to veer left around the hill in front of you, you will see a single track bearing right around the hill. Follow this track between the fenceline and the hills as it … Continue reading…
The route down to Shelley Lake and beyond is a well-established trail. The route to the trailhead is the same as for the Jolly-Tsintsunko Lake trail. Follow the Jamieson Creek FSR until the 28km mark and turn onto the Shelley Lake – Beaverhut Road. Follow this road until the 8km marker. We spotted a small road to our right … Continue reading…
When you drive out to Tranquille, you look up to the northwest and the last hill of Red Plateau towers over the area. It would be a long climb up, but there is a much easier route to this wonderful viewpoint. Pass Tranquille onto the Red Lake Road. Continue the climb past the switchback to the Dewdrop Range and continue … Continue reading…
Along the river or in the forest, we heard many songs and calls from birds. Over time, we learn to recognize them: Song Sparrow: Song Sparrow (click to hear the song) Blue Jay Blue Jay Blue Heron: 04-Great Blue Heron
Continue reading...This is a very remote spot in the NW corner of Wells Gray Provincial Park. There are two ways to get to the site and both involve a long drive on backroads. The Flourmills get very few visitors and most of them come in from 1oo Mile House via the Canim Lake Road, then the Spanish Lake FSR (Road # 7000) … Continue reading…
We chose to paddle from Cooney Bay to Savona at the end of October. The forecast looked good, but at the last minute there was a warning about winds from the east, a tailwind for the paddlers. With an escape route (at Tobiano) in mind, we started early in the morning. We had chosen to paddle the south shore of … Continue reading…
From the end of Pratt Road in Barnhartvale, hikers can access a number of hills, routes, and viewpoints. The end of Pratt Road continues to change as new properties are developed. Access to three tracks have been cut off, though it is possible to bushwack and contour past them. Fortunately, we don’t have to because an easement is in place. … Continue reading…
Which Trails are in Your Top Ten for the Greater Kamloops Area? Mine are listed here. You can find articles on each trail in the Archives. 1. Dewdrop Trail 2. Mara Canyon 3. Tod Mountain 4. Grasslands Community Trail 5. Embleton Mountain Trails 6. Battle Bluff 7. Stake Lake Trails 8. Mount Dufferin Trails 9. Valleyiew Silt Cliffs 10. ? … Continue reading…
Lime Ridge is in the Marble Range, northwest of Clinton. It is just outside Marble Range Provincial Park, but it is slated to be included in the park once the mining claims for Continental Lime have expired. The Marble Range was a shallow shelf under the seas 250 million years ago. After folding and faulting occurred, these limestone mountains were … Continue reading…
Mahood Lake isn’t easy to get to from the Kamloops area. The east end is buried deep in Wells Gray Park. You can get to the east end of the lake by driving to Clearwater, then the west side of the Clearwater River Road to the end. The trailhead to Sylvia and Goodwin Falls starts there. The trail also goes … Continue reading…
Most hikers call this the Hoodoos Trail. It is one of the premier hikes of our area, but it has a number of sections that require a bit of a scramble. It is also requires crossing an active train track, so delays may be faced and safety is always a concern. The trailhead is on Tranquille Road past Kamloops Golf … Continue reading…
Many of the trails on the Bonaparte Plateau are old roads, logging skid tracks, or fishing routes, but there also a few established trails. The Tsinsunko Lake Loop is one of the nicer trails systems in the Tsintsunko/Bonaparte Provincial Parks. To find the trails, drive up the Jamieson Creek Road and watch for the turn-off just past Km 28. Turn … Continue reading…
When we are hiking along the trails, we often hear (before we see) people with bear bells ringing. We are always interested in who wears bear bells. We never use them. We have run into bears on many occasions and continue to go “un-belled.” When are bears a threat? When do we need to take precautions? Bears generally avoid people, … Continue reading…
All trails in the Bonaparte Plateau area are surrounded by true wilderness. The trails/routes near these fly-fishing lakes sit at 1250m. The area can be accessed from the Jamieson Creek FSR from Westsyde Road just past Beauregard Lake. Other options are to take the Westsyde Road to the Gorman Lake Road or to go in from Darlington to the Powder … Continue reading…