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 Gattling Gorge Trail has been an informal trail in Wells Gray Provincial Park for many years, but it is now signed and the trail is a good one, with some caution. the route goes right from the Helmcken Falls viewpoints and continues along the rim, offering fine views for 2 km. When the trail starts to go downhill into … Continue reading…
Boston Bar Creek does not come near the town of Boston Bar, but the headwaters of the Anderson River are only 10 km north and the river joins the Fraser River near the town. Boston Bar Creek’s source is the mountains on both sides of the Coquihalla Summit’s western slopes. On the north side, the snows melting from Zopkios Ridge, … Continue reading…
Once the weather improves and the lakes open up, we bring our kayaks out to the lakes to explore the shorelines and waterways, to see wildlife, and to enjoy the from-the-lake views. We have done over 100 lakes in our area now so in spring we usually start with a few that are close to town. This year we chose … Continue reading…
The Mara Canyon Trail is sometimes called the Cinnamon Ridge Trail or the Hoodoos Trail. There are two deep canyons on the south side of Mara Mountain and the trail goes through the western one. It is a narrow canyon with many eroded features reminiscent of canyon hiking in the US Southwest. Access is best done by using the level … Continue reading…
The delta lands at the head of Kamloops Lake are covered in water now, but in early spring there were large sand/silt islands with shallow channels to explore. We launched out of Cooney Bay, then went across the lake to the south shore, working our way back into shallow channels, landing on sandy islands. At the end of the flooding … Continue reading…
The Six Mile Hills are above Kamloops Lake on the south side of the Trans Canada Highway. The area near the lookout is now Six Mile Protected Area. We hiked the ridges that run down to the gullies adjacent over to Tobiano last year (link). The hills above are grazing lands, a combination of private lands with public … Continue reading…
The trail to the top of Battle Bluff is a popular hike in 3 seasons in the Kamloops area. It has one of the best viewpoints at the end of a moderate route. On an early May day, though, we explored the shoulder of Battle Bluff and found it quite rewarding. Although we struck out across the hills, hikers could … Continue reading…
There is an endless variety of routes to hike in the Dewdrop area on the north side of Kamloops Lake. Most of the hikes are within Lac du Bois Grasslands Protected Area. There are a couple of official trails, but many of the routes are off-trail or pieces of tracks and trails that have to be connected. In the end … Continue reading…
The Gulf Islands area has many opportunities for kayaking, using one of the islands as a starting point and paddling the bays, harbours, coastlines, and channels. We have paddled out of Saturna, Galiano, Cortez, and Salt Spring Islands, and recently out of the Pender Islands. With a short term decision to go to South Pender Island without our kayaks … Continue reading…
We hike the Barren Hills every spring once the trails dry out. The trailhead is off a short side road just past Batchelor Hill. Mountain bikers call this area Batchelor Hills which is an accurate name, but since both sides of the Lac du Bois Road are the Batchelor Range and the Batchelor Hills, we call the small area north … Continue reading…
The Frederick Bluffs area is a rugged series of rocky hills in the Dewdrop Range overlooking the seasonal community of Frederick on Kamloops Lake. Access to them is on a good gravel road but from the start, there are no trails to follow. By exploring the area we have worked out routes and variations to fit the season and conditions. … Continue reading…
The Barnes Lake Trails are one of our best-kept secrets. these lovely trails offer a combination of double track and single tracks trails, routes in the grasslands and in the forest, and number of route options. We usually choose to hike them in shoulder season, but they are good hiking option for most of the year. There are 3 trailheads … Continue reading…
Access to Painted Bluffs Provincial Park is limited and fairly difficult except by boat. We have gone overland several times, but we find it easier to paddle over in our kayaks and walk up to the bottom end of the bluffs. On this last outing, we hiked overland from the Sabiston Creek Road – Copper Creek road over the hills, … Continue reading…
The first wildflowers to emerge when the snows melt are spotted on south-facing open slopes at lower elevations (The Fist Wildflowers of Spring. Sagebrush buttercups appear first followed by arabis and yellow bells. By the first of April we can spot western spring beauties. The corms are edible and were often harvested by First Nations people. We can usually … Continue reading…
There are a series of ridges that can be connected from the top of the Pimple (a hill overlooking the Tranquille River) all the way down to where the Tranquille- Criss Creek Road and the Tranquille River intersect. There is no trail, but we can work our way downhill over 4.6 km staying on top of the ridge where we … Continue reading…
At the upper end of the Lac du Bois Grasslands at 983m (3225 feet) elevation the area turns to forests, ponds, lakes, marshes, backroads, hills, and a few trails. To the south of McQueen Lake are the Nature Conservancy of Canada Lac du Bois Conservancy lands, accessible on foot to hikers and snowshoers. To the north are forested hills, a … Continue reading…
