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.
A search of dated photos from hikes in late winter showed some patterns of the first arrivals of wildflowers. Each year is different. In the lower hills, the snows can melt as early as the third week of February or as late as the third week in March. The south-facing lower-elevation, angled (right angles to the height of the sun). … Continue reading…
The route through the bluffs on the eastern end of the dewdrop Range took several days of exploration to link the parts, but having done the route a few times, we hike is a perennial spring favorite. We hike from the Frederick Road to the top of the Dewdrop Ridge then we traverse over to the east side and come … Continue reading…
As the hills dry out we can hike the grassland benches above the river. By late March this year, the first buttercups were out. The grasses are flattened by the winter’s snow cover and the benchlands look barren, but all of the various plants will emerge in spring and with them the insect and animal life that feeds on the … Continue reading…
During freshet the lands adjacent to Tranquille Bay flood and we enjoy kayaking out into the floodlands. Across the river there is another large floodlands are so we can paddle a 10+ km circuit from late May through July. After the river recedes, the floodlands remain boggy for a few more weeks before they dry out at the end of … Continue reading…
The hills on the north side of Kamloops Lake across from Savona are one of the first areas to clear of snow because of the slope angle. open hillsides, and their south-facing aspect. All routes into the Savona hills are steep but the open slopes allow for great views. We hiked from the trailhead area for the Savona- Sabiston Creek … Continue reading…
Before the snows have melted in the hills of Kamloops, a good choice for a low elevation hike is at Cooney Bay. Take the road to Tranquille and stay left following the rough gravel road to the end where there is a large parking lot. Hike for a short distance along the Thompson river where it empties into Kamloops Lake, … Continue reading…
Rabbit Island was formed by the accumulated sediments from the North and South Thompson rivers downstream from the confluence. The east end has more of the heavier gravel deposits and the north side has more of the sands and silts. Over a long period of time the sandbars have built up on the north side to create a shallow channel … Continue reading…
When the winter snows start to melt one of the first trails to dry out is the Savona to Sabiston Creek Trail. it faces south, has no trees, is sloped to face the low winter-early spring sun, and is subject to the drying winds of the Kamloops Lake corridor. When other trails still have snow, ice, and mud, this trail … Continue reading…
The northern end of Kekaha Kai State Park (formerly Kona Coast State Park) on the Island of Hawai’i has a couple of rough access roads that wind through the young (1809) black lava flows down to an area near the shoreline. The Kua Bay (paved) Road winds past the slopes of Kuili’i, a prominent volcanic cinder cone. There are short … Continue reading…
Some of the best hiking in the whole Kamloops area is found around Mount Mara. There are only 3 established routes. The Mara Canyon Trail goes up the south side through the hoodoo canyon and can be combined with the Ridge Trail to make a 7 km loop. The Mara Trail is a 4 km loop on the lower southwest … Continue reading…
Even though snows still linger, we can start paddling on the river. Although the Pioneer Park boat launch is still closed, we can get our boat down to the river with a little extra work. Since the water is cold, we used a wetsuit and stayed close to the shoreline. The south-facing shoreline was clear of snow but the north-facing … Continue reading…
Tranquille River high on the Bonaparte Plateau, collects in Tranquille Lake and then flows down through the river valleys to empty into Kamloops Lake at Tranquille. The lower river is in a more open valley but at about 4 km upstream, the valley narrows to a canyon and it stays that way for 12 km, just above Tranquille Crossing. Much … Continue reading…
The south end of Kekaha Kai State Park (formerly Kona Coast State Park) is accessed via a rough road through the lava flows to a parking area near Mahai’ula Bay. On a previous day, we hiked south to Makole’a Point along the lava beds and past black and beaches. On another day we hiked north across the lava flows to … Continue reading…
The West Ironmask Hills Trails are perfect for moderate snowshoeing in the hills in winter. They are closed from March 1 to July 1st for grazing, but they are a fine choice for fat biking or snowshoeing in December, January, and February. A few images are combined for this video of snowshoeing the trails in February, 2018.
Continue reading...A new Youtube Video of photos from hiking in Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park (Island in the Sky, the Needles, and Horseshoe Canyon) in April – May 2017: We have hiked in the Moab area a number of times and we hope to return many more times. Some of the best hiking anywhere is in Canyonlands National Park. … Continue reading…
The trails of Kenna Cartwright Park extend to the west end of the Mount Dufferin Ridge. The official trails start at the main trailheads but takes a 1.5 km hike to get to over to these trails, so a few hikers and many dog-walkers drive down Hillside Drive past the Kamloops Regional Corrections Center to a gate where we can … Continue reading…
