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.
There are 4 Districts of Canyonlands National Park. The most accessible is Island in the Sky, a 40 minute drive on good roads from Moab, Utah. The drive climbs to the top of a large mesa which just out between Green River and the Colorado River. There are a number of hikes along the Island in the Sky Parkway which … Continue reading…
While paddling on Harper Lake, I spotted some movement at the remote west end of the lake. As I approached closer I could see two cubs in the open as well as the longer/larger mother partially hidden in the forest. Cougar cubs stay up to 2 years with their mother before they are driven off to fend for themselves. These … Continue reading…
We launched our kayaks in Comox Lake with the intention of paddling down the lake far enough to see the end of the glacier-fed lake, but strong winds came up so we ended up paddling a loop around the east end of the lake only. We parked adjacent to the campground and launched from the beach into the protected bay. … Continue reading…
On the west side of Stake Lake is an osprey nest at the top of a broken-top fir tree. Eggs were laid by the mating pair and then were incubated for about 40 days. The chicks hatched then nested for 50 – 60 days this summer and each time I returned to kayak the lake, I checked their progress. From … Continue reading…
Island in the Sky is one of four Canyonlands National Park Districts and the easiest one to access from Moab and paved roads. The route to the high mesa is to drive 16 km north of Moab, then 35 km southwest. The road goes through the Park gate then continues on to the edge of the mesa. At … Continue reading…
Heffley Lake is one of our finest lakes to paddle and it can be a busy spot in summer so we usually paddle there in spring or fall. There is a good boat lunch on the east end suitable to cartop boats or kayaks, but the parking area is limited so it can be full on a weekend in summer. … Continue reading…
Horseshoe Canyon is a remote desert canyon on the edge of Canyonlands National Park. It is renowned as a site to observe well-preserved rock art of the Ancestral Puebloans. The 4 panels are estimated to be 1000 to 1500 years old. Although it is a long day to drive the backroads and hike the route, it is a special place, … Continue reading…
For fishermen or paddlers, Jacko Lake is one of the first lakes to be ice-free in spring and one of the last lakes to freeze over in late fall. It is surrounded by grasslands at 917m elevation (3000 feet). A paddle around the shoreline is about 4.4 km, an hour of paddling. Lakes above this are all surrounded by high … Continue reading…
The old double track that starts just across the tracks near Tranquille is the old wagon road to the homesteads near Pruden Pass. The road is rough now, climbing from the Tranquille – Criss Creek Road to Pruden Pass between Mara Mountain and Wheeler Mountain. There is a gate blocking private property in the pass, but rougher-yet side roads … Continue reading…
We try to paddle Paul Lake each year in the spring and fall when there are few, if any, boats on the lake. On this last mid-October day the winds were calm for a quiet outing on the cooler waters of the lake. The lakeshore had receded quite dramatically with the whole lake surface down 3 – 4 feet. The … Continue reading…
When I first arrived in Kamloops in 1976, Peterson Creek was the first place I explored. I followed various tracks and trails before it was a City Park, before there were any signs, designated trailheads, or established boundaries. I found out that the trails ventured onto private property on the south end and on the east side and by just … Continue reading…
Skimikin Lake lies in a valley between Turtle Valley and the end of the Salmon Arm of Shuswap Lake. It is a well-used recreational area with a fine BC Rec Site and numerous trails. For paddlers, there are several launch spots at the Rec Site. The lake is divided into two parts by a narrow point. In fall the water … Continue reading…
The upper grasslands and forests near Lac du Bois are an inviting place to hike in the fall. Fall color is abundant and the hills are quiet. We have a number of different routes to hike right from a parking area at Lac du Bois, tuning our choice to the season and the conditions. On this October day, we chose … Continue reading…
By October it is rare to see another boat on either the South or North Thompson Rivers. The boat launches remain open but we are more likely to see dog walkers than power boats. We continue to launch our kayak onto the river to paddle various routes on the river. Downstream is always easier but requires vehicle support so most … Continue reading…
The hike to the top of Zoa Peak and back is a straight-forward 8.5 km return hike. The trail is generally moderate and forgiving as compared to all the other peaks in the Coquihalla Summit area. We have done this hike a number of times and we chose a day in October to enjoy the fall colors. The trailhead is … Continue reading…
The Puntledge River flows out of Comox Lake and continues right through the City of Courtenay, flowing into Comox Harbour. Kayakers can launch their boats at a public boat launch at the end of 20th Street in Courtenay Airpark. From there, paddlers can either go upstream for a ways or they can paddle downstream through the saltwater estuary to … Continue reading…
