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.
We hike and snowshoe on the Embleton Mountain Trails in all 4 seasons, but fall brings some of the best time on the trails with cool temperatures, lots of colour, and no bugs. We drove up to P2, the upper parking area and hiked west toward the upper lookout. The trailhead is in an open area, but much of the … Continue reading…
Phillips Lake lies on the Skimikin Lake Road between Turtle Valley and Skimikin. the fastest approach from Kamloops is to drive on Highway 1 East to Squilax and turn onto the Squilax – Turtle Valley Road. Follow the valley toward Skimikin then turn onto Ptarmigan Road. A good parking area and boat launch is located on the northwest side of … Continue reading…
The earliest tracks in this area were established by miners and ranchers. Back in 1888 coal was found on what is now Coal Hill on the slopes of the family-run Guerin Ranch. In 1892 iron was found by a prospectors working for a syndicate in the hills to the west in what was then called the Ironmask Hills. In 1896, … Continue reading…
We have paddled the Shuswap River three times before, starting from a hand launch just below the Skookumchuck Rapids and going downstream for 30 km to Enderby. We did this twice right during the salmon run (see the links below). an unique experience. This time we paddled a shorter route, the 12 km from the Trinity Bridge to Enderby. The … Continue reading…
Titus Canyon is a hike in the Grapevine Mountains in Death Valley National Park. It is an easier hike into a deep canyon with impressive rock features along the route. The lower/west entrance to Titus Canyon is found by turning off the Scotty’s Castle Road 15 miles north of Highway 190. The side road is signed and the gravel road … Continue reading…
When the winds are calm, Kamloops Lake is one of the best paddling spots in the Interior of B.C. The rugged hills on both side of the lake provide a scenic backdrop for paddling along the shoreline. On this last outing on the lake in mid-September, I chose to Launch from Tobiano, at Bruker Marina. There is a $10 fee … Continue reading…
Mt. Vicars is a cone-shaped hill on the north side of Scuitto Lake. We can follow ATV tracks for part of the route up the hill, then it is just a steep climb to the top, a total of 3.5 km (round trip). The route starts at the new Scuitto Lake B.C. Recreation Site on the shores of the lake. … Continue reading…
Harper Lake is found in the hills south of the South Thompson River, above the Neskonlith Indian Reserve #1. The Harper Lake Forest Service Road starts at east end of the Reserve 2 km from the turn-off into Chase. The gravel road climbs through the hills for 6 km, ending on a narrow road down to the lake. There … Continue reading…
The Red Plateau Forest Service Road bears west from the Red Lake Road and climbs onto the top of the forested Red Plateau. Much of the east end is within Lac du Bois Grasslands Provincial Protected Area, but the western end is Crown land, heavily logged and criss-crossed with side roads, skid roads, and decommissioned roads. Red Plateau has a … Continue reading…
By the end of summer, the McArthur Island boat launch has its gate closed and the lagoon begins to dry out. In the first week of September, there was just enough water to paddle out of the channel in a kayak. A week later it would have been a muddy portage. I exited to the river and aimed the boat … Continue reading…
The Lac le Jeune Lookout Tail can be accessed from Stake Lake, from the Ross Moore Forest Service Road, or from Lac le Jeune Provincial Park Campground. We started at the beach and hiked 8.5 km out and back, with a short scramble down from the top to shortcut the route back. The first part of the trail is the … Continue reading…
We returned to paddle Campbell Lake in late summer, choosing a sunny weekday to launch a kayak and explore the shoreline. The launch spot is at the Campbell Lake Recreation Site on the south side of the lake. To drive there go through Barnhartvale, then turn onto the Robbins Range Road, and then the Scuitto Lake Forest Service Road. From … Continue reading…
Little Douglas Lake lies in a cirque between Zum Peak, Zoa Peak, and Zopkios Ridge in the Coquihalla Summit area. The 3 km return trail starts at the Zum Recreation Site on the Upper Coldwater Road. Take the Coquihalla Lakes/Britton Creek exit, go over the highway on the overpass and follow the paved road as it follows the Coldwater River … Continue reading…
The goal is to paddle all the lakes in our area (except the smallest ones) and eventually we will have done the shoreline of over 100 lakes. Hosli Lake has been on the list for a while, but it is a little harder to get to. The route is to drive to Roche Lake, but turn onto the Bleeker Lake … Continue reading…
The Falls Lake Trail is short excursion to a beautiful spot in the Coquihalla Summit. When driving south pass the old toll booth area and watch for the Falls Lake Road turn on the right. Go up the paved road to the end and park. The singed trailhead is just ahead (north and to the right). Thar Peak stands … Continue reading…
McGillivray Lake is a high country lake on the Cahilty Plateau 6 km from Sun Peaks Village. The McGilllivray Lake Forest Service Road connects Sun Peaks Road to McGillivray Lake and the gravel road continues on down to Neskonlith Lake and Shuswap Road. To paddle the lake, follow the gravel road and turn in to the McGillivray Lake Outpost where … Continue reading…
