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 trails on the UBC Enddowment Lands were well used before the area was turned into a park. In the mid-1970’s I explored, hiked, and ran the trails over a 6 year stint, then returned to walk them again in the 1990’s. Now that it is officially Pacific Spirit Regional Park, there are designated parking spots, trailhead signs, route signs, … Continue reading…
Dardanelles Lake lies in a basin in the plateau country south of Roche Lake and east of Stump Lake. The main route is on the Dardanelles Forest Service Road which starts at the north end of Stump Lake. It is a 21 km backroad, gradually climbing to 1260m. The last short section is a rough road (high clearance) to the … Continue reading…
The Mt. Finlayson Trail starts in Goldstream Provincial Park in the forest then climbs through the forest to the south-facing cliffs, looking toward Victoria. We started on Bear Mountain near the tennis club and hiked for 0.5 km over to the junction below the summit trail. From that point, everything was steep and rocky to the top. In fact, most … Continue reading…
Morrisey Lake is a shallow high country lake on the Cahilty Plateau, not far from McGillivray Lake. It is accessed from the McGillivray Lake Forest Service Road, 6 km past Sun Peaks. Aat an unsigned side road just north of McGillivray Lake, turn east and follow the dirt road for 1 km. Watch for the BC Recreation Site sign. There … Continue reading…
The Hunter Canyon hike is in the sandstone hills west of Moab. To get to the trailhead, drive out to the south side of the Colorado River on the Kane Creek Road and then follow the Kane Springs (gravel) Road for 5 km and park at the signed trailhead. There is a small campground there and a single track trail … Continue reading…
From Kamloops we have many lakes and rivers that we can pick for a day of paddling. Since wind is always an issue for paddlers, we are best to check the weather forecast before selecting a destination. With the summer of 2017, we also had smoky days to think about and higher lakes tended to have less smoke than lakes … Continue reading…
One of our favorite hikes was up Sidewinder Canyon in Death Valley. The highlight, though, was 3 side slot canyons, two of which were narrow dark slots surprising long and interesting. WE hiked over the ridges, then dropped into the upper end of Sidewinder, then worked our way down, exploring all the side slots on the way down, a total … Continue reading…
From Sun Peaks Village to McGillivray Lake is a 6 km route on a gravel road. Along the way and nearby are snowmobile access points, backroads for mountain biking, lakes for paddling, and trails for hiking, cross country skiing and snowshoeing. The Google Map below has information, photos, and links on these recreational opportunities. The map has zoom controls, pan … Continue reading…
The trail/route up Funeral Canyon starts next to the Texas Springs Campground not far from Furnace Creek in Death Valley. There are no signs nor trail markers, but the start of the route is obvious as it gently climbs through the Funeral Wash into the East Colman Hills. We hiked on a horse track through scenic badlands up to the … Continue reading…
Horsefly Lake Provincial Park is situated on the north shore of Horsefly Lake in the Cariboo. From Highway 97 at 150 Mile House, drive east to the village of Horsefly. Cross the Horsefly River on a one-lane bridge, then follow the Upper Horsefly Road for 13 km. Watch for the signs and a right turn down into the provincial park … Continue reading…
The best hike in Arches National Park is the Devil’s Garden Trail. The trailhead is at the end of the paved road. By hiking the main trail, we can see 7 listed/well-known arches and a few others with some further exploration. By adding the Primitive Trail we can hike an 11.5 km loop. This is busy trail at prime time … Continue reading…
One of our best paddling outings is a circuit around Lac le Jeune. Interactive points of interest are embedded in the map below with photos, links, and other information. More information: Paddling Lac le Jeune Lakes Lac le Jeune Circuit
Continue reading...The Hidden Valley Trail starts at the south end of Moab. Turn onto Angel Rock Road then follow Rim Rock Lane to the end where there is a good parking area and signage. The trail climbs steeply for 0.8 km up through rocky slopes over the rim of the cliffs above, then levels off as it follows Hidden Valley The … Continue reading…
Lodgepole Lake lies in a basin on the eastern slopes of Chuwhels Mountain. We can access it by turning off the Lac le Jeune Road at Stake Lake and proceeding up the Chuwhels Mountain Road for 2.7 km. The small Rec Site at the east end of the lake is for day use only, perfect for launching a canoe or … Continue reading…
When the heat of summer makes all of our lower-elevation trails a challenge we can drive up to the high country at over 4000 feet and hike on trails in the cooler montane forest. In a summer of smoky conditions, it is also an opportunity to get above the smoke-filled river valleys. Stake Lake is easy to get to and … Continue reading…
Many people refer to this lake as Knouff Lake, but the maps name it Sullivan Lake. Locals in the community at the south end, the Resort at the north end, and fishermen mostly call this Knouff Lake. Nevertheless, I launched from the Sullivan Lake West (Knouff) Recreation Site and paddled around the shoreline of the lake, a total of 5 … Continue reading…
