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.
Wells Gray has a number of waterfalls for us to visit, explore, and photograph. Dawson Falls is most often viewed from a platform on the south shore of the Murtle River, but there is also a trail that goes right to the edge of the falls on the north side of the river. The trail starts at the Pyramid Campground. … Continue reading…
The Deadman Valley Road goes north for about 50 km from the Trans Canada Highway and ends up at the end of Vidette Lake. Beyond Vidette Lake, the roads wind up into the high country. The lower end of the valley goes through the Skeetchestn Indian Reserve, then emerges into valley bottom farmland. A road climbs to the left (west) … Continue reading…
Our favorite trail in Kenna Cartwright Park is on the west end of Mount Dufferin. We start on Hillside Drive past the Correctional Facility and climb the hill. We combine several trails, but the main one is the Mesa Trail. On this May afternoon, the wildflowers were on display. We pull salsify out of the yard, but it is beautiful … Continue reading…
Most Wells Gray Park visitors drive along the north side of the Murtle River to the designated parking area and walk out to the Helmcken Falls viewpoint. This is a “must-do” and we have returned many times to enjoy that view. Another alternative though, is to hike for 4 km down the south side of Murtle River, right to the … Continue reading…
There is a chain of lakes in the upper Deadman’s Valley and Snohoosh Lake is the largest of them. It is a long, narrow, and winding lake bordering the Deadmans-Vidette Road. From the Trans Canada Highway, we have to drive 38 km to the south end of the lake. The backroad continues to wind around the shoreline of the lake … Continue reading…
The hike to the base of Moul Falls is one of the best trails of our area. BC Parks has established a good parking lot and trailhead just off the Wells Gray Corridor Road, 20.7 km from the start of the road. The trail follows an old road for its first half, then a single track follows Grouse Creek to … Continue reading…
With so many routes in our area, it is rare for us to hike a trail more than twice a year, but we end up hiking the Mt. Embleton trails at least 3 times each year. We hike it in the spring when the trails dry out. We return late spring when the wildflowers emerge. We try to hike late … Continue reading…
Sunrise Mountain is one of the premier hikes of our area and it starts right in town, at the end of Ronde Lane in Barnhartvale (more info – article). One of the best things about the hike are the multiple trailheads along the route. The trail follows the edge of the ridge, climbing south to the top. There are … Continue reading…
When the North and South Thompson Rivers rise from the spring melt, the boat launch at McArthur Island can be used to access the Thompson River. During freshet, the volume of watyer increases and the current is stronger. Once we enter the river, we look for slower water to progress upstream. The north side shoreline can be followed towards Overlander … Continue reading…
When we go to the Dewdrop Range, the Red Plateau Escarpment rises 2200 feet above. The reddish, ragged cliffs are the result of a lava flow. After thousands of years of weathering, the rock has become cracked, rotten and loose. Outcrops are rough and unreliable, talus and scree slopes are unstable, and all hiking up the escaprment is a challenging … Continue reading…
One of the best paddling destinations we try to do every year is Clearwater Lake. The boat launch is at the very end of the Wells Gray Corridor Road. Beyond the launch is 22km of wilderness lake with treed shorelines and snow-capped mountains rising above. Along the shoreline are a few wilderness marine campsites. We have enjoyed going to the … Continue reading…
In previous hikes, we had found a good route to the hilltop above Dewdrop Arch (article), but we had never scrambled up into the Arch until recently. We drove out the Frederick Road across the Dewdrop Range and turned right at the fork. We followed the rough road for 0.6 km and parked off to the side with the Arch … Continue reading…
There is a small provincial park (link) on top of Greenstone Mountain. There are also at least 5 communications towers, a good road to the top, and an old forestry lookout. The summit at 5900 feet has a few rocky knolls, all with fine views. There is mixed forest of spruce, lodgepole pine, aspen, and fir. Below are some standing … Continue reading…
To paddle Kamloops Lake we can launch from Savona, Tobiano, or Cooney Bay. For those in a kayak or canoe, we drive past Tranquille, staying left at Tranquille on the Lake, following a bumpy road for 1 km down to the parking area. The trail to Cooney Bay has a number of large fallen trees down now so it is … Continue reading…
Mara Canyon (Hoodoos Trail) is the most popular “unofficial” hiking trail in our area. Although it goes into Lac du Bois Provincial Protected Area, it crosses the CN tracks off Tranquille Road so it is an unmaintained user trail. The trail goes up the south hills of Mount Mara, then drops into the canyon. The route drops into the dry … Continue reading…
One of our best paddling lakes is Lac le Jeune. The ice comes off in the spring and we can paddle there in April, but at 4200 feet, we usually go to the lower lakes and the river first. Later in the season it is a busy place as boaters and fishermen fill the lake. Early in the season it … Continue reading…
