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.
One of the best area lakes to paddle is Johnson Lake. Go north on Highway 5, and at Louis Creek, take the Agate Bay Road. Turn left onto the Johnson Lake Forest Service Road. Follow the signs to the Johnson Lake Resort, but don't turn left at the end of the lake (to the Resort). Instead, follow the road around the … Continue reading…
We brought our kayaks to paddle the shoreline of Vancouver Island. Since we were camping at Miracle Beach, we launched from that beach. Miracle Beach has extensive shallows at low tide so launches and landings have to be at high tide. Even then, we had to put the wheels on our kayak to get them to the beach and down … Continue reading…
A year after hiking Guanaco Peak in the Coquihalla, we returned to do it again. This time we chose to mountain bike the 5.5km km on the overgrown backroad to the trailhead (and back). Last year’s article has detailed directions on the route – Guanaco Peak (link). Log: The road into the Zum Recreation Site is a bit … Continue reading…
North Barriere Lake is a 100km drive from Kamloops, but it is a good destination for a day of paddling. From the Barriere Lakes Road, turn north at the Forks, onto the North Barriere Road and then park at the launch at the BC Rec site. We enjoyed the 12km paddle around the lake. The southwest end at the creek … Continue reading…
The Marble Range offers some of most interesting, rugged, and remote hiking in our area. Two trails lead all the rest – Mt. Bowman and Wild Horse Ridge. To find the trailhead, drive to Clinton and take the Kelly Lake turnoff. Just before Kelly Lake, turn right onto the Jesmond Road and follow the good gravel road for about km. … Continue reading…
Three lakes lie near the 50km mark on the Jamieson Creek Forest Service Road on the Bonaparte Plateau. Mayson Lake is a short drive down a BC Recreation Site road. There is a boat launch at this small campsite. The distance around the shoreline is 8km if you choose to paddle into each small bay. This is a quiet area, … Continue reading…
The Oyster River Nature Trails follow the Oyster River down to the estuary, then continue along the seaside to Salmon Point and back, a 6km walk with fine views. Take Highway 19A north from Courtenay and at the Oyster River Bridge, turn onto Regent Road. Park near the pub and follow the trail into the forest. Continue down the riverside … Continue reading…
The back valleys behind Chase, Sorrento, and Tappen are ideal for mountain biking on quiet backroads. There are 3 potential roads/starting points, but we chose to start at the west end near where the Chase Creek Road meets the Turtle Valley Road. We rode west to Turtle Valley, turned left to create a loop route and then turned down the … Continue reading…
One of the best hiking routes of our area can be found on Estekwalan Mountain, but the trail also has its challenges: the road up from Falkland is rough and steep (but 4WD is not required) don't go if it is wet (both the road and trail will be slippery) the trail to the top is quite steep there are … Continue reading…
We have so many lakes to paddle that it will take a decade to get to them all, but each year I add a few more, paddling the shoreline of the lakes. I was delighted by Pinantan Lake. It is a good lake for a recreational paddle on a quiet day. The best hand launch is from the small community … Continue reading…
As the snows clear off the upper slopes of our mountains, perennials, annuals, and flowering shrubs make a brief appearance in a short growing season. First to be noticed are the alpine buttercups, anemones, and avalanche lilies. If we hike the Trophy Mountains in early July, we also see spring beauties, chickweed, hellebore, false solomon's seal, draba, moss campion, … Continue reading…
The road to the Trophy Mountains clears up by the end of May, but the hike to the meadows is not worthwhile until later in June. As the snow melts, the first wildflowers emerge. By early July, the trails can be hiked right up to Plateau of the Tarns. South-facing slopes also clear early and hikers can go to the … Continue reading…
One of the best spots for paddling in our area is Heffley Lake. If we follow the shoreline (including the bays), we can cover 13 km in all. Although it can be busy on a warm summer afternoon, it is a long enough lake to accommodate a number of boats. Kayaks and canoes are frequently seen on the lake, but … Continue reading…
When the chairlift opens at Sun Peaks Resort, we hike from mid-station at the top of the Sunburst Express to the summit of Tod Mountain. This is a steady uphill to Top of the World, then an up and down venture to the final hill that is the peak of Tod Mountain. The return hike is about 9km. Early in … Continue reading…
The multi-year goal is to paddle all of the lakes in the area and East Barriere Lake was well overdue for a day in the kayak. The road to the lake is an easy drive and the best launch spot is at the BC Recreation Site boat launch on the northwest corner of the lake. This is a fairly large … Continue reading…
Our friends Steve and Darcy took us on a drive and mountain bike ride from Ashcroft to Spences Bridge. We took turns with one driving and two riding, switching every 5-10km along the 35 km route (I rode about half, happy to drive, take pictures, and explore). The route starts at the junction of the the Highland Valley Road (to … Continue reading…
