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.
As winter snows melt, some backroads open up for early season biking. Goose Lake Road is a favorite. From Knutsford, turn onto the Long Lake Road and at 1.5 km, turn right (west) onto the Goose Lake Road. The pavement ends a short ways along. We usually park at the top of the first little rise. We get on our … Continue reading…
Waimea Canyon has been nicknamed “the Grand Canyon of the Pacific” and though it is definitely on a smaller scale, it is still an impressive sight. The sheer ruggedness is complemented by bright colors, tropical vegetation, waterfalls tumbling down from the caldera above, and long views to the top of Mt. Wai’aleale above and the Pacific Ocean to the west. … Continue reading…
Kamloops' two rivers provide fine early season paddling. The South Thompson flows more slowly, has fewer shallows/sandbars, and has less hazards. Progress up or down is good, except when the power boats arrive. The North Thompson has far less traffic and a little more caution is needed, and it is hard work to paddle upstream. Most river paddling outings follow … Continue reading…
The Ironmask Hill area is a series of hills, meadows, grasslands, ponds, and forested slopes found between Coal Hill and the Lac le Jeune Road. I have been informed that it is owned by Sugarloaf Ranch, but is now designated to be part of the Ajax Mine site. Old mine sites can still be found in the area. Remnants of … Continue reading…
The area above the south shore of Kamloops Lake has grassland-covered slopes, rounded hills, bluffs, alakali lakes, and few tracks for exploration. We come into the area from either the end of Abbey Road or off Deer Road in Cherry Bluffs. These larger ponds are fringed by alkali salts and diminish over the summer months. Pickleweed grows along … Continue reading…
From Valleyview Arena, a number of trails follow the gullies to the grassland benchlands in the Valleyview Silt Cliffs area. The trails extend up toward Juniper and beyond toward Barnhartvale, but there are a number of shorter loops that will make a route for a shorter hike (ramble). Some of the trails are signed withing the designated Nature Park, but … Continue reading…
In Kamloops, we can paddle on our rivers in 9 of the 12 months of the year. With a cool spring, the first day of paddling on the river this year was the last day of March. From Pioneer Park, the upstream paddle is easier when the flow rates are down. With a reduced current, we can progress east on … Continue reading…
Snow Dome Mountain is the snow-capped massif standing on the Continental Divide in the Columbia Icefield. It stands 11 400 feet and is considered the hydrographic apex of North America with meltwaters flowing to three oceans (the Arctic via Hudson Bay). Ice climbers and mountaineers climb the east face above Dome Glacier, but it can also be skied in a … Continue reading…
A loop trail can be hiked in the northeast corner of Kenna Cartwright Park. The two trails were featured in earlier articles: Sage Trail Red-tailed Hawk Trail Park past the recycling containers at the end of Bunker Road. Follow the Sage Trail along the bluffs, then descend into the big gully and climb to the other side, coming up … Continue reading…
Maccarib Pass in Jasper is usually hiked (skied, or snowshoed) as part of a loop route into Tonquin Valley. For years, though, we skied this as a long cross-country ski day from Marmot Basin up toward the Pass and back. In winter, we often skied right on the creekbed for much of the route, gaining as much as 732m over … Continue reading…
When the river floods, Dale’s Antique Beach is not very accessible, but in early spring this is a nice walk. Start on the River’s Trail from the end of Aviation Way. Walk along the trail west. Side trails stay closer to the river and come to a fence. You can go this way or go past the fenced enclosure and … Continue reading…
On Kauai, we can drive around 3/4 of the island, but there are no roads around the Na Pali Coast. Cliffs run right down to the ocean for 23 km. If we drive to the far west side of the island, we can come to the start of the the pali (cliffs) at a 7 mile beach. Polihale State Park … Continue reading…
This area is the domain of motorcycles and ATV s. Even though it is now in the provincial park, the hills were heavily used for motorized recreational purposes so that right has been grandfathered forward. The whole motorized area has been reduced to the southeast section which is rugged and steep. Normally non-motorized hiking or biking in this … Continue reading…
In March the hills take a while to dry out, so we look for south-facing lower elevation routes. The hills north of Brocklehurst offer us a series of trails. Over time, we have developed a 14km return route for shoulder season, but we can vary the route to do somewhere between 7km and 14km. On this last spring outing, we … Continue reading…
When spring starts to arrive, the hills become icy and muddy so we have to find lower routes that dry up early. Rabbit Island is a 4km beach-island walk best done in March. Park at the southeast corner of McArthur Island. Walk down to the beach and go upstream a short ways. Hikers will have to wade through … Continue reading…
All upslopes lead to the central peak of Kauai, but there a few outlier peaks too that rise 3000 – 4000 feet, all connected to Mt. Waialeale by ridges, but separated by gorges and pali (cliffs). Since the jungle/forest is impenetrable, trails from the coast to these peaks are very few. The exception are a small number of routes that … Continue reading…
