In mid-November we hiked from the McQueen Lake area to Isobel Lake, then around the lake, and back on the same trail, a 5.5 km hike on the snow. My usual route for this hike was along the former Forestry Capital Trail (now called Beers-a-Waiting by mountain bikers) but with recent snowfall there was not much parking for a group …Continue reading…
The rocky hills between Lac du Bois Grasslands and Westsyde are the Batchelor Range. Access/Trailheads: There are 4 main access points. From the parking area just past the fence/cattleguard in Batchelor Hills recommended). From a rough road that starts in the OHC area and bears north (high clearance access). From Westsyde, with a steep climb to the Westsyde Bench, then …Continue reading…
In every month of the year there are interesting routes that start in the Lac du Bois Nature Conservancy. On a sunny day in early September we struck off through the tall grasses toward Clay Lake. A faint single track route goes over to the end of Clay Lake, but it was mostly grown over with snowberry shrubs and windfall. …Continue reading…
Some trails near Deep Lake in the northeast corner of Lac du Bois Protected Area. Driving Directions: From Kamloops North Shore, drive out Westsyde Road. The trailhead is on Ida Lane, but there is only a couple of spaces to park below the new housing development. Many of us park at Westsyde Shopping Center or on weekends at Westsyde Elementary, …Continue reading…
Lac du Bois Grasslands Protected Area is a large park with many access points and many possible routes. Driving Directions The main trailheads are off both sides of the Lac du Bois Road. From anywhere in Kamloops cross either bridge to get to the North Shore. From the Overlander Bridge stay on Fortune Drive, then turn right onto 8th Street. …Continue reading…
In late fall when the first snows cover the uplands hills we sometimes hike at the northern end of the grasslands near McQueen Lake. The season for cattle grazing is over in the Nature Conservancy and students are usually not at the Overnight Center in transitions season, but we still want to avoid trespassing on the site when students are …Continue reading…
The upper grasslands on the edge of the forest is the north end of the Lac du Bois Conservancy of Canada. it is bordered by Park lands on the east and south and the McQueen Lake Environmental Education Center on the north. Clay Lake and Meadow Pond lie in a grasslands basin surrounded by forest. There are a number of …Continue reading…
The Batchelor Range spans the distance from McQueen Creek on the north and the lower Batchelor Hills on the south. There are a series in the range with the highest ones at the north end. The North Batchelor Range is not accessed by hikers very much since the routes are all longer and involve longer climbs with only a few …Continue reading…
An overview of some trail networks near Kamloops: City Parks Kenna Cartwright Park Trails Peterson Creek Park Trails Valleyview Nature Park Trails Dallas – Barnhartvale Park Trails The Rivers Trail Lac du Bois Protected Area Batchelor Hills (East) Batchelor Hills (West) Middle Grasslands Routes Upper Grasslands Routes Grasslands Community Trail Tranquille/Mara Trails Dewdrop Range Routes Battle Bluff Trail Dewdrop …Continue reading…
Isobel Lake lies in the forest north of Kamloops. A small lake is the center of a number of recreation activities – camping, fishing, hiking, mountain biking, snowshoeing, cross country skiing, and paddling. A BC Rec Site is situated on the east end of the lake, 25 km from town. Driving Directions: From Kamloops North Shore, go north to Batchelor …Continue reading…
We are often asked about the “best” hiking trails of our area and we are happy to recommend trails, but there are a few factors to consider: ease of finding the parking area, the trailhead, and if there are trail signs difficulty of the trail – fitness requirements and experience needed on harder terrain seasonal appropriateness risks – including footing, …Continue reading…
A relatively easy shorter mountain bike route goes past 3 lakes in an 11km route. Start at the large parking area south of the edge of the McQueen Lake fenceline. Ride north around the west side of McQueen Lake, then turn onto the McQueen – Isobel Lake Forest Service Road. Not far past McQueen Lake is Griffin Lake, a short …Continue reading…
This pleasant 8 km loop starts at the edge of McQueen Lake, then follows the Grasslands Community Trail, but instead of dropping into McQueen Creek, we turn south onto the open grassland slopes of Sagittata Hill, and we contour around the hill back to the upper grasslands. When school is in session and/or children are in the McQueen Lake Environmental …Continue reading…
A good plan for an overcast day is to wander in the woods. There won’t be any special views nor any summits to reach, but we can experience the forest, watching for small surprises along the way. On this last rain-probable day, I hiked in the Outer Inks Trails area, making my own trail for part of the way, following …Continue reading…
Arrow-leafed balsam root is balsamorhiza sagittata. In spring, the extensive south-facing slopes of this hill are covered in this member of the sunflower family. The hill has no name on maps, so we call it Sagittata Hill. We have hiked, bike, run, skied, and snowshoed on the slopes of the hill many times. We hiked over the top and down …Continue reading…
Driving Directions The main trailheads are off both sides of the Lac du Bois Road. From anywhere in Kamloops cross either bridge to get to the North Shore. From the Overlander Bridge stay on Fortune Drive, then turn right onto 8th Street. At the Halston Interchange, continue north to Batchelor Drive. At the end of Batchelor Drive, the road enters …Continue reading…