Cooney Bay - Kamloops Trails

A hike along the shoreline between Tranquille and Kamloops Lake.

Driving Directions:

From the North Shore of Kamloops go west on Tranquille or Ord Road past the airport. Continue past the Golf Course and ranchlands. At a fork in the road, turn left to go to Tranquille.
At a gated dirt road, bear left and follow the potholed road to a parking area.

Trail:

The trail goes down toward the shoreline, but soon fragments into several tracks.
In freshet the shoreline floods, wiping out any shoreline tracks.
By the fall and again in early spring, a walking track goes around the point and to Tranquille River.
In late spring the river overflows the outlet and makes crossings more difficult. All of the channels are shallow, though.
By summer, crossing the river is easier, but wet feet are possible.
In winter ice forms on the river.
Past the river the beach is covered in boulders and smaller rocks. Hikers can proceed to the end of the bay and over to the bluff.
There is some poison ivy in the logs and rocks on the north side of the bay.
A narrow trail is a light scramble route over the bluff. We can hike along the shoreline to the point beyond.
It is possible to hike down from the Tranquille – Criss Creek Road, but crossing the railway line can lead to a fine. In addition, the route requires crossing private land (Tranquille on the Lake).
In late winter, the shoreline is one of the first places to clear of snow, so we often hike the shoreline, climbing the bluff and continuing to the point and back.
During freshet (June and the first half of July), the whole area floods.
Fishermen sometimes fish from the shoreline where the river enters the lake.
Paddlers launch kayaks at the muddy beach to explore Kamloops Lake.
Dog walkers frequently use the shoreline.
Rattlesnakes have been spotted on the north side of the lake.
Hikers should avoid the track tracks wherever possible.

Some Features:

We sometimes hike along the shore in winter just to see the ice formations.
The beach and river can be a good place for families to explore, but the river is not as safe in late spring.
The hike to the point and back is about 5 km.

Some Cooney Bay Images:



	 
	
	
		
	

	

				
					
		
		
		
			
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