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:

More Information: