There are few kilometers of rolling trails on the benchlands overlooking the Thompson River. They are all accessed from the trailhead on Bunker Road, just in behind the recycling containers. The primary trail is the Sage Trail, but there are a number of other signed trails too and hikers can make their own choices for 3 – 5 km of …Continue reading…
By the end of summer, the McArthur Island boat launch has its gate closed and the lagoon begins to dry out. In the first week of September, there was just enough water to paddle out of the channel in a kayak. A week later it would have been a muddy portage. I exited to the river and aimed the boat …Continue reading…
During freshet, the river runs faster so any downriver route is a quicker paddle. The route downriver from Pioneer Park to Tranquille Bay is 11.65 km and takes about 2 hours. From the flooded boat launch at Pioneer Park, the kayak enters the current and I paddled under the Red Bridge then the CN Bridge. There was not much clearance …Continue reading…
When the North Thompson and the South Thompson Rivers rise, the Thompson River expands and the estuary at the head of Kamloops Lake widens into a floodlands. We can launch a canoe or kayak from the BC Parks Lac du Bois Wildlife Management Area parking area. .This launch spot is suitable for canoes and kayaks only during freshet. We paddle …Continue reading…
Black Canyon is a narrow spot among black cliffs where the Thompson River takes a curved path. It can’t be seen from Highway 1, nor from the Highland Valley Road so hikers have to turn onto the Kirkland Ranch Road which goes down the east side of the river to Spences Bridge. Much of the land in the area is …Continue reading…
Today I paddled from Pioneer Park down the Thompson River to Tranquille Bay, a leisurely kayak outing which included exploration of flood channels. About 15 km in 2.35 hours.
By the beginning of February we often see snow start to disappear in the bottom of the Thompson River Valley. The lowest elevations and the most exposed south-facing areas are the first to clear and the expanded beaches along the river offer hikers an opportunity to walk on the sand. There are a number of shorter walks along the winter …Continue reading…
Each year the rivers rise in May and they usually peak in June. When both rivers rise enough, the area near the east end of Kamloops Lake floods upstream for a few kilometers. We can launch our kayaks and paddle from Tranquille Bay to explore the seasonal channels. In 2016, freshet was early and by the first of June access …Continue reading…
When the winter snows start to melt, ice follows, then mud, but we can choose to find some winter beach walks while conditions continue to change. The open beaches facing south clear off first and the porous sand takes away the melting water leaving us with a sandy surface to hike and walk on. There are a number of beach …Continue reading…
Camping at Juniper Beach Provincial Park has both good and not-so-good features. On the less-desirable side, two railroad lines flank the spot and trains run throughout the night. The site has a few trees but for the most part is open and the campsites are side-by-side facing the river. There is power and water for hard-sided units now, along with …Continue reading…
When the North and South Thompson Rivers rise from the spring melt, the boat launch at McArthur Island can be used to access the Thompson River. During freshet, the volume of watyer increases and the current is stronger. Once we enter the river, we look for slower water to progress upstream. The north side shoreline can be followed towards Overlander …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…
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…
When the hills are blanketed in snow and the lower travels turn icy, we can still go to the shorelines of the river and walk on the long, wide, sandy beaches. Kamloops has about kms of beaches next to the North Thompson, the South Thompson, and the Thompson Rivers when the river recedes in winter. Most people go to the …Continue reading…