Kamloops gets more than 2,000 hours of sunlight each year, so it's easy to plan for outdoor excursions of all durations. The superb fishing in the region's more than 1,000 lakes is due in large part to this abundant sunshine (underwater plants -and the fish that feed on them- grow rapidly). If you're travelling with the family, Paul Lake Provincial Park is a good place to combine a little fishing with other water-oriented recreation and a bit of hiking.
Lac du Bois Grasslands Protected Area also has some terrific hiking trails that take in rolling grasslands, spectacular cliffs and canyons as well as forests, lakes and ponds. Of the vast array of trails in these and other nearby parks, many are suitable for mountain biking. Other popular outdoor activities in Kamloops include fossil hunting, rock hounding and golf. There are 18 golf courses around the city, including the highly regarded Rivershore Golf Estates and The Dunes.
Kamloops was once a real "Wild West" town complete with cattle ranchers, cowboys and gold rush prospectors. Many of its heritage sites illuminate this heady era. The Kamloops Heritage Railway features a working, 1912 steam locomotive that pulls passengers in an open-air hayrack car, while much of the Kamloops Museum is dedicated to the gold rush, cattle ranching, paddle wheeling and the construction of the railway.
The Secwepemc Museum and Heritage Park reaches further back to explore thousands of years of Shuswap settlement in the area. The museum exhibits marry the oral history and legends of the Secwepemc people with fascinating displays of historical photographs, illustrations and artifacts. The heritage park features cultural displays, archaeological sites and an "ethnobotanical" garden.
Modern-day Kamloops is something of a cultural centre. The Kamloops Art Gallery houses the largest permanent art collection in the BC interior. It also hosts a range of exciting cultural events for both adults and children year-round. The annual Kamloops Pow Wow is a three-day cultural celebration of the area's Aboriginal peoples that features arts and crafts stalls as well as hundreds of performances and competitions.
Kamloops has a host of exciting attractions that are fun for the whole family. The BC Wildlife Park -with more than 70 animal species in addition to programs for children and a water park- is among the best. The Kamloops Heritage Railway plus the Kamloops Museum and Archives do a good job of bringing the area's "Wild West" past to life, while the Secwepemc Museum and Heritage Park showcase the history and culture of the Secwepemc Aboriginal people, with indoor and outdoor exhibits that include photographs, artifacts, "ethnobotanical" gardens and the archaeological remains of a 2,000-year-old Shuswap village. Fresh, high-quality produce and local cheeses are available at the Kamloops Farmers' Market, while you can buy ginseng and ginseng products after a tour of the Sunmore Ginseng Factory.
Kamloops is called the "Tournament Capital of Canada," and no wonder: you can attend a tournament here every weekend of the year! Many of them are world-class events such as the Canada Cup of Curling, Skate Canada and the World Fly-fishing Championships.
If you like orchestral music, you can attend one of the Kamloops Symphony Orchestra's September-to-May monthly performances. Local, national and international acts perform live music at the band shell in Riverside Park in July and August. Western Canada Theatre stages all kinds of performances -from new Canadian plays to classics- in both the 710-seat Sagebrush Theatre and the intimate Pavilion Theatre from September to March.
There are, perhaps, two constants in the diverse natural landscape around Kamloops: water and wildlife. Thanks to high levels of annual sunshine, most of the more than 200 lakes within an hour's drive are brimming with plant and animal life.
This situation attracts many bird species in great numbers. Some of the top spots for viewing them include: the Tranquille Wildlife Management Area at the east end of Kamloops Lake; the banks of the North and South Thompson Rivers; and Lac du Bois Provincial Park. The 50-ha (124-ac) BC Wildlife Park in Kamloops is the best place to see a wide variety of BC wildlife, including many endangered species.
Hiking, biking, fishing, skiing - all are fine ways to spend time in Kamloops! Take a break from all that recreation in one of the area's many day spas. The Sun Peaks Massage Therapy & Spa offers an array of massage therapies as well as body wraps, salt glows, facials, pedicures and other services. La Dolcevita Day Spa & Salon offers exotic Thai massage, stone therapy and Vichy hydrotherapy treatments, while the Sunmore Ginseng Spa provides traditional Asian treatments.
More than 200 local lakes make Kamloops one of BC's most popular fishing centres. The area gets more than 2,000 hours of sunlight each year, so underwater plants -and the fish that feed on them- grow quickly. The most sought-after species is the Kamloops trout, prized for its strength and fight: it can jump three times its length straight up and move as fast as a race horse!
Kamloops waters are also ideal for kayaking, canoeing and boating. Most local lakes are suitable for paddling. There are many outfitters and tour operators in the region to help you get started. There are a number of boat launches along the Thompson River for power boating. Travel west along the river to reach beautiful Kamloops Lake or east to reach Little Shuswap and Shuswap Lakes.
Hot weather, desert-canyon scenery, warm water and huge, rollercoaster waves are what draw rafters to the Thompson River each summer. Guided trips geared for expert, intermediate and novice paddlers are available. You can also opt for a motorized raft trip.
Sun Peaks, a 45-minute drive northeast of Kamloops, offers terrain for every level of skier on three mountains. Vast alpine bowls and long, cruising runs of up to eight km (5 mi) plus a lift capacity of 11,000 riders per hour make for a satisfying, frustration-free skiing experience. There are 117 runs -including 12 gladed areas- on an 881-m (2,891-ft) vertical rise (the highest in the BC Interior): 10% novice, 58% intermediate and 33% advanced. Eleven lifts, including four quads, ferry skiers up the hills. Sun Peaks also has one of the largest snowboard parks in Canada. Other activities include dogsledding, snowshoeing, sleigh rides and snowmobiling.
Harper Mountain, a smaller hill just a 35-minutes drive from Kamloops, is ideal for family outings. It has 18 runs on 162 ha (400 ac) of terrain. Three lifts, a triple chair, a T-bar and a handle tow ferry skiers up the mountain. Other activities include tubing, skating, Bavarian curling and cross-country skiing.