From its golden grasslands to its jagged granite peaks, the parks of the Thompson Okanagan region offer visitors everything from the quintessential summer-at-the-lake to challenging mountaineering terrain. In this region you will find: Canada's highest mountain, 50 species of dragon fly, North America's largest paddle-only lake, the world-famous Adams River sockeye spawning run, volcanic caves and historic ruins. A visitor can walk, hike, cycle, kayak, canoe, run the rapids or ride a horse. Or just park his butt in a chair and count those dragon flies.
Wildlife in this region include: black and grizzly bears, moose, caribou, mountain goats and sheep, cougar, lynx, bobcat, beaver, wolverine, timber wolf, mule and white-tailed deer, marten, mink, weasel, squirrel, as well as 182 bird species.
Highlight Parks within the Thompson Okanagan Region Include: Mount Robson Provincial Park Wells Gray Provincial Park Cathedral Provincial Park Roderick Haig-Brown Provincial Park Gladstone Provincial Park Lac du Bois Grasslands Protected Area
Mount Robson Provincial Park Equally popular with backcountry hikers and RV campers, Mount Robson Provincial Park offers easy access to wilderness terrain with a variety of outdoor adventure activities, both do-it-yourself and guided. This park is also part of the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks UNESCO Site, one of the largest blocks of protected land in the world. This is where the wildlife lives – viewers will find their patience rewarded.What's special? At a dramatic 3,954 m/12,972 ft, the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies, Mount Robson reins over the park. The headwaters of the mighty Fraser River are sourced in Mount Robson's pristine alpine. The world-renowned Berg Lake Trail takes in one of the few advancing glaciers in the Canadian Rockies. The Moose River wilderness route offers experienced backcountry hikers a demanding, multi-day journey that crosses the Continental Divide. Day hikers will find the well-marked Yellowhead Mountain Trail rewards their efforts with stunning lake and mountain landscapes. Summer activities include: canoeing, caving, rock climbing, cycling, fishing, hiking, walking, swimming, rafting, and horseback riding. Winter snows bring backcountry skiing and snowshoeing to the hiking trails. Camping?
Close to? Valemount is 35 km/22 mi from the park entrance via Highways 16 and 5.
More Information? Mount Robson Provincial Park Site
Wells Gray Provincial Park At 540,000 ha/1,334,363 ac, Wells Gray Provincial Park is one of the largest, with unprecedented access to pristine lakes, rivers, streams, and waterfalls. Paddle or power, self-propelled or tour boating, Wells Gray offers everyone the opportunity to experience the majesty of the mountains from a lakefront perspective.Learn more about Beautiful Waterfalls at Wells Gray Provincial Park: What's special? Helmcken Falls, at 135 m/450 ft more than twice the height of Niagara Falls. Myrtle Lake – North America's largest paddle-only lake with 100 km/62 mi of shoreline. Clearwater/Azure Marine – two adjoining lakes, each 22 km/13.7 mi long and popular with boaters – power or paddle. The Trophy Mountain area includes over 45 lakes and the most accessible sub-alpine meadows in the province. Fishing for kokanee, whitefish, burbot, rainbow and lake trout. Corridor Trails feature a volcanic cave, natural swimming hole and abandoned pioneer homesteads. Guided tours: horseback, canoe, river raft, fishing and hiking. Winter backcountry skiing with groomed cross-country trails in some areas. Camping?
Close to? Clearwater .
More Information? Wells Gray Provincial Park Site
Cathedral Provincial Park Located between the dense, wet forests of the Cascade Mountains and the desert-like landscapes of the Okanagan Valley, Cathedral Provincial Park rewards those who hike the 16 km/10 mi to its core with fascinating geological formations, gem-coloured lakes and sun-dappled alpine meadows. With its challenging hiking trails and opportunities for mountaineering, this park is a magnet for serious outdoor adventurers.What's special? Quiniscoe, Ladyslipper, Scout, Pyramid, Glacier, Lake of the Woods and Haystack Lakes Grimface, the Matriarch and Macabre Tower – mountaineering for experienced climbers. Stone City, the Giant Cleft and the Devil's Woodpile define the spectacular geology of the region - columnar-jointed basalt forms and massive, wind-eroded quartz monzonite towers Camping?
Close to?
More Information? Cathedral Provincial Park
Roderick Haig-Brown Provincial Park Located on both sides of the Adams River, this park is all about British Columbia's iconic salmon. Occurring in early October, the Adams River Sockeye run is one of the largest in North America. Every four years, fish numbers swell, creating a natural spectacle as the brilliant red sockeye struggle up the channel, then spend days sweeping a nest out of the river gravel for their precious eggs. The next dominant run is in 2010.What's special? The park offers easy access to the spawning channels. Bears and eagles are attracted to the spawning runs, increasing opportunities for wildlife viewing. The 26 km/16 mi trail system is popular for hiking and mountain biking in the summer, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in the winter. Whitewater kayaking, canoeing and rafting on the Adams River. Camping?
Close to? Chase , this park is a one-hour drive east of Kamloops .
More Information? Roderick Haig-Brown Provincial Park
Gladstone Provincial Park Gladstone Provincial Park is best known for its Texas Creek campground on warm-water Christina Lake. With superb recreational boating and easy access to the quiet, private bays and beaches of this pretty lake, Gladstone Provincial Park is the archetypical summer vacation paradise.What's special? Christina Lake is one of the warmest and clearest lakes in Canada – perfect for summer fun in the water. Fishing for kokanee, rainbow trout and small-mouth bass. Pictographs on the east shore of Christina Lake. Troy/Sandner Creek area at the north end of Christina Lake is protected spawning habitat for kokanee and rainbow trout – equally important as habitat for black and grizzly bears during the fish spawn. Activities – canoeing, kayaking, swimming, hiking (48 km/30 mi of trails), scuba diving, boating and water skiing. Camping?
Close to? Grand Forks [link to community page] on Highway 3.
More Information? Gladstone Provincial Park
Lac du Bois Grasslands Protected Area A recent (1996) addition to British Columbia's parks and protected areas, the Lac du Bois Grasslands area was created to protect the province's fragile grasslands ecosystems. Long the victim of overgrazing by domestic animals, the grasslands are now protected by a system of rotated pasturing. Lac du Bois Grasslands offer visitors a unique parks experience – sweeping vistas of green or golden grasslands, dramatic cliffs and canyons, ancient Ponderosa pines and fields full of sunflowers bending in the breeze. The wildlife is specific to the area: California bighorn sheep, white tail and mule deer, moose, waterfowl, rattlesnakes, sharp-tail grouse, flammulated owls, black bear, burrowing owls, western long-billed curlews, harriers, and waterfowl.
Camping?
Close to? Kamloops with four points of access. See location information in the link below for directions.
More Information? Lac du Bois Grasslands Protected Area Site