Kamloops is a city in south-central British Columbia, Canada, at the confluence of the North and South Thompson Rivers, which join to become the Thompson River in Kamloops, and east of Kamloops Lake. It is located in the Thompson-Nicola Regional District, whose district offices are based here. The surrounding region is sometimes referred to as the Thompson Country.
The Thompson River is the largest tributary of the Fraser River, flowing through the south-central portion of British Columbia, Canada. The Thompson River has two main branches, the South Thompson River and the North Thompson River. The river is home to several varieties of Pacific salmon and trout. The area's geological history was heavily influenced by glaciation, and the several large glacial lakes have filled the river valley over the last 12,000 years. Archaeological evidence shows human habitation in the watershed dating back at least 8,300 years. The Thompson was named by Fraser River explorer, Simon Fraser, in honour of his friend, Columbia Basin explorer David Thompson. Recreational use of the river includes whitewater rafting and angling.
Savona is a small community located at the west end of Kamloops Lake, where the Thompson River exits it. It is approximately halfway between Kamloops and Cache Creek along the Trans-Canada Highway. The countryside surrounding the community is semi-arid grasslands and hills, which support cattle ranching and agriculture. It has about 2000 hours of sunshine and less than 12 inches of precipitation a year. It has a population of approximately 650.
Clearwater is a district municipality in the North Thompson River valley in British Columbia, Canada, where the Clearwater River empties into the North Thompson River. It is located 124 km (77 mi) north of Kamloops. The District of Clearwater was established on December 3, 2007, making it one of the newest municipalities in British Columbia. It is near Wells Gray Provincial Park and is surrounded by the Trophy Mountains, Raft Mountain and Dunn Peak.
Adams Lake is a deep, cold-water lake in south-central British Columbia, which separates the Thompson and Shuswap regions and the Thompson–Nicola and Columbia–Shuswap regional districts. The upper reaches lie in the northern Monashee Mountains, while the lower end penetrates the Shuswap Highland. The southern end is by road about 79 kilometres (49 mi) northeast of Kamloops.
Adams Lake Provincial Park is a provincial park in British Columbia, Canada. It encompasses three distinct parks: Adams Lake Provincial Park, Adams Lake Marine Provincial Park, and Adams Lake Marine Provincial Park.
Banana Island Provincial Park is a provincial park in British Columbia, Canada. It is a small 10.4 hectare island in the South Thompson River, located approximately 35 kilometres east of Kamloops. There are no camping or recreational facilities, as it is an environmentally sensitive area. The island was designated as a provincial park on 30 April 1996 following recommendations from the Kamloops Land and Resource Management Plan to protect spring salmon spawning grounds and nesting grounds for several varieties of birds. It is used for nesting by Canada geese, Osprey and bald eagles, and other waterfowl and raptors. It is also a winter habitat for Tundra and Trumpeter swans. The island is vegetated with ponderosa pine and grassy undercover, and was historically used by the Neskonlith First Nation in accessing river resources.
Parts of this article have been adapted from the BC Parks website.
Golden Ears Provincial Park is a Provincial park in British Columbia, Canada and is 555.9 square kilometres (214.6 sq mi). It is named after the prominent twin peaks which are commonly referred to as Golden Ears. The park was originally part of Garibaldi Provincial Park but was split off as a separate park in 1967. Golden Ears Provincial Park is situated in the unceded traditional territories of the Coast Salish people. The area was logged extensively in the 1920s by the Lougheed and Abernathy Logging Company. Many recreational attractions are found within the park. Golden Ears Provincial Park is a protected area that contains many endangered species of flora and fauna.
MacMillan Provincial Park is a 301-hectare (740-acre) provincial park in British Columbia, Canada. Located 25 km (16 mi) west of Qualicum Beach and 16 km (9.9 mi) east of Port Alberni, the park straddles Highway 4 and the Island Rail Corridor in central Vancouver Island. It is nestled on the western shore of Cameron Lake, and protects the delta of the Cameron River. The park is home to a famous, 157-hectare (390-acre) stand of ancient Douglas fir, known as Cathedral Grove, which draws visitors from all over the world. The park provides the only highway-accessible protected old-growth Douglas-fir forest in British Columbia. In 2007 Cathedral Grove made the short list on CBC's competition Seven Wonders of Canada.
North Thompson Oxbows East Provincial Park is a provincial park in Thompson-Nicola Regional District in the Interior region of British Columbia, Canada. The park was established on April 30, 1996, and has an area of 288 hectares. It "…protects a stretch of wide meandering river system with a high level of diversity in a very productive part of the upper North Thompson River lowlands", as well as "…patches of old growth hybrid spruce and subalpine fir." There are no camping or day-use facilities.
North Thompson Oxbows Jensen Island Provincial Park is a provincial park in Thompson-Nicola Regional District in the Interior region of British Columbia, Canada, about 20 kilometres (12 mi) north of Kamloops at the community of Heffley Creek. The park was established on April 30, 1996, and has an area of 30 hectares. It protects the riparian habitat of a single, seasonal oxbow on the right bank of the North Thompson River. There are no camping or day-use facilities.
North Thompson Oxbows Manteau Provincial Park is a provincial park in Thompson-Nicola Regional District in the Interior region of British Columbia, Canada. The park was established on April 30, 1996, and has an area of 515 hectares. It protects "…floodplain wetlands, numerous oxbow lakes, sandbars, back channels, levees, along the glacier-fed North Thompson River." There are no camping or day-use facilities.
Porcupine Meadows Provincial Park is a 2,704 hectare provincial park in British Columbia, Canada, located north of Tranquille Lake to the northwest of Kamloops. Its name is a direct translation of the Shuswap word for this area, "pisitsoolsia", named so for the numerous porcupine in the area.
Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park is a provincial park in Parksville, British Columbia, Canada. Located at the east end of the town, the 347-hectare park features a two-kilometre long stretch of sandy beach, a stand of old-growth Douglas fir trees and 250 vehicle-accessible and 25 walk-in camping spaces. Popular year-round, the park is easily accessible from Highway 19. The sandy beach is the main attraction. At low tide, it stretches nearly a kilometre out into the Strait of Georgia.
Steelhead Provincial Park is a provincial park in the Thompson Country region of south central British Columbia, Canada. The facility is at the west end of Kamloops Lake near the town of Savona. On BC Highway 1, the locality is by road about 38 kilometres (24 mi) east of Cache Creek and 45 kilometres (28 mi) west of Kamloops.
Tweedsmuir South Provincial Park is a provincial park covering parts of the eastern Kitimat Ranges, northern Pacific Ranges, and the Rainbow Range in British Columbia, Canada. It was established on May 21, 1938 in the western interior of the province, to protect its important natural features. Tweedsmuir Provincial Park is located on the unceded ancestral territory of the Nuxalk Nation. The park hosts a variety of recreation activities for visitors. This park encompasses a range of diverse species in this park including bears, moose, and various fish. There are also a few at risk species in this park.
Last Mountain Lake, also known as Long Lake, is a prairie lake formed from glaciation 11,000 years ago. It is located in south central Saskatchewan, Canada, about 40 kilometres (25 mi) north-west of the city of Regina. It flows into the Qu'Appelle River via Last Mountain Creek, which flows past Craven. It is approximately 93 km (58 mi) long, and 3 km (1.9 mi) wide at its widest point. It is the largest naturally occurring body of water in southern Saskatchewan. Only Lake Diefenbaker, which is man-made, is larger. The lake is a popular resort area for residents of south-eastern Saskatchewan.
Wells Gray Provincial Park is a large wilderness park located in east-central British Columbia, Canada. The park protects most of the southern, and highest, regions of the Cariboo Mountains and covers 5,415 square kilometres. It is British Columbia's fifth largest provincial park, after Tweedsmuir, Tatshenshini, Spatsizi and Northern Rocky Mountains.
Lac du Bois Grasslands Protected Area is a protected area located north of Kamloops in British Columbia, Canada. The protected area was established by BC Parks on 30 April 1996 to protect a unique mixed forest-grassland ecosystem overlooking the North and South forks of the Thompson River.
