Rivers
Trail is a 40+ kilometre paved
community path exploring the shores of the Thompson and North
Thompson Rivers in and around the community of Kamloops, British
Columbia, Canada. The trail system is, mostly, a walking and biking
transportation route connecting the downtown community with the
local parks, historical sites, sightseeing viewpoints and outlying
neighborhoods in the region.
The Rivers Trail starts in downtown Kamloops from Riverside Park on the Thompson
River. Some say the trail starts in Pioneer
Park. Either or your close enough as the parks are side by
side. We will go with the trail starting at Riverside Park.
Riverside Park is a sandy beach public park and
the main park in the downtown core. In the park is a gathering
place known as Highwater Plaza. The plaza consists of flower gardens,
sitting benches and many stone monuments representing glaciers,
lakes and rivers. It is here where a "Kilometre 0" stone
monument marks the beginning of Rivers Trail.
The paved trail system is very well marked with
trail signs and trail maps posted along the route. From downtown
the trail goes off in four different directions. Follow the Rivers
Trail east for 3 km along the South Thompson River to the Secwepemc
Museum and Heritage Park. This eastern route will soon expand
and connect to the Kamloops BC Wildlife Park.
The southern route travels through the downtown
streets of Kamloops eventually connecting up with the Peterson
Creek Nature Park trail system. Rivers Trail north follows
along the North Thompson River for 13.5 kilometres. This route
connects to Overlander Park, Schubert
Lookout, Westsyde Centennial Park and ends at Harrington Road.
The western route extends 19 kilometres following
the Thompson River to Kamloops Lake and ending just short of Tranquille
River and Cooney Bay. This route connects with McArthur
Island Park and the Lac de Bois Grasslands Park. Lac du Bois
is a Grassland Protected Provincial Park near Cooney Bay. An endless
series of trails exist in this park exploring the grasslands,
forest and lakes north of Kamloops behind Batchelor Heights. Ideal
for birdwatching.
Shelters, washrooms, interpretive signs, sandy
beaches, dog parks, museums, sitting benches, picnic tables, public
art and drinking fountains are all located along the trail. It
is important to pay attention to the trail signs at all times
as they indicate the proper usage of the trail. All sections are
designated hiker and walker friendly, while some designated routes
allow dogs on a leash, biking and rollerblading. Please respect
the signs.
The community of Kamloops has big plans for this
trail. It is in the books to extend the trail to cover over 100
kilometres of paved pathway and to increase the number of interpretive
signs posted along the trail.
Contact information for
the local Kamloops, BC accommodations, tours, guides, golf
courses, ski hills and attractions, realtors, etc. are posted
under the links listed to your right. > >
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