The North Thompson and South Thompson Rivers provide many days of paddling each year.   Downriver paddles are easier so we try to go at least 20km and arrange for a vehicle at each end.   We started at the Valleyview Boat Launch.   This is a busy spot on weekends with many floaters entering the water to drift down to Pioneer or Riverside Park.   Be sure to park on River Road, not in the boat launch area (or you may be ticketed).  An early start is recommended to get on the river before the noisy arrival of powerboats.   The first section passes some secluded Valleyview beaches and the Indian Reserve, enroute to the Yellowhead Bridge.

On our way downriver, we paddled past four and a half bridges.

We went down the north side of Rabbit Island and had a brief break at Mission Flats beaches before heading downstream.   A channel around an island is part of the navigation route to the lake.

As we approached Tranquille and the Kamloops Lake, the river widens.

On the last section of shoreline near Tranquille, some river otters were curious about the paddlers.

The paddle from Valleyview to Cooney Bay takes 3 to 3.5 hours and is safe, easy paddling for all canoes and kayaks.   More sections of the rivers are planned up to the end of the paddling season (November).