Kamloops’ two rivers provide fine early season paddling.   The South Thompson flows more slowly, has fewer shallows/sandbars, and has less hazards.   Progress up or down is good, except when the power boats arrive.   The North Thompson has far less traffic and a little more caution is needed, and it is hard work to paddle upstream.

Most river paddling outings follow this pattern of hard work upstream, followed by an easy return journey.   On this grey and windy day, the route was from Pioneer Park downstream to the confluence, then upstream on the North Thompson.   The Red Bridge stands at the west end of Pioneer Park.  It was first built in 1887, then rebuilt in 1912, then in 1936.   It is a wooden truss bridge, now an unusual situation for an active urban route.   The top rails are red, but we paddle under the dark pylons and timbers.

The Black Bridge is on a spur line of the CNR.   On the northwest pylon is a long-standing beaver lodge.   On one sunny spring day my kayak silently glided down and surprised two beavers sunning themselves on the pile of debris.   Past the bridge, we come to Indian Point.   When the river is higher we can take a tight turn through the swirling water to the North Thompson.   In April, the gravel bars extend half-way to Riverside Park, so we paddle past all the geese, ducks, seagulls and turn sharp right into the faster flowing waters.   Both shores of the North Thompson have water-covered sandbars which kayaks can clear, but the water runs more quickly over the shallows, so we stay in the main channel, working hard upstream.   Sand dunes line the river on the east side in several places.

From the confluence to above the Halston Bridge is 4 km.   The east side has many signs of wildlife.   Swallows nest in the bank, bears and eagles can be seen at the point where Paul Creek flows into the river, and we can see where beavers have a slide down the sand-clay banks.

The North Thompson narrows at the Halston Bridge and the CN Trail Bridge and the river speeds up this this narrow corridor.   We have to be careful to stay away from the pylons and bases.

The return paddle back down the river is much easier, then we turn upriver for the final leg back to Pioneer Park.  This is not an easy route, an 11.6 km paddle, a workout for the early season, building an endurance base for the season.