Tag Archives: McArthur Island

Thompson River Romp

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The boat launch on McArthur Island had a land-locked muddy pond, then there was a portage out to the river channel.    This access proved to be muddy and a bit difficult.   Once in the shallow channel, I paddled upstream in fast water, over gravel bars and eventually into the main river.    Conditions improved a few hundred meters upstream.

The route was up toward Overlander Bridge, then down the other side of the river around Rabbit Island down to Mission Flats beach, across the river, and then up the channel between McArthur Island and Rabbit Island against the current in faster water.

Moments from the Thompson River Romp are captured in this YouTube video:

To be honest, this wasn’t a great paddle.    The shallow channels were difficult, access to both ends of the lagoon was gone, the skies were smoky, and there was lots of noise from airplanes, trucks, and trains.    Another day of paddling added though, Day 55 this year.

 

‘Round Rabbit

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On a mid-May morning I launched from McArthur Island and paddled up the Thompson River.    The current was stronger during freshet.   At the east end of the Island, I rounded Rabbit Island.


Paddling down the south side of the island is easy and much faster.

Paddling back upstream is harder and a faster paddling rhythm is required to complete the 4 km loop route:

 

 

Three and a Half Bridges

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In the right conditions paddling on the Thompson Rivers is great in March.   On this mid-March day, there was no wind and blue skies.   I paddled west from Pioneer Park, going under the Red Bridge, then the Black (CN) Bridge before passing through the Confluence.   The river is quite low at this time of year and there are gravel bars in the confluence area.   Much of the area is shallow because of silts deposited by the two rivers as they collide and merge.

Overlander Bridge is the third bridge on the downriver route.   The half bridge is seen to the west, with 3 pillars still standing in the river.

The section down to Rabbit Island is relatively calm.   Mara Mountain above cottonwoods reflected in the river as I approached McArthur Island.

I paddled down the north side of Rabbit Island to inspect the narrow channel.  At its narrowest spot it is only about 8m across and only mid-calf deep.   I was planning on wading over to hike around the island in the next week.

The return route is more difficult, paddling upstream for about 4 km.   A rhythmic paddle stroke yields slow progress toward the confluence.

Old pilings in the river are easy to spot in low water.   These ones were west of Overlander Bridge.

 

With no wind, it is easy to see how shallow the Confluence is.   Mt. Peter and Mt. Pail stand above the meeting of the waters.

The sandy beach next to the boat launch in Pioneer Park makes a fine place to launch and land.

When there is more water in the rivers we can paddle around Rabbit Island, already planned for another day on the river later in spring.

Rabbit Island Loop

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By the end of summer, the McArthur Island boat launch has its gate closed and the lagoon begins to dry out.   In the first week of September, there was just enough water to paddle out of the channel in a kayak.   A week later it would have been a muddy portage.   I exited to the river and aimed the boat upstream, paddling past the east end of Rabbit Island then turned with the current and came down the south side of the island.

The loop around Rabbit Island is about 4km of paddling with some extra effort required on the upstream sections.

the water was very shallow at the boat launch

a narrow channel to get out to the river

the south side of Rabbit Island

gulls on the island beaches

 

When the river floods in June the island is inundated with water channels, some of which can be paddled.   There are a lot of ducks, geese, and riparian zone creatures on the island in June and July.   By mid-summer the island is high and dry.   We have spotted deer in summer and fall on the island.

Mara Mountain above the river

an old dock washed up at the high water mark

coming around the west end of the island

 

The island is private property above the high water mark.   We saw tents on the island in early summer though.   The wide beaches on the north side of the island are a popular stop for boaters, all legal since it is below the high water mark.

From the south end of the island it is a 10 km paddle to Kamloops Lake, all downriver.   Another on-the-water route we do is to paddle from Pioneer Park past the confluence of the river, past Rabbit Island, landing at Cooney Bay, a total of 17 km, a 2.5 hour paddle   A two vehicle system is needed for that option.

We do most of our paddling on the river from March through May, then from mid-September to the end of October, the best months for avoiding fast-moving and noise-polluting power boats.   As the water gets colder, we switch to wearing a spray skirt, but the water temperature stays moderate through most of the fall.

Rabbit Island Circuit

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When the North and South Thompson Rivers rise from the spring melt, the boat launch at McArthur Island can be used to access the Thompson River.

Rabbit Island 001rDuring freshet, the volume of watyer increases and the current is stronger.   Once we enter the river, we look for slower water to progress upstream.   The north side shoreline can be followed towards Overlander Bridge, a good workout.   We enter the main flow and go across the river to come down the channel on the south side of Rabbit Island.   The current is slowest next to the island.

Rabbit Island 005rAt the west end of Rabbit Island, we turn the corner to come back up the shoreline.   The current is slower right next to the island, although the water is quite shallow.   We enjoy paddling right around the island.   When the river is very high, some of the interior channels of the island fill with water and we can explore them (article).

Rabbit Island 012rThe Rabbit Island Circuit is about 6 km.   We could do an extra lap around the island or go downstream farther and could easily extend the paddle to 10km.   The upstream sections add a good strength and endurance workout.