We paddle the rivers of our area in early spring. There are a limited number of launch spots and some of those are in faster water. There is a good beach launch on the northeast side of Lafarge Bridge so we launch from there from time to time, but it makes a better landing spot for a downriver paddle than an upstream launch spot. The river moves quickly and there are a number of gravel and sand bars for many kilometers.
Progress is so slow upstream that it feels like paddling on a treadmill. It took almost an hour to travel 2.7 km upstream and only 25 minutes back downstream, mostly drifting. This is a good aerobic workout, for sure, but a lot less fun than paddling on slower rivers, on our lakes, and on the ocean. The lakes will clear of ice soon and we can take a break from upstream paddling.
The first paddle of 2017 waited for the snow and ice melt and landed on the first day of spring. The river is low, but t is still easy to launch from Pioneer Park. Since the water is still cold, we try for a dry launch, keeping feet out of the water. Its not so easy to do that on the landing. The river was calm for paddling slowly upstream to Valleyview.
There were ducks (mallards and mergansers) and geese on the water. Sheltered spots still had some snow or ice. Banks that are covered in water for much of the year were exposed. Very little colour was on the trees and shrubs except for the faded reds of red ossier dogwood and some faded yellows of willows on the banks. The reflections of Mt. Paul and Mt. Peter and Paul Ridge reflected on unrippled water.
The paddle up to the end of the Gregson Trail at Vicars Road and back is only 7 km, but a good start to the paddling season.
In most years we can easily get about 8 months of paddling. We start on the river then go to the larger lakes once the ice disappears, then the high country lakes, then sections of the river again. In the summer and early fall we travel to the ocean and some destination paddling-camping trips. We return back to the river in late fall for final few paddles before it gets too cold. One down and sixty more to go…..
In late October in Kamloops fall colours adorn the riverbanks, especially on the North Thompson River. I launched at Pioneer Park and paddled downstream to the confluence, then turned upstream paddling steadily against current to the Halston Bridge and back.
This same route was paddled in March (Up the North Thompson) and will be hope to return in early spring and fall in the next year. I spotted an osprey, two great blue herons, a kingfisher, and eagle, a flock of buffleheads, seagulls, and the usual crows, magpies, and other birds. No other boats were on the rivers on this mild fall day. Our “orange corridor” on the Thompson Rivers is a special place in October.
The paddle up the Valleyview River Corridor is a quiet one on a drizzly, grey October morning.
The section from the Valleyview Boat Launch to Dallas is 5 km each way, about right for a good paddle upriver and back. The upstream paddle along the south shore side passes many riverfront homes on Thompson Drive then along a section of shrubby clay banks between the CPR line and the river on the way to more Dallas riverfront homes..
The two “horns” of Harper Ridge stand above the silt cliffs on the north side of the river.
Cottonwoods, aspens, and other riverbank deciduous trees offer some color in fall. Geese and ducks are still on the river in fall, taking to flight when a 18 foot green kayak approaches.
The return paddle is a quick one with the river’s current moving the kayak to 8 km/hour downiver past the Wanda Sue paddlewheeler back to the Valleyview Boat Launch.
Paddlers can launch and land at Valleyview Boat Launch, Pioneer Park, Riverside Park, or McArthur Island to paddle the greenspace corridors right in the middle of the City. We started paddling the rivers in February this year and will continue paddling the river circuits through November before putting the kayak away for the winter.
We paddle the lakes of the Interior all summer, then once the river becomes quieter, we return to paddle upstream and back. Our favorite launch is at Pioneer Park.
The current on the South Thompson River is slower than the North Thompson or the combined Thompson River so we can make good progress upstream. On this day the wind was blowing from the east so it was a slow process to advance to the Yellowhead Bridge and beyond.
It takes anywhere from 20 to 30 minutes to get to the bridge, depending on the season (the river runs quicker during freshet) and the winds. There is a nice green space corridor past the Jack Gregson Trail.
Backroads Mapbook
Past the bridge the river runs faster as gravity “slingshots: the water around the curves. With an S-shape between downtown and Valleyview, it is usually a good idea to paddle across the river to wherever the water is flowing more slowly.
The green corridor on the sides of our rivers is home to birds and small mammals. We paddle upstream, then turn the boat downriver whenever the time seems right. The more open skies of the west lay in front of us.
The boat launch at Pioneer Park is our return landing spot after a good paddle up the river.
In 2016 we paddled from Chase to Kamloops in 3 stages, each downriver leg 21 km. We launched our boats from the beach in Chase in the morning. The lakefront was quiet and Little Shuswap Lake was calm. Our boats were pulled quickly down the river at the outlet. Pritchard was 3 hours away.
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Every section of the river is different. The main flow of the river follows the easiest course downstream. The fastest sections follow the deeper water as centrifugal force swings the river around the outside of each curve. The other side of the river on each curve runs slower and sometimes back eddies around points. The zone between the faster water and the slower water is turbulent and whirlpools sometimes form. Ripples rise over shallow water, usually gravel bars in the South Thompson. During freshet the river spreads out from bank to bank, and logs get stranded along the shoreline. Some of these are hazards to anyone in a boat so paddlers usually steer clear of them. A sweeper is a log sticking out into the river in a faster current, an unsafe situation for kayaks and canoes. We paddle out from the shoreline, but we try to leave the middle of the river for powerboats following the line of navigation buoys upstream. Most boaters are considerate of other boats on the river, but we still try to paddle downstream early before most of the motorized watercraft are out.
The 64 km of the South Thompson River from Chase to Kamloops is a long green corridor frequented by birds and small mammals. We often see geese, ducks, eagles, osprey, herons, and a variety of birds. On this last paddle downstream, we were entertained by the chittering kingfishers as they flew from branch to branch leading our boats along the shoreline.
We planned our paddle trip to include a stop on Banana Island. It was traditionally used by the First Nations people of the Neskonlith Band as a base for fishing. Birds nest on the island and in 2006 it was turned into a Provincial Park. In high water, the beaches are very small, but we managed to land on the grassy shores on the north side. The south side has a better beach right by the sign.
When the river’s volume decreases, there are numerous sand bars and gravel bars that can be used as a landing spots, but at freshet when the river is full, Banana Island is one of the only places for paddlers to stop on a downstream journey.
From Banana Island, the final section of the downriver paddle is 6km to the Pritchard Bridge. The wooden bridge is one lane, except for a passing zone in the middle. It is safest to cross through the middle of the bridge in a boat since there are booms and trapped logs near the other uprights. The landing area is on the northwest side of the bridge, a local hand-launch spot. We will return to paddle the South Thompson River in next year.
The South Thompson River is a great paddling destination, breaking the distance from Chase to Kamloops into three 21 km sections. We launched our kayaks from the Pritchard Bridge (NW side) on a sunny morning and paddled downstream for 3 hours.
During freshet, the river swells to cover all the gravel bars and so parts of the journey west feels like paddling through a big calm lake, but the current continues to move the boats along at about 7.5 km/hour.
The route passes a series of silt cliffs, eroded remnants of a glacial lake in the valley.
It is best to paddle downriver in the morning before afternoon winds pick up. A headwind makes the paddle journey longer and more difficult. Also, power boats start to use the river in the late morning so we can avoid the noise and the river-wide wakes by getting an earlier start.
We pass by Monte Creek Winery, Rivershore Golf Course, the South Thompson Inn, and a number of farms and homes along the route.
There is a small beach/boat launch on the NE side of the Lafarge Bridge. We left vehicles there to shuttle our drivers back to the launch spot. It takes a bit of coordination to do downriver paddles, but both of our rivers are worth the effort. The South Thompson River is a relatively easy paddling route, especially in the spring with a wide river that moves us quickly downstream.
Every year we paddle downriver to Kamloops. The South Thompson River from Chase to Kamloops can be done in 3 legs – Chase to Pritchard, Pritchard to Lafarge, and Lafarge to Pioneer Park. We organized a pickup vehicle at the end so we enjoy the river as it runs quickly in freshet. We paddled downriver from Lafarge to Pioneer Park at the end of May with the river swollen with meltwaters from the Monashee Range to the east (article on the sources of the river). Our route follows the corridor between silt cliffs of an ancient glacial lake
There is a good hand launch spot on the northeast side of the Lafarge Bridge. We launched out into the river in our seaworthy ocean-style kayaks for a 3 hour downriver paddle.
The gravel bars are covered along this 21 km route in freshet. We had a tail wind and a good downstream current making for easy paddling.
The weather was good, but thunderheads were starting to form to our west. When paddling in the area, it is almost always better to paddle in the morning before afternoon winds start.
We were able to maintain about 8 km an hour downstream on this day with favorable winds and good conditions. We will be paddling the other 2 legs this spring and then we will paddle downstream on the North Thompson River. We paddled all the way from Clearwater to Kamloops last year (link). There are launch spots and landings for 9 different routes of downriver paddling with Kamloops as the epicenter. Not many cities have these kinds of opportunities so we take advantage of the opportunities by doing most of the legs each year.
There are a handful of good launch spots for kayaking on the South Thompson River and the beach at the Lafarge Bridge is one of the best ones. A dirt road goes down to a gravel beach. We can park on the side road above after unloading the boat.
We launched and paddled upstream east to Rivershore Golf Club. There is a lot of shallow water and a series of gravel bars on the north side.
Although the river appears to be wide in this section, the extensive shallows on the north side means that the bulk of the water flows down a narrow channel on the south side. The current is fast. An hour up the river and half an hour down the river is enough for a day’s paddle early in the season. We will be back later in the spring to paddle downstream from Pritchard to Lafarge (20 km).
The first day of paddling on the river was in February and the last day will be in November this year. When we paddle early in the season, the river is cold so there are some things we can do to make the experience more reasonable.
Check the weather forecast in the last 24 hours. Wind is the critical issue. Pick wind-free days which are few, but on many days the winds don’t arise until about 11:30 in the morning, a result of warming of the hills in the valley.
Paddle parts of the river that have a good hand launch with close parking. The best two local choices are Pioneer Park and Valleyview Boat Launch. McArthur Island is only suitable for higher water conditions. Riverside Park and Harrington Road are okay, but we have to haul the boat from the parking areas down to the beach and back. The South Thompson is an easier river to paddle upstream than the North Thompson.
3. The sit-on-top style of kayak or open hull kayaks (like the Costco ones) are not as warm as the traditional style kayaks. Either way, we want to wear a good sprayskirt in the early season.
4. Warm hands make a big difference. We keep our hands dry and wear paddling gloves. There are over-gloves (pogies) available, but they are needed on the ocean where spray is a factor, not on the river in town.
5. Dry feet help too. Usually at least one foot has to be in the water to launch the boat. We wear neoprene boots for this. We have seen people that use rubber boots to launch, then change once on the water. Some paddlers leave their boat partly in the water, get into the boat, and use hip thrusts to move the boat off the beach into the water (this works).
6. Since the water is cold, we definitely don’t want to capsize so we only use very stable boats at this time of the year. Although we can perform self-rescue, we stay closer to the shoreline and if we did capsize, we would pull our boats to the shoreline right away. In general, we avoid turbulent water early in the season.
7. Wear a good paddling jacket. There are paddling-specific jackets with latex rubber gaskets for the neck and arm sleeves. These keep the paddler dry, but the jackets are expensive so some type of layering can also be used. We don’t use wetsuits or dry suits on the river, but if we were crossing a big lake, we would.
8. Some kayaks have good seats that don’t get cold in cold water, but if the seat is just plastic, an inflatable pad (Thermarest makes these) works well.
If we can stay warm and dry, paddling in the early season is a nice experience and best of all, there will be no one else out there but the ducks and geese.
With milder winters, I have been able to get the kayak onto the river in February for the last two years. In 2015 the last paddle outing was in the middle of November (although I paddled in New Zealand after that). There is no one around this early in the season and if there is no wind, paddling is good. The water is not too cold, but I wear neoprene boots and a good paddling jacket, but I am also protected by a good spray skirt. I launched from Pioneer Park on a fine day at the end of February.
With no wind, the river was calm. Paddling upstream is hard work, but the South Thompson is the best choice for an upriver-and-back workout.
With blue skies, the hills were reflected in the water.
I went upstream for an hour then turned back for an easy return paddle downstream. By getting out early and paddling long slow distance, we can build for the endurance we will need in the main part of the paddling season. We have planned to do the Bowron Circuit, Clayoquot Sound, the Wallace Island area, the Columbia River Reservoirs, and Murtle Lake, among others. This was Day 1 of an estimated 70+ days of paddling for 2016….
My first day of paddling in 2016 was February 24th. The last day will be November the 9th, but we paddled in New Zealand in December too. November is still a fine month for paddling on the rivers in Kamloops. We paddled two days before flying south for a month.
The South Thompson River from Chase to Kamloops provides excellent downriver paddling. We can divide the river route into 3 sections (based on accessible launch/landing sites) – Chase to Pritchard, Pritchard to Lafarge, and Lafarge to downtown Kamloops. We paddled from Lafarge to Pioneer Park in mid-June.
The paddling is all easy and the only issue is avoiding a lot of powerboats. By getting an early start, we were able to avoid most of the motorized traffic. Most boat owners are considerate and slow down when passing canoes and kayaks (but not all). The silt cliffs rise above the shores of the river.
There are many riverfront homes in Dallas and Valleyview. Behind them, Sunrise Mountain stands among the wispy clouds over the south shore of the river.
Mt. Peter and Paul stand over the north side of the river as we approach downtown Kamloops.
The river section is 20 km from the launch area next to the Lafarge Bridge to the boat launch at Pioneer Park. We are very lucky to have two rivers running downstream to the “meeting of the waters,” making fine downriver paddling for us from March to November.
In spring we paddle downriver, enjoying the green corridors of our valleys in our kayaks and canoes. We choose to go before the noise and wakes of powerboats take over the rivers.
We paddled from the public beach at Chase on Little Shuswap Lake to the Lafarge Bridge, a total of 40.5 km.
Banana Island Provincial Park makes a good stop for a break. Even at high water, there is a small beach on the north side of the island.
About halfway along the route is the Pritchard Bridge. There is a good landing spot on the northwest side of the bridge.
The next 20km downstream is steady paddling all the way to the Lafarge Bridge. There is a good landing beach on the northeast side. For most paddlers, half of this route will be a good choice. Pick a nice day with little wind in May, the first half of June, or September to avoid power boat traffic and noise.
Other good (and easy) downriver sections are Lafarge to Pioneer Park, Pioneer Park to Cooney Bay, and Harrington Road in Westsyde to McArthur Island, all scheduled for this year.
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.
In Kamloops, we can paddle on our rivers in 9 of the 12 months of the year. With a cool spring, the first day of paddling on the river this year was the last day of March. From Pioneer Park, the upstream paddle is easier when the flow rates are down. With a reduced current, we can progress east on the South Thompson River more quickly, but it is still a good workout, especially early in the season as we build our paddling endurance levels. The Valleyview Boat Launch is about 5.75 km. The paddlewheeler Wanda Sue is berthed just east of that, a good place to turn around.
Many geese and some ducks were in pairs or small groups on the shoreline. One great blue heron probed the shallows of the river off Shuswap Road. The best part of paddling at this time of the year is the complete absence of power boats. Although the river goes right through the middle of town, most sections are quiet, especially on a weekday morning. There were 3 other kayaks on the river and one rower too.
We paddle on the river in the early season before the noisy power boats overwhelm the river. They seem oblivious to the intrusiveness of the noise, the wake, and their speed in such a narrow space. When they arrive on the river, we move to the upland lakes.
