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.