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Life is better in the Country
YEAR-ROUND RECREATION
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Wintertime means it’s time to get out into the wild. Soak up the quiet as you try ice fishing on one of our hundreds of lakes. Explore the Lower North Thompson Valley on cross-country skis, snowshoes, or snowmobiles. As temperatures rise, these same trails turn into hiking, biking and horseback riding trails. You may find yourself beside a river or lake, enjoying wildflower meadows or up on windswept craggy trails.
All 19,353 hectares of Dunn Peak Protected Area are filled with glorious wilderness. It’s a backcountry recreation goldmine.
Drive west on Hwy 24 (Land of Hidden Waters) off Highway 5, and you’ll find some of the best year-round fishing spots. There are also fly-in fishing camps to spend your days on the water and your nights by the fire. While you are here, visit Dunn Lake Hatchery, managed and operated by the Simpcw First Nation. Salmon are raised here to support the local waterways.
Amid all the wild, unwind with a game of golf. Breathtaking landscapes accompany lush fairways with well-groomed greens. Courses include Bighorn Golf & Country Club, Rivershore Golf, and a 9-hole championship golf course in Chinook Cove. The scenic surroundings and good company should help to make great memories.
GIDDY-UP
This is ranch country. Saddle up and experience our western roots on horseback. With a guide, you’ll learn how to communicate with the horses on their level. Then, as a reward, you get to head out and explore the valley on the back of your trusty steed. Come Labour Day weekend, you can get your cowboy on at the annual North Thompson Fall Fair and Rodeo. See, smell and taste the community pride in the locals’ artisanal goods. Exhilarating events like bull riding, steer wrestling and logger sports are all available. Then, relax at night with family dances, cabarets and cowboy poetry. Relish a celebration with the Secwepemc people at the Kamloopa PowWow, put on by the Tk’emlúpsemc First Nation. Enjoy the dancing, drumming and art by traditional artists.
Sleep soundly under the stars, or cuddle under the blanket beside a cozy fireplace. You’ll find lodges, resorts, guest ranches, hotels, motels and inns in the Lower North Thompson. Heck, you can even brush horses and do chores at Skitchine Lodge Bonaparte Park. So pick your level of wildness and snuggle in for a good night’s sleep. Several resorts here have camping and RV sites, and there are dozens of private and provincial campgrounds here.
