Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada

Situated at the confluence of the North and South Thompson Rivers in the Thompson Valley, the sprawling city of Kamloops takes its name from the First Nations word T'kumlups, meaning meeting place. Water isn't the only thing that meets here; the Trans-Canada, the Yellowhead and Highway 97 all meet in Kamloops, as do the two national rail lines, CP and CN.

The Secwepemc nation has inhabited the Kamloops region for thousands of years, basing their society on hunting and gathering and a dynamic trading economy. It was the native fur trade that first attracted white interest to the area, and dramatically changed the lives of the Shuswap Indians. The Secwepemc called the location of the present city Cumcloups. During the fur trade era the name Kamloops denoted the Indian settlement, but after 1867, the aboriginal name was gradually adopted for the village as a whole, with Kamloops being incorporated as a town in 1893.

David Stuart and Alexander Ross visited Kamloops in 1811. Stuart returned the following year to set up the first fur trading post, the American-owned Pacific Fur Company. Two years later the rival Northwest Fur Company had set up a post, and by 1821, the Hudson's Bay Company had taken control of the fur trade in Kamloops.

Gold Rush fever in the 1850s and the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway in the 1880s contributed to the rapid expansion of the settlement. Until the 1860s, the Fort at Kamloops was an important depot for the horse-drawn pack trains that travelled to and from the coast.

Today, Kamloops is the second largest city in the southern interior of BC (after Kelowna), and the fifth largest in British Columbia. The major industry is forestry, followed by tourism, ranching and mining. The landscape is characterized by rivers, mountains, lakes and grasslands, which offer unsurpassed opportunities for year-round outdoor adventure, enough to keep even the most avid outdoor enthusiast busy. Blue skies, endless sunshine, deep powder snow, one thousand lakes and spectacular landscapes make the Kamloops Region the natural place to visit and experience unparalleled adventure opportunities.

Kamloops is famous for its hospitality, offering visitors all the amenities of a big city - first class accommodation and dining, a lively arts scene, modern shops, a full range of businesses and wonderful parks and recreation facilities. The weekly Farmer's Market, a world-class wildlife park, eight golf courses, endless miles of walking and biking trails, and scenic boat tours are just a few more reasons to visit Kamloops.

Kamloops is a vital transportation hub easily reached from every part of the province. BC's four major highways, Highway 1 (Trans-Canada East and West), Highway 5 North (Yellowhead), Highway 5 South (Coquihalla) and Highway 97 all meet in Kamloops. Full service air and rail connections in Kamloops catering to travellers from every corner of the globe make the city truly international.

Population: 84,064

Location: Kamloops is located in the Thompson Nicola, in the heart of British Columbia's Southern Interior, 128 miles (205 km) north of Hope and and 53 miles (84 km) east of Cache Creek.

View maps of the area:
Map of Kamloops
Map of Thompson Okanagan

The colourful history and personality of Kamloops is captured under one roof at the Kamloops Museum. From Natural History to Shuswap culture, from the fur trade and Gold Rush eras to the days of steam engines and Victorian elegance. Located on the corner of Seymour Street and 2nd Avenue.

Experience the rich cultural history of the Shuswap people at the Secwepemc Museum & Native Heritage Park, on the banks of the South Thompson River. The attractive museum exhibits incorporate the oral history and legends of the Secwepemc People, along with historical photographs, illustrations and artifacts. On display is a birch bark and dugout canoe, a summer mat lodge, and exhibits on hunting, fishing, clothing, games, food gathering and cooking. The museum is on the Kamloops Indian Reserve on the Yellowhead Highway north just north of Kamloops.

The Rocky Mountain Rangers Museum & Archives is a military museum dedicated to preserving and portraying the long and proud history of The Rocky Mountain Rangers from 1898 to the present day. Located in Battalion Headquarters on McGill Road.

Heritage Building, Kamloops, British Columbia

A good place to start the Kamloops Heritage Walking Tour is at the Men's Christian Hostel on Victoria Street West. Heritage buildings viewed on this leisurely two-hour walk include the Federal Building, constructed in 1900 and the last remaining building from Kamloop's first street, the Old Court House (1909), and the brick Royal Bank building completed in 1912.

Meet local and endangered species of wildlife at the BC Wildlife Park. The park has 65 BC species including Grizzly bears, Timber wolves, Cougars, Moose, Mountain goat, Birds of Prey and many more, all in the spacious exhibits on the beautiful grounds. The Discovery Centre includes the BC Eco-Discovery Gallery that features interactive fun and learning experiences. This gallery allows guests to explore the unique habitats of the province on which BC wildlife depend - Rainforest, Grasslands, Mountains, Interior Plateaus and the North.

The Kamloopa Pow Wow is one of the largest gatherings in Western Canada showcasing First Nation�s culture! Kamloopa Pow Wow is an annual three-day event that takes place on the August long weekend and it attracts performers, competitors, crafters and artists. The Pow Wow is a spectacular expression of the Secwepemc heritage here in the Kamloops area and boasts vibrant display of storytelling, song, and dance.

The climate in Kamloops makes for perfect conditions to grow American Ginseng, thus attracting the Sunmore Ginseng Factory. The ginseng product is shipped world wide to Canadian, North American, European and Asian market. Ttake a free tour of the factory and learn all about the amazing natural root which is used to help de-stress and keep your body in top condition.

Art is an incredible expression of culture, people, memories and creative articulation for all ages. Kamloops has the principal gallery for visual arts in the Southern Interior of British Columbia. Escape from the busy day-to-day happenings for an hour and immerse yourself in an atmosphere of inspired creations at the Kamloops Art Gallery.

Rocky Mountaineer Vacations� offers "The Most Spectacular Train Trip in the World"� with two-day, all daylight train excursions between Vancouver, British Columbia and Jasper, Banff or Calgary, Alberta, with an overnight stay in Kamloops. Westbound or eastbound departures are available from mid-April to mid-October. Forged by hand, the rails carry you through stunning natural beauty. You will marvel at the deep greens of old growth forest and the emerald waters of glacial lakes, weaving along historic rail routes, treating you in unsurpassed service. More information on the Rocky Mountaineer Rail Circle Tour.

Kenna Cartwright Park encompasses almost 800 hectacres of Mount Dufferin, and offers an extensive network of gentle nature trails for hiking or cycling, with panoramic views of the city, the Thompson Valley, Kamloops Lake and the convergence of the North and South Thompson Rivers. Wildlife species such as squirrel, bluebird, hawk, deer, coyote and bear visit and inhabit the park. The park is also host to three provincially blue-listed (vulnerable) species - the Great Basin Spadefoot Toad, Great Basin Gopher Snake and Lewis' Woodpecker, as well as 1 red-listed (endangered) species - the Badger.