Kenna Cartwright Park Trails

Kenna Cartwright Park Trails

Location

Kenna Cartwright Park in Kamloops

Road Access

City Streets

Trailhead

There are 4 trailheads from 4 separate parking areas (see below)

Meet-up Spot

Meet at the trailhead or at Aberdeem Mall

Optimal Group Size

Smaller groups for single track routes.  Groups usually range from 6 to 20 people.   Start small when you first lead.

Season

4 season access.   The backside gets snow/icy in winter.

Seasonal Notes

The south-facing slopes clear off early in spring but routes around the north slopes take longer to melt and become muddy.

Length

Anywhere from 2km to 15 km.

Difficulty

Moderate to more difficult, depending on the route chosen

Climb

Most are moderate but some routes over the top of the ridge are harder.

Duration

1 hour to 3 hours, depending on the route chosen.

Fitness Requirements

Shorter trails are suitable for all hikers.   Longer and steeper trails are more demanding on fitness levels.

Dogs

A good park for dogs but leaders will want to limit the number of dogs on a single track trail.

Trail Info

  • Ticks are out from March through June.
  • Although trails are signed, there are not many trail maps posted.   It is best to carry a printed map for the first few times out.

General Notes

Kenna Cartwright Park (KCP) and Lac du Bois Grasslands are the premier hiking areas in the Kamloops area.   KCP is the largest municipal park in the province at 800 ha.   There are 40km of trails for hiking.   It is used by walkers, hikers, dog walkers, mountain bikers and families in all 4 seasons.   There are good parking lots and lots of signage.   Recommended.

Driving Directions and Trailheads:

  • Hillside Drive – the main trailhead

kenna main

  • Pacific Way (near the north end)

kenna pacific

  • Home Depot Parking (near the entrance on the left)

kenna home depot

  • Bunker Road (past the recycling bins)

kenna bunkers

Trails:

  • There are many trail options.   Each trail junction has maps so just pick a trail and start hiking.
  • A number of trails are steeper, especially if they climb over the central hill, Mount Dufferin.
  • A recommended hiking route is around the mountain in a loop, using the Upper Doug Daws Trail.
  • There are some fine routes on the west end of the park that are less known too.  (Sunset Trail)




References/Resources


    

  • PDF of KCP Trails – Kenna Cartwright Park
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  • compiled by D. Smith; send updates and corrections to dsmith@kamloopshikingclub.net
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