Kamloops & Sun Peaks

An interior hub on Highway 5 between Vancouver and Jasper; to the north, Sun Peaks is Canada's second-largest ski resort and a winter favourite with Chinese-Canadian families.

Kamloops lies in the interior of south-central British Columbia, Canada, where the North and South Thompson rivers meet, surrounded by dry, sandy hills and grasslands. About 350 km (roughly a 4-hour drive) from Vancouver, it's the traditional overnight stop on the route from Vancouver via Highway 5 to Jasper and Banff. About 55 km north of the city, Sun Peaks is Canada's second-largest ski resort by area, with plenty of runs across three mountains, dry snow and lots of sunny days; its European-style pedestrian village is well suited to family ski holidays, and in summer it switches to mountain biking, hiking and golf. In the city, the main sights are Riverside Park and Victoria Street downtown. Nearby are the Secwépemc Museum, the BC Wildlife Park, hiking spots such as Kenna Cartwright Park and Lac du Bois Grasslands, and interior wineries like Monte Creek. Paul Lake and Lac Le Jeune are good for fishing and water fun, and in October you can head east to the Adams River to watch the sockeye salmon run (2026 is a dominant year). The climate is semi-arid: summers are hot and dry, often topping 30°C, and occasionally affected by wildfire smoke; the snow season runs December–April. Getting there: Kamloops Airport has direct flights to Vancouver and Calgary, and a seasonal shuttle runs from the city to Sun Peaks. Plan 1 day for the city and 3–5 days for skiing.

Top sights

• Sun Peaks Resort – Canada's second-largest ski area, with extensive runs across three peaks, dry snow, and a European-style pedestrian village at the base tha…
• BC Wildlife Park – A zoo focused on rescuing wildlife native to the province, where you can see grizzly bears, moose, wolves and cougars up close.
• Secwépemc Museum & Heritage Park – A museum on Secwépemc First Nations culture, with an outdoor site that preserves a village ruin about 2,000 years old and a reconstructed w…
• Riverside Park – A downtown park on the Thompson River with a sandy beach, a Japanese Friendship Garden and riverside trails, and free outdoor concerts on s…
• Kenna Cartwright Nature Park – One of Canada's largest urban nature parks, with more than 40 km of trails leading to the top of Timmerman Peak for views over the Kamloops…
• Lac du Bois Grasslands Protected Area – Extensive native grasslands just north of Kamloops, with rolling hills, spring wildflowers and good birdwatching and hiking.
• Paul Lake Provincial Park – A forest lake on the road to Sun Peaks, offering summer swimming, boating and rainbow trout fishing, with Harper Mountain hiking nearby.
• Lac Le Jeune Provincial Park – A fishing lake on the plateau south of Kamloops, with summer boating and trout fishing, and cross-country skiing and ice fishing in winter.
• Kamloops Lake – A long, narrow lake formed by the Thompson River, with lookouts along Highway 1 that frame dry hills against the water.
• Monte Creek Winery – The largest winery in the Thompson Valley, growing cold-hardy grape varieties, with a tasting room and restaurant overlooking the valley vi…
• Kamloops Museum & Archives – A small, free city museum in the downtown core that tells the story of Kamloops, from its fur-trade post and gold rush to the arrival of th…
• Peterson Creek Nature Park – A canyon park on the hillside south of downtown, where a short trail leads to a small waterfall with views over the city and the confluence…
• Tsútswecw Provincial Park (Adams River Salmon Run) – One of the largest sockeye salmon runs in North America. In October the Adams River turns red with spawning fish, numbering in the millions…

Where to eat

• The Noble Pig Craft Brewpub – Kamloops' most popular brewpub, serving creative pub food. Mac and cheese and the beer tasting platter are the top pick…
• Brownstone Restaurant – A refined restaurant in a converted historic bank building, serving local ingredients. Duck breast and maple caramel pu…
• Hello Toast – A local breakfast favourite for over 20 years, known for benedicts on house-made focaccia.

Itineraries

• First Passage to the West Rockies Sightseeing Rail – Take a daytime sightseeing train from Vancouver to Lake Louise, then transfer to Banff and Calgary.