Thompson Okanagan BC Backroad Mapbook

Covering the heart of BC’s interior, including the cities of Kamloops, Kelowna, Merritt and Penticton, this Mapbook is your ultimate guide to camping, hiking, fishing, ATVing, snowmobiling, hunting, cross-country skiing, paddling and more in this incredible region. From the lush forests of Manning Provincial Park to the sparkling waters of Okanagan Lake, the arid desert landscape around Osoyoos, the pristine beaches of the Shuswap and the vast wilderness of Wells Gray Provincial Park, the Thompson Okanagan is an outdoor explorer’s paradise. To help you make the most of your time in this incredible area, the Backroad Mapbooks team has created the most comprehensive, detailed and easy-to-use Mapbook available for the region, so you can embark on the outdoor adventure of your choice with confidence.

We have spent countless hours updating our maps and expanding our written content to allow you to navigate this magical part of BC as smoothly as possible. Our maps now feature private and leased land, labelled sportfish species for lakes and rivers, updated fish stocking and hiking trail charts, an updated and expanded Community Profiles section plus countless new roads, trails and paddling routes. Of course, this Mapbook includes all the classic features you have come to expect from our products including industry-leading topographic relief and shading, thousands of adventure Points of Interest, written Adventure descriptions and much more. No other navigational tool provides you with as much recreation information for the Thompson Okanagan as this one.

Backroad Adventures
With over 140,000 kilometres of roads shown on our maps, from highways to logging and resource roads, there is no shortage of backcountry to explore in the Thompson Okanagan. In the latest edition of the Thompson Okanagan Backroad Mapbook you will find over 60 listings for the best places to stop while exploring the region, including hot springs, old mines, museums, waterfalls and more, including the world-famous wineries of the Okanagan Valley, the Myra Canyon Trestles and natural attractions like the Bearcat Caves and Kamloops Hoodoos.

Fishing Adventures
The abundance of nutrient-rich alkali lakes in this region, along with thousands of kilometers of freshwater streams and rivers, make the Thompson Okanagan one of the best areas for trout fishing in the province. The 6th Edition Thompson Okanagan Backroad Mapbook describes over 500 fishing lakes and close to 80 rivers, showing you the best places to catch rainbow trout, brook trout, kokanee, bass and more. Fish species are clearly labelled on the maps and you will find comprehensive written descriptions complete with information on stocking, regulations, access, techniques and more, and we include easy-to-read stocking charts for over 330 of the region's waterbodies.

Hunting Adventures
A mild climate and a wide range of terrain make the British Columbia interior a very productive hunting area. From big game hunting for black bear, moose and deer to wild turkey and grouse, an excellent hunting opportunity is always just around the corner. In the latest edition of the Thompson Okanagan Mapbook you will find all-inclusive descriptions on the region's main game species, tips on how to find them plus write-ups for 60 of the area's Wildlife Management Units (WMUs), from McBride in the Thompson Region 3 all the way to Rock Creek in the Okanagan Region 8.

Paddling Adventures
Whether it is canoeing on a secluded mountain lake or charging down a rushing whitewater river, the Thompson Okanagan offers a little bit of everything for paddlers. In the 6th Edition Thompson Okanagan Backroad Mapbook, you will find elaborate listings for over 55 of the region's best paddling destinations complete with information on put-ins/take-outs, distance, difficulty, highlights and more, from the meandering Similkameen River to the big waters of Mabel Lake and beyond.

Park Adventures
No matter which type of outdoor adventure you prefer, from hiking to camping to wildlife viewing, the Thompson Okanagan's provincial and regional parks offer some of the best areas to explore. In the latest edition of our Thompson Okanagan Backroad Mapbook, you will find over 120 listings for the region's parks complete with information on access, amenities, activities and more, from small lakeside parks such as Allison Provincial Park to the cascading waterfalls of Wells Gray Provincial Park, and beyond.

Rec Site Adventures
Offering a more rustic and secluded experience than most provincial parks, the many recreation sites maintained by Recreation Sites and Trails BC throughout the Thompson Okanagan allow you to have an authentic experience with nature in some of the province's most beautiful natural settings. In the 5th Edition Thompson Okanagan Backroad Mapbook, you will find detailed listings for over 320 of the region's recreation sites complete with information on camping space, amenities, activities and more, spread throughout the BC backcountry, and resting next to the shores of the regions many epic fishing lakes.

Trail Adventures
From the world-famous Kettle Valley Railway turn Trans Canada Trail, to the dramatic peaks of Monashees and the community-built mountain bike trails of the Okanagan Valley, there is a huge variety of multi-use trails to explore in the region. In the latest edition of the Thompson Okanagan Backroad Mapbook, you will find intricate listings for over 360 trails for hiking, horseback riding, cycling, skiing and more, complete with information on distance, elevation gain, access to the trailhead, highlights along the trail and much more. We also include easy-to-read trail charts for over 120 trails in the region's main hiking areas including Cathedral, EC Manning, Mount Robson, Okanagan Mountain and Wells Gray Provincial Parks.

ATV Adventures
Mild weather, a relatively sparse population and an expansive network of logging and resource roads and trails make the Thompson Okanagan an incredible destination for ATVers. In the 6th Edition Thompson Okanagan Backroad Mapbook, you will find over 75 listings for the best places to ride in the region complete with information on staging areas, trail distance, elevation gain, difficulty and more. In addition to refining the ever expanding riding areas, from the well-developed Bear Creek Motorized Rec Area to the extensive trail systems around Grand Forks, Tulameen and beyond, we have included descriptions of a few multi-day overland routes which lead deep into the backcountry.

Snowmobile Adventures
Despite a mild climate in the lower elevations, the mountains of the Thompson Okanagan receive abundant snowfall and there is no shortage of world-class snowmobiling terrain, with wide-open bowls, cut blocks, tree riding, hill climbs and more. In the latest edition of our Thompson Okanagan Backroad Mapbook you will find 80 listings for the best places to snowmobile in the area complete with information on staging areas, trail length, suggested routes, elevation gain, highlights and more, from the Coquihalla Summit area to the Tranquille/Sawmill system near Kamloops, we have you covered.

Wildlife Adventures
With an incredibly diverse landscape that ranges from inland desert to large wetlands, secluded valleys, alpine mountain ranges, sweeping forests, grasslands and more, the amount and variety of wildlife you can see in the Thompson Okanagan is astounding. From big mammals like black bears, moose and bighorn sheep to hundreds of bird species, reptiles and amphibians, wildlife viewers can have a real field day here. In the latest edition of the Thompson Okanagan Backroad Mapbook you will find thorough listings for over 75 of the region's best wildlife viewing areas complete with information on access, species, best times of year or day to view them and more, from the abundant birding and bighorn viewing opportunities of Vaseaux Lake to the world renowned salmon spawning in the Adams River at Tsutswecw (formerly Roderick Haig-Brown) Provincial Park.

Winter Adventures
Known for its abundance of fluffy snow in the higher elevation mountainous areas, the Thompson Okanagan offers a wealth of opportunities for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, fat biking, snowboarding, ice skating, tobogganing and much more. In the latest edition of our Thompson Okanagan Backroad Mapbook you will find over 50 listings for the best places to get outdoors in the winter complete with information on access, hours, contact, amenities, trail length and much more, from the family-friendly downhill runs at Big White to the elaborate cross-country networks at Larch Hills and Sovereign Lake.

Backcountry Hut & Cabin Adventures
Brand new to this edition of the Thompson Okanagan Backroad Mapbook is a Backcountry Hut & Cabin Adventure section, providing you with over 40 comprehensive listings of the best places to find shelter while hiking, skiing, snowmobiling, ATVing or fishing. These listings fill you in on cabin size, amenities, access, contact information, applicable fees and much more, from the former fire lookouts on Crowfoot Mountain to the impressive Valemount Area Hut collection.

Rock Climbing Adventures
This new mapbook Adventure section covers the more popular rock climbing areas in the Thompson Okanagan. From sport climbs overlooking scenic lakes to bouldering opportunities tucked into the forest, we have outlined some of the best rock climbing areas around Kamloops, Kelowna, Penticton and beyond.

Topographic Maps
The latest edition of our Thompson Okanagan Backroad Mapbook contains 51 maps at 1:200,000 scale. Our industry-leading road coverage shows you all the highways, rural roads, forest service roads and resource roads, plus multi-use trails for hiking, cycling, horseback riding, ATVing, snowmobiling, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. We also show you private and leased land, First Nations reserves, provincial and national parks, paddling routes and portages, ecological reserves, glaciers, wetlands and thousands of Adventure Points of Interest. These 21.5 cm x 28 cm (8.5 x 11 inches) maps are printed on thick, durable paper protected by a heavy-duty spiral-bound cover. You won't find a longer-lasting, easier-to- use or more detailed collection of maps for the Thompson Okanagan anywhere else.

Index
Our handy index is divided into Map and Adventure sections to make it as easy to use as possible. Here you will find page numbers and map coordinates for each activity and location, community information, activity chart information boxes for trails and stocked fish, plus important numbers and an advertiser list for easy referencing.

Service Directory
Our convenient service directory lists the best places to find accommodations, supplies, tours and guides in the Thompson Okanagan, including hunting and fishing equipment and overland gear in Merritt, Little Fort, Kelowna, Clearwater, Princeton, Penticton and more.

Community Profiles
Included in this Mapbook are Community Profiles for the region's major centres, including the Thompson Valley (Valemount, Blue River, Clearwater, Lower North Thompson), Gold Country (Clinton, Logan Lake, Ashcroft, Lytton, Merritt), the Shuswap (Chase, Salmon Arm, Sicamous, Enderby, Armstrong), the Okanagan (Lumby Vernon, Lake Country, Peachland, Kelowna, Summerland, Okanagan Falls, Penticton, Oliver, Osoyoos), Similkameen Valley (Princeton) and Boundary Country (Christina Lake, Grand Forks, Greenway, Midway). These profiles fill you in on the best things to see and do in the outdoors around these communities, plus offer insight into local history, culture and where to find services and accommodations.