Western Heritage Trail
Click here to explore our Western Heritage Trails.
If you're looking to slow down, breathe in the fragrant aroma of wild sagebrush, let loose and just play, Kamloops, B.C. may be just the place to start your exploration. Here, guests to the Thompson Okanagan area are welcomed to enjoy a cowboy lifestyle of big skies and wide-open trails while joining the locals for some down home fun and hospitality.
Cowgirl getawayIn the language of the First Nations, T'kemlups means "Meeting Place" where the North and South Thompson Rivers converge. Two hundred years ago it was the hub of fur trading activities and the gold rush. Unravel the area’s history at the Secwepemc Museum and Heritage Park and at the Kamloops Museum and Archives. The Kamloopa Pow Wow, one of the largest showcasings of Native relic in Western Canada! The Pow Wow is a spectacular expression of the Secwepemc heritage here in the Kamloops area and boasts a vibrant display of storytelling, song, and dance.
Although times have changed dramatically since the Thompson Okanagan region was first settled by Europeans in the early 1800’s, western culture is still alive and kicking. Located in the heartlands of B.C., the Thompson Okanagan region is easy to get to by car, train or plane, and once you’re there, the real fun begins. Enjoy a city with a rich tradition of western heritage and culture – we’re only a few years away from celebrating our 200th birthday.
Saddle up and immerse yourself in the unique western heritage, sure to please just about any cowboy or cowboy-in-training looking for a memorable experience. Take a ride on the rails and journey back into history with the Kamloops Heritage Railway’s ‘2141’. But you’d better stay alert because there’s been rumor the famous train robber Billy Miner and his gang may overtake the train once again!
Each spring at the renowned Kamloops Heritage Cowboy Festival, enthusiasts can enjoy unique poetry, art and music performed by local and international cowboy headliners. This is always a hands-clapping foot-stomping good time. Attend a pro or amateur rodeo in the North Thompson Valley held almost every weekend in the summer months, or brush up on your skills at a horse training clinic and you'll soon see why the western culture in Kamloops is well known for it's real and vibrant events!
Enjoy the culture and dancing at the Kamloopa PowwowCombine with wine tasting in communities in the Okanagan and smaller lakeside towns and infuse yourself with flavour from world-renowned VQA wines on one of many winery tours, or stopping for a refreshing pint of beer from a microbrewery.
The Kamloops Okanagan has a foundation of working ranches of all sorts. There’s a host of working farms and ranch tour opportunities from historic ranch tours at Historic Hat Creek Ranch and the Historic O’Keefe Ranch, ginseng farm tours and the ever-popular fruit and vegetable stands for a satisfying treat. Then, explore the open, rugged landscape dotted with sagebrush and indigenous grasses complimented by sparkling lakes on a leisurely drive or on a horse-drawn wagon under clear blue skies. Take part in the way of life of a generous portion of the Thompson Okanagan region and try your hand at lamb shearing! If your way of learning about the outdoors is through interpretive tours, there is a fantastic opportunity here in Kamloops to participate in exploring the richness of the grasslands. This is an especially exciting option as these tours are new for 2007.
Take the family to one of our many fall fairs throughout the region and get up close to dairy cows, poultry, rabbits, lambs, horses, and beef cattle. Be entertained by unique dog shows, rodeo events, a West Coast Lumberjack show, horse shows featuring many unique breeds, and of course, don’t forget to let loose and have fun on the many rides. Finish off your day with some homemade fudge and bring home the best of all – unforgettable memories for all ages.
More Information on western events in the Kamloops area
Check out the online events calendar for full details on the western inspired activities for any age traveler to discover. Kamloops residents have a genuine persona and our events are plentiful and diverse. In Kamloops in the Thompson Okanagan, it's playtime redefined.