Sweeping grassland vistas, spectacular cliffs and canyons, secret ponds and small lakes await the visitor to the newest grasslands protected area in the province. It rises north and westward from the Thompson valleys through three grassland communities to the forested hills above. Nowhere else in western North America will you find these grassland communities in such close proximity to each other.
Spring comes early to the lower hot, dry slopes with plants responding to the short, moist season. In contrast, the upper grasslands and forests are not in full bloom until early June when brilliant balsamroot followed by brown-eyed susans wash the hillsides.
Beyond the grasslands, ancient ponderosa pines in a sea of bluebunch wheatgrass give way to groves of trembling aspen and stands of Douglas fir, some of which are believed to be over 400 years old. California bighorn sheep, mule deer, black bear and waterfowl are common residents and visitors to the protected area, while the Northern Pacific rattlesnake, sharp-tailed grouse and flammulated owl live more secretive lives within its boundaries.
Lac du Bois Grasslands Protected Area is your protected area. We hope you will visit it often and enjoy the values for which it was established. BC Parks is looking to the local community and other users for their support in managing this fragile area.
Wilderness camping is permitted, but no facilities are provided. There is a small, rustic user-maintained wilderness campsite on Watching Creek, off Red Lake Road. There are Ministry of Forests, Lands & Natural Resource Operations Recreation Sites just north of the protected area at Isobel Lake and Pass Lake.
Campfires are only permitted at the Watching Creek campground. No firewood is available and no fire rings are installed. If a campfire is used, please keep it small, and ensure it is completely out before you leave. Only wood that is dead and lying on the ground can be used for campfires. Camp stoves are recommended for cooking. Check for campfire bans before entering the protected area.
There are countless opportunities for exploring the protected area on foot, whether for any easy stroll through the grasslands or a strenuous day hike in the hills. Most trails do not have any signs, so a good map is essential.
There is a designated trail that follows the edge of Dewdrop Range in the western section of the park. Expansive views of Kamloops Lake, the Thompson Valley, and distant mountains are the reward for the exertion of the hike. There is a parking area at the beginning of the trail.
Grasslands are very fragile. Tread lightly wherever you go. Use established trails only to help minimize disturbance and prevent the spread of unwanted plant species.
For your own safety and the preservation of the park, obey posted signs and keep to designated trails. Shortcutting trails destroys plant life and soil structure.
Mara Trail [PDF] – Interpretive 3.5km loop trail
Cinnamon Ridge Trail [PDF] – 4.25km semi-loop, linear trail
Dewdrop Trail [PDF] – 5.7km linear trail
Grasslands Community Trail [PDF] – 13km linear trail through all three grassland types (lower, middle, upper)
There are rainbow trout in Deep Lake. Anyone fishing or angling in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence.
There is no viewing platform but there are excellent wildlife viewing opportunities and many beautiful vistas to enjoy. Viewing opportunities include the potholes, lakes and ponds on the grasslands for viewing migrating and nesting waterfowl and other wetland wildlife. California bighorn sheep and mule deer can be observed at the Dewdrop cliffs.
Pets and domestic animals must be on a leash at all times and are not allowed in beach areas or protected area buildings. You are responsible for their behaviour and must dispose of their excrement. Backcountry areas are not suitable for dogs or other pets due to wildlife issues and the potential for problems with bears.
Bicycles must keep to roadways. Bicycle helmets are mandatory in British Columbia. Mountain bikes and other cyclists must keep on established trails and not take short cuts. Be aware that bikes do have an impact, and watch out for others on the trails.
Please note that bicycles with electric assist motors (e-bikes) are not allowed on the trails within Lac du Bois Grasslands Protected Area. E-bikes are restricted to park roads and areas where motorized use is permitted. The only exception to this policy will be for authorized and identified trail maintenance bikes conducting work on behalf of BC Parks.
Hunting is permitted only during lawful game hunting season. Check the Hunting & Trapping Regulations Synopsis for regulations.
Snowshoeing provides a way to experience the protected area in the winter. There are no designated trails or cross-country ski trails.
Located northwest of Kamloops, there are two main ways to reach Lac du Bois Grasslands protected area by vehicle (refer to the map in the brochure):
Two other roads give vehicle access to the protected area, each leading into a different type of scenery:
The road lying to the west of Wheeler Mountain is deeply rutted and partly washed out in places. It is not recommended for public use.
Vehicle access is limited to only those roads shown on the map; all other trails are closed to motorized vehicles. Not all roads are passable by two-wheel drive, low-clearance vehicles and weather conditions may severely change driving conditions.
History
Lac du Bois Grasslands protected area was established in 1996.
Cultural Heritage
Cattle are part of the history, and the culture, of the protected area. Horses of the Hudson’s Bay Company roamed the area in the 1860s and cows grazed in large numbers as the beef industry expanded in the early decades of the century. Sheep in large flocks were over-wintered in the 1940s before being taken to summer pastures west of the Fraser River. All these activities took their toll on the fragile grassland communities.
A fenced pasture rotation system was put in place in 1977 that controls how cattle use the grasslands. This has lead to a marked improvement in the condition of the grasslands.
Cattle are a part of the history and culture of Lac du Bois. Remember that range cattle are easily disturbed. View them from a distance and do not harass them.
Historical hunting and root gathering activities and historically significant pictographs and archaeological sites confirm traditional native use of the area. There are signs of early mining activity along Kamloops Lake, Bachelor Hill and gold panning on lower Tranquille Canyon. Also, historic homesteading sites are evidenced in the protected area.
Conservation
Two Ecological Reserves are found within the boundaries of the protected area. McQueen Creek in the northeast protects a representative example of the middle grassland community. Tranquille in the west protects a small area of ponderosa pine, Douglas-fir community.
This protected area fulfils a very important conservation role in representing the Thompson Basin and Northern Thompson Uplands Ecosections. This protected area contains complex geology, a mixture of grasslands and forest types, a highly differential set of topographical features and soils and a variety of cultural uses combining to produce an area of notable diversity.
Ecological Reserves are areas set aside for their special scientific research and educational significance as representative examples of the many different ecosystems found throughout the province. Fences have been put up to keep cattle out of the reserves and maintain their natural condition. A permit is needed to visit these special areas.
Wildlife
Species of note include California bighorn sheep, white tail and mule deer, moose, waterfowl, rattlesnake, sharp-tail grouse, flammulated owls, black bear, burrowing owls, western long-billed curlews, harriers, and waterfowl. Here are details on a few species at risk: sharp-tail grouse [PDF] , rattlesnake [PDF] and the Western long-billed curlew [PDF] .
BC Parks honours Indigenous Peoples’ connection to the land and respects the importance of their diverse teachings, traditions, and practices within these territories. This park webpage may not adequately represent the full history of this park and the connection of Indigenous Peoples to this land. We are working in partnership with Indigenous Peoples to update our websites so that they better reflect the history and cultures of these special places.