If you're looking for a winter getaway that offers both adventure and relaxation, Kamloops delivers. From thrilling snowmobile adventures to art galleries and craft brewpubs, this Interior BC city has something for every traveller.
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This travel feature is based on knowledge and first-hand experiences by our Go Canada contributing writer. While this recap is brought to you in partnership with Tourism Kamloops, all necessary trip planning, destination research and featured locations, activities and accommodations were selected/experienced by our writer.
If the phrase “winter getaway in Kamloops” evokes images of either a youth hockey tournament or a weekend at Sun Peaks Resort for you, you’re not alone. This thriving city of over 100,000 in the Interior of British Columbia – just a short flight or four-hour drive northeast of Vancouver – is Canada’s Tournament Capital, and its biggest ski resort attracts powder hounds and apres-ski fans in droves.
However, the Kamloops area has even more to offer as a true all-season destination – as I can attest from personal experience as a lifelong British Columbian. Doubling as a hockey writer and travel journalist, I’ve slotted plenty of craft beer outings and museum visits in between covering (say) the IIHF Women’s World Hockey Championship or documenting my cross-country skiing exploits.
Let’s explore four ways to find your winter bliss in Kamloops.
Family-Friendly Outdoor Recreation
For family-friendly, old-school thrills on the hills, check out Harper Mountain. Owned and operated by the Daburger family since 1973, it provides winter activities aplenty as a certified local success story.
Only 20 minutes from downtown, Harper Mountain features more than 400 acres of skiable terrain and 1,400 vertical feet of elevation. The on-site tubing park is fun for kids and adults alike. Whether you’re enjoying nearly 12 km of snowshoeing trails amid snow-blanketed evergreens or getting your cardio workout on the easy Nordic ski loop, it’s always nice to grab a hot chocolate by the big wood fireplace at day’s end.
As someone whose favourite part of the James Bond film Die Another Day was the frozen lake chase, I recommend Kamloops Snowmobile Adventures as a safer option for Bond-style adrenaline. They offer guided tours for all levels of experience on sleek Ski Doo 800 mountain sleds, including riding gear and trail passes. Zoom along entrancing trails from Porcupine Ridge to Greenstone Mountain.
The Overlander Ski Club is a wonderful choice for cross-country skiing enthusiasts. With a network of 60 km of groomed trails around Stake Lake, including 7 km lit up for night skiing, you can refresh your spirits at this pristine destination south of Kamloops.
If you do find yourself at Sun Peaks, Mountain Man Adventure Tours consistently delivers excitement with both snowmobile and dog-sledding tours in the backcountry.
Intriguing Cultural Options
When the weather’s a little too chilly for outdoor fun, Kamloops is blessed with excellent indoor alternatives.
Case in point: the Kamloops Museum & Archives. This 1937-founded institution on Seymour St is home to more than 20,000 artifacts, with permanent exhibitions highlighting the traditional and unceded lands of the Secwépemc Nation, as well as Chinese immigrant culture and 19th-century settler photos. The children’s section – including a puppet theatre and fur trader’s cabin – is ever-popular.
Into contemporary art? The nearby Kamloops Art Gallery stages rotating exhibitions throughout the year, ranging from award-winning photographers like Keith Langergraber to 3D animation virtuosos like Casey Koyczan. It’s the largest art gallery in the Interior of British Columbia. Open Tuesday to Saturday, this welcoming space offers free admission on Thursdays.
If titles like Beauty and the Beast, Juliet: A Revenge Comedy, and Motown Get Down stir up your theatre-loving heart, Western Canada Theatre just might have some entertainment earmarked for you. Officially incorporated in 1975, the performing arts company puts on lively, pro-calibre plays and musicals at the 150-seat Pavilion Theatre and 693-seat Sagebrush Theatre.
Vibrant Food and Beverage Scene
Diners are spoiled for choice in Kamloops – especially anyone who digs craft beer. Year-round, pairing award-worthy brews with innovative comfort food makes for a great outing.
Head to Iron Road Brewing near Thompson Rivers University and quaff the likes of Locomotive Lager, brewed in the classic Czech style, or the ultra-hoppy Loop Line IPA. At this spacious 60-seat taproom, the Mexican-inspired food menu is a winner as well. The Mexican Street Corn Nachos – with cheddar, Monterey, and feta cheese, plus fire-roasted corn and cilantro – are a mouthwatering must-try.
Dog lovers gravitate toward downtown’s Red Collar Brewing. The 2014-founded brewery takes its name from the red collar once worn by the owners’ black Lab. Try a flight of signature beers including Dubbel, a coffee-tinged dark Belgian ale, and A Dog Aquatic, a highly approachable pale ale. Hungry? Snack on local bison jerky, or artichoke and asiago dip.
The Noble Pig Brewhouse epitomizes what a great brewpub should be: welcoming, hearty, and reliable. At this Victoria Avenue classic, I always opt for the amber-coloured Belgian Pepper Ale, a spicy and distinctive classic. From Bavarian pretzel bites to pulled pork sandwiches to mac and cheese, the scratch kitchen delivers the goods.
Of course, there’s more to Kamloops dining than breweries. I’ve enjoyed the tropical French toast with banana bread and lavender-coconut whip for brunch at Red Beard Cafe and the veggie-laden Buddha bowl for lunch at Hello Toast.
Comfortable Hotels
Great brand-name hotels abound in Kamloops, and they’re conveniently spread throughout the city. Even if you’re mainly in town for a ski vacation, it’s worth booking an extra night in Kamloops to maximize your experience.
If you’re attending a Kamloops Blazers hockey game at the 5,464-capacity Sandman Centre, the 202-room Sandman Signature Kamloops Hotel is located just steps away by the Thompson River. I fondly recall swimming in the indoor pool and relaxing in the hot tub in between reporting on hockey games. Excellent wifi and rooms with fridges and microwaves make this a winning property.
With a central downtown location, the Delta Hotels Kamloops is one of several well-appointed local hotels that cater to summertime guests of the luxurious Rocky Mountaineer train line. It’s a top-notch option for business travellers and vacationers alike, featuring spacious suites, a 24-hour gym, a fine array of British Columbia wines at Cordo Resto + Bar, and much more.
The Prestige Hotel Kamloops is a dog-friendly property with majestic views and easy access to the Trans-Canada Highway. The 87-room property – thoroughly renovated and refreshed in 2021 – features not only a pool and hot tub but also a waterslide for splash-tastic fun on cold winter days. Complimentary coffee and tea awaits in the lobby. Devour everything from a classic pot roast to a Mediterranean falafel bowl at the in-house Isagani restaurant.
It all goes to show that there’s no shortage of great ways to enjoy yourself in Kamloops in the winter. From skiing and snowmobiling to museums and brewpubs, you can always put together a fun and revitalizing itinerary before bunking down for the night.
For more information, visit the Tourism Kamloops website.
Lucas Aykroyd
Contributor
Lucas Aykroyd is an award-winning Canadian travel and sports journalist who's written about polar bears in Manitoba, Viking history in Newfoundland, and Indigenous culture in Haida Gwaii. He's covered six Winter Olympics and close to 50 men's & women's world hockey championships. Born in Victoria and based in Vancouver, Lucas also contributes to publications like the Globe and Mail, the Toronto Star, and Explore Magazine.
