We have kayaked on Johnson Lake. It is accessed by the Johnson Lake FSR, a road that climbs into the hills from the Barriere to Adams Lake Road. The lake has marl shoals with clear blue water in a setting surrounded by hills. It has become too popular so if you go, pick a weekday morning.
We have hiked the Stein river Trail from the east a few times. From Lytton, we have taken the Reaction Ferry to the west side, then drove north to the access road to the park. We have backpacked in twice and we have day-hiked in and out several times. Our most recent hike was in the spring of 2024. We hiked to the pictographs wall and back, a km hike.
The trail follows the river, then climbs over the hillside at the Devil’s Staircase, then back down to the river again. There are a number of excellent places to camp, to have lunch, or just to dally by the river. A special place, one we will return to hike again.
There are many remote lakes on the Bonaparte Plateau. Tsintsunko Lake can be reached on foot from backroads. One day we hiked from the Jolly Lake trailhead to Jolly Lake and then beyond to Tsintsunko Lake. Old fishing cabins were found on the shoreline, accessed by a rough ATV track. We hiked back on the track and backroads.
On another day some years later, we hauled our kayaks in to the lake on carts on a different rough track to paddle and fish the lake. Since then a forest fire has burnt much of the forest in the plateau. Nevertheless, another visit is planned, this time with a folding kayak. Watch KamloopsTrails.ca or kamloopskayak.com for a story later in 2024.