Kamloops
Around Kamloops
Photo: Acmacaulay · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Metro area · British Columbia · 114k people
Kamloops
Locals say Thompson Valley · “Tournament Capital of Canada”, “The Loops”
Where rivers meet and champions play.
Kamloops Blazers orangeThompson Rivers WolfPack blueThompson Rivers WolfPack gold
Welcome to the Tournament Capital! Whether you're here for the rivers, the ranches, or the hockey, you'll find a friendly community that loves the outdoors. Grab a craft beer and enjoy the sunshine – we're glad you're here.
Clubs for Kamloops
No clubs for Kamloops yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Kamloops. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Kamloops. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Riverside Park Green space along the Thompson River with trails and picnic spots.
- Kamloops Lake Large lake west of town, great for boating and fishing.
- BC Wildlife Park Home to rescued animals and a popular family outing.
- Sandman Centre Home of the Kamloops Blazers hockey team.
- Tournament Capital Centre Indoor sports facility that hosts many events.
- Wells Gray Provincial Park Waterfalls and wilderness near Clearwater.
- Outdoors Hike Kenna Cartwright Park
- Outdoors Paddleboard on Kamloops Lake
- With kids BC Wildlife Park
- With kids Riverside Park
- Evenings Brewery taprooms downtown
- Evenings Live music at local pubs
- Locals love River beaches
- Locals love Craft breweries
Through the year
- Kamloops Film Festival March March
- Kamloops Farmers Market May to October May to October
- Kamloops Dragon Boat Festival June June
- Kamloops Ribfest July July
- Kamloops Cowboy Festival March March
Kamloops has a semi-arid climate with hot, dry summers and cold winters. The best time to be out is from May to September. Best: May to September
Talk like a local
- “The Loops”
- Nickname for Kamloops
- “The Tournament Capital”
- Kamloops' nickname for its sports facilities
- “The Valley”
- Refers to the Thompson Valley
- “The river”
- The Thompson River
Getaways
- Salmon Arm Lake town with beaches and hiking.
- Vernon Okanagan city with wineries and lakes.
- Kelowna Largest city in the Okanagan, known for beaches and wine.
- Penticton Between two lakes, great for water sports.
Local flavour
Teams
- Kamloops Blazers WHL
- Thompson Rivers WolfPack U Sports
- Kamloops NorthPaws West Coast League
Also rooting for Vancouver Canucks (NHL), BC Lions (CFL)
Eat and drink
- Ranch-raised beef The Thompson-Nicola region is ranch country; steak and burgers are local staples.
- Craft beer A thriving local brewery scene with several taprooms and a strong pub culture.
- Wild salmon The Thompson River is a historic salmon run; smoked or grilled salmon is a regional treat.
Where people go
- River trails Riverside parks and walking paths along the Thompson River are central to daily life.
- Ranchland Rolling grasslands and cattle ranches define the surrounding countryside.
- Tournament venues Sports complexes and arenas that host events year-round, earning the city its nickname.
Heritage and traditions
Kamloops is proud of its ranching and cowboy heritage, its Secwepemc roots, and being the Tournament Capital of Canada, with a strong outdoor recreation culture.
This time of year in Kamloops
- Salmon run Fall Sockeye salmon return to the Adams River, drawing spectators.
Say it like a local: “Toonie” — The two-dollar coin.
Festivals
- Kamloops Powwow August One of the largest Indigenous gatherings in BC, featuring drumming, dancing, and traditional food.
- Kamloops International Buskers Festival July Street performers from around the world entertain crowds downtown.
Landmarks with a story
- Secwepemc Museum and Heritage Park Showcases the history and culture of the Secwepemc Nation.
- Hat Creek Ranch A restored 1860s ranch and stagecoach stop on the Cariboo Wagon Road.
- Lillooet Mile 0 Cairn Marks the start of the Cariboo Wagon Road, a key route during the gold rush.
- Ashcroft Historic District Gold rush-era buildings and a heritage railway station.
- Kamloops Heritage Railway Vintage train rides along the Thompson River.
Food traditions
- Bannock Traditional Indigenous fry bread, often served at powwows and with stews.
- Cowboy beans A hearty baked bean dish from the ranching tradition.
- Wild game Venison and elk are popular with local hunters and served in rustic restaurants.
- Huckleberry desserts Pies and jams made from wild huckleberries picked in the hills.
- Craft beer A thriving brewery scene using local hops and water from the Thompson River.
Music and arts
- Secwepemc drumming and storytelling Traditional Indigenous music and oral histories.
- Country and western music A strong country scene with local bands and venues.
- Cowboy poetry A staple at the Cowboy Festival and local gatherings.
- Kamloops Symphony Orchestra Classical performances with local musicians.
A little history
- Cariboo Gold Rush brings prospectors through Lillooet and Ashcroft. 1860s
- Canadian Pacific Railway reaches Kamloops, making it a transportation hub. 1885
- Ranching and cattle drives shape the region's cowboy identity. Early 1900s
- Kamloops is incorporated as a city. 1967
- Kamloops hosts the Canada Summer Games. 1993
Rivalries
- Kamloops Blazers vs. Kelowna Rockets Fierce WHL rivalry between interior BC teams.
- Thompson Rivers WolfPack vs. UBC Okanagan Heat University sports rivalry in the Okanagan.
- Game day Hockey games at Sandman Centre
- Game day Curling bonspiels
- Outdoors Watch the sockeye salmon run at Adams River
- Outdoors Horseback riding on a guest ranch
- With kids Sun Peaks Resort
- With kids Kamloops Powwow
People speak with a Western Canadian accent, using Canadian English with phrases like 'eh' and 'pop' for soda. The city name is pronounced 'KAM-loops'.
Only here
- The confluence of the North and South Thompson Rivers is called the 'meeting of the waters'.
- Kamloops is known as the Tournament Capital of Canada, hosting many sports events.
- The Kamloopa Powwow is one of the largest Indigenous gatherings in British Columbia.
- The Kamloops Blazers have won multiple Memorial Cup championships.
New here? A few tips
- Embrace the seasons: hot, dry summers and cold, snowy winters.
- Get a car; the city is spread out and public transit is limited.
- Try a local craft beer and a steak at a ranch-style restaurant.
- Learn to pronounce 'Kamloops' (KAM-loops) and 'Secwepemc' (she-WEP-muh).
- Explore the river trails and take advantage of the outdoor recreation.
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Nearby
Every areaThompson-NicolaBritish ColumbiaWhere the rivers meet the rangeSalmon ArmBritish ColumbiaA lake-lover's paradise in the heart of BCNorth OkanaganBritish ColumbiaWhere the Okanagan gets down to earth.VernonBritish ColumbiaLakeside living, orchard charmKelownaBritish ColumbiaSun-soaked shores and vineyard rows.South OkanaganBritish ColumbiaOrchards, vineyards, and warm desert lakes.PentictonBritish ColumbiaWhere sun-soaked orchards meet the lake's edgeChilliwackBritish ColumbiaWhere the mountains meet the fields
Kamloops. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.