Founded as a gold rush town and weaned on pulp and paper until it grew into the usually pedestrian-averse “transportation hub,” many people wouldn’t dare take on Kamloops without an F-150, never mind on foot.

But despite “major expressways and rail lines bisecting the city, and suburban developments that branch along the river and up hillsides,” says Walkable Cities judge Amanda Mitchell, “downtown Kamloops is a pedestrian-scaled main street with a human interface."

Downtown is connected to the bucolic Riverside Park with footbridges over the rail lines as part of a network of more than 90 km of trails in the city.

Kenna Cartwright Parik is one of the largest municipal parks in Canada and boasts 45 km of nature trails (yes, opting to walk means wildlife spotting is in play) that serve up great views of the city and the mountains that surround it.

“At 12 percent, Kamloops has a high average of people walking to work and school,” says Jacky Kennedy, program manager for Green Communities Canada and Active and Safe Routes to School. It could be the “keep up the good work” signage painted on the steps around that that keeps everyone motivated.

Insider Howard Grieve's Kamloops Walking Tour

Howard Grieve is the manager of marketing and communications for Tourism Kamloops.



Distance: 3 km

Time: 60 minutes

This story was originally published in the August 2009 issue of up! magazine as part of the Canada's Most Walkable Cities 2009 feature, profiling 10 of Canada’s most pedestrian-friendly urban centres. Take a look at more of Canada's Most Walkable Cities in 2009.

Photo: Spatiel Mongrel