There is a new non-motorized trail advocacy organization in the Shuswap, the Monashee Trail Society. Based in Lumby, this fledgling group is working to create new trails in their region. Established in 2021, the Monashee Trail Society now has approximately 100 members and an active volunteer board that is working with local governments and the White Valley Community Centre to expand recreational opportunities for their community. They recently received a start-up grant from the regional district to help them get insurance, safety gear and maps.
Lumby has a rather unique location, given that it is surrounded by more Crown land than other communities and yet it has less access for recreational use. So far there are just two sanctioned trails, the amazing route up to the Camel Bluffs lookout, which was described in a recent column and within the village, the Salmon Trail along Bessette and Duteau Creeks.
Just 3 km north of Lumby off Cooper Road is the popular Cooper’s Trail that winds up to where there is a launch site for paragliders. There are plans to add additional routes for hiking, running and mountain biking. Plus, the group has a goal to connect the existing trail with a new trail that goes directly to the village.
Despite its popularity and significance, the BC government agency tasked with managing outdoor recreation, Rec Sites and Trails BC, has been reluctant to designate this route. The group’s application has been with the agency for three years and yet no decision has been made, perhaps because it is hesitant to increase its workload by expanding the province’s network of trails.
In addition to advocating for new trails, the society hosts various events throughout the year. In January 2024 with support from the Village and local businesses, they sponsored an “Outhouse Race” for groups that construct homemade shacks mounted on skis that are pushed around a track in front of a lively audience to compete for a trophy. This is now an annual event run by the Lumby Chamber of Commerce.
The Lumby Salmon Trail network is managed by the Village and includes three trails that cover a total of 8 kilometres and are interconnected via the local roads. Along the routes, there are interpretive signs, benches, activities for children and picnic tables. However, as is the case for many rural areas, invasive weeds are always a problem. This spring, the Monashee Trail Society volunteered with the Invasive Species Council to do a weed pull in an effort to control the infestation.
There are many other options for both new trails and for upgrading existing trails in the southeast Shuswap. Within Echo Lake Provincial Park on Creighton Valley Road, there is the relatively flat 2.4 km lake trail. For the more adventuresome hikers, the steep, 5.5 km long Eagle Cliffs trail begins at the road and heads up out of the park to a bluff with an expansive view of the valley. However, this trail has not been maintained, thus it has become overgrown and has blowdowns. Similar problems impact the Flume Trail above Cherryville that begins in their community forest and ends in the Richlands valley.
Also nearby are the world-class trails in Monashee Provincial Park, where one can do day hikes or multi-day hikes in the alpine. One can visit Rainbow Falls and then hike to Spectrum Lake and back in one day or camp there and hike to Peter’s Lake and then up to Mount Fosthall, the second highest peak in the Shuswap. The Monashees are definitely an outdoor recreation paradise.
