McLure

McLure is a small, charming community in the heart of Kamloops Country in BC’s Thompson Okanagan region. The natural landscape is complemented by a rich wildlife and many trails. High elevation forests around Kamloops are home to interesting species like boreal owls, moose, singing hermit thrush and chattering red squirrels. Several hundred kilometers of horseback trails are mapped and maintained in the Lower North Thompson. There are five main trail systems you can take advantage of that are accessible from Highway 5.

Kamloops Viewpoint | Don Weixl/TOTA

The area also offers numerous water activities that visitors can take advantage of. Take a river boat tour down the North Thompson River and be treated to beautiful, ever-changing landscapes. During the summer, the North Thompson reveals shorelines of sand and gravel bars that have been sculpted and polished for generations. Visitors can take a helicopter into the Valley’s most secluded lakes for a world class fishing adventure. There are over 100 fishing areas to explore, with many impressive resort accommodations to experience.

A free cable ferry known as the McLure ferry operates on the North Thompson River between Kamloops and Barriere. The ferry has been operating for over 100 years and it can carry two cars and 12 passengers and is a 5-minute journey between Hwy 5 and Westsyde Road.

Location

McLure is located 48 km (30 mi) north of Kamloops and 23 km (14 mi) south of Barriere on Hwy 5.

Step Back in Time

In 1909, the town of McLure was named after John McClure, an early rancher in the area.

In 1916 the railway came to the North Thompson but it was the McLure ferry that held the communities of the Lower North Thompson together. The ferry was originally started in 1890 by farmers and ranchers in the area who needed a mode of transportation, not just for people, but for livestock and necessities. The provincial government assumed control of the ferry in 1919. The ferry still operates today.