McArthur Heights to Balmoral | Over and Beyond the Bay
Copper Island and the North Shore behind from McArthur heights
Shuswap Adventure Girl
What an adventure! We have had early snow this year in the mountains and today we found it for the first time. An exhilarating and fun overlander trek in our backyard. On this cold, rainy, and snowy Sunday, October morning some of us girls set out bright and early to conquer McArthur heights to Balmoral trailhead. A beautiful 9km trail that offers the heart beating climb of McArthur heights across the ridge, over the Bayside logging road to Blind Bay look-out and down the Balmoral trail. We left a vehicle at the Balmoral trailhead and made this a through trip, carpooling back to McArthur trailhead to get our vehicles. Total time took us approx 2.5 hours moving time. Rain, snow, sun, socked-in foggy non-views mixed with lovely clear views! This trek had it all.
This is me on the snowy McArthur summit in mid-October. Not much of a view of Blind Bay or Shuswap Lake through the fog! | photo by Marina
Shuswap Adventure Girl
McArthur is a challenging and steep rocky climb to a monumental lookout that overlooks Copper Island, the North Shore of Shuswap, Mt.Baldy, and beyond. On a clear day, you can look right over top of Blind Bay, to Tappen Valley, and beyond to Salmon Arm and Mount Ida. The trail is well maintained and well used but can be dangerous with steep switchbacks, loose rocks, and steep edges. Coming down is equally as dangerous particularly with wobbly legs! For us, McArthur takes approx. 1 hour up and 45 minutes down. But I know of many people that do it much faster!
This is an epic sunset hike as the sun goes down gloriously over top of Copper Island and Scotch Creek.
Sunset on the Shuswap over Copper Island and the North Shore from the trails first viewpoint
Shuswap Adventure Girl
After reaching the summit of McArthur, hikers can choose to travel back down the way they came or make it a through route and come down onto the Balmoral trailhead or even continue on to White Lake. From McArthur Heights to the White Lake trailhead would be a memorable 15-16 km hiking journey! That’s on our list.
The trail leading from McArthur summit point to Balmoral is a beautiful gradual downwards slope on a nice, wide enjoyable trail. The junctions are clear and well marked. The forest is rich and deep in color and diversity. There is a viewpoint just past the logging road crossing called Blind Bay lookout and it presents spectacular views of Blind Bay. The path leading from the Blind Bay lookout down to Balmoral is a splendid trail through the forest on the mountainside and is approx 6.5km to the parking lot.
MacArthur Heights Trailhead is the northern access to the Blind Bay-Balmoral-White Lake recreational trail system.
Blind Bay and Tappen Valley are seen from McArthur Heights summit. That’s our home down there!
Shuswap Adventure Girl
Beautiful winter scenery looking up Shuswap Lake. Mt.Baldy seen on the left in the distance
Shuswap Adventure Girl
The Balmoral Trail System
The Balmoral trail system welcomes all levels of hikers and provides many small loops and larger traverse style trails. It also provides some great lookout points that are easy to get to. This is a well-marked trail system and is wonderful for snowshoeing and to take the kids on!
Recently, the trail alliance has added some interpretive signage about the local flora and fauna. The lower loop, the Balmoral bluffs lookout, and the big tree loop are fantastic trails to do with children. The longer traverse to White Lake provides a beautiful trek through the forest and has the option to get to the White Lake trail and lookout tower.
Balmoral to White Lake is approx. 16 km return or simply make it an 8 km through trip, leaving a vehicle at the White Lake parking lot.
Hiking with kids in the beautiful Shuswap forest on the Balmoral Lower loop, Blind Bay | photo by Marina
Shuswap Adventure Girl
White Lake seen from the White Lake lookout trail viewpoint
Shuswap Adventure Girl
Category: Various Loop, through trail, views
Kid Friendly:
McArthur Heights: older kids yes, I wouldn’t take my kids yet and they are all under the age of 8
Balmoral Trail System: Yes
Distance: McArthur Heights to Balmoral: approx. 9km one way McArthur Heights only: approx. 3km return
Directions: To McArthur Heights trailhead: Approximately 9km east of Sorrento or approximately 24km west of Salmon Arm turn North onto Balmoral rd. Travel north to Reedman point rd. Turn right and then take the next left onto Mcbride rd. Follow McBride all the way to the top where you will see the trailhead parking lot.
Directions: To Balmoral trailhead: Approximately 9 km east of Sorrento, or approximately 24 km west of Salmon Arm, turn north onto Balmoral Rd. Follow for about 1.5km and turn at the large blue trailhead parking lot on your right watch for the large trailhead parking lot on your right just before the Alpen Paradise subdivision.
