Geo Tours of Kamloops, British Columbia

SILT BENCHES OF KAMLOOPS BIKE RANCH | Ancient Glacial Lake Deposits Create Modern Development Challenges

 

From the Kamloops Bike Ranch high above Valleyview, you have a sweeping view across the gullied benchlands of the Bike Ranch to the South Thompson River and beyond to the silt bluffs and gullied benchlands north of the river. Prior to the gullies, and the valley cut by the South Thompson River , the benchlands were one continuous valley floor. How did this come to be?

At the end of the Ice Age, the great ice sheet that covered the interior of British Columbia decayed. Large glacial lakes form in the present Thompson rivers valleys, their waters blocked by remaining ice. At one stage, glacier ice filled the North Thompson and Thompson valleys, and waters were temporarily dammed in the South Thompson valley, forming a glacial lake. Silt-rich glacial melt water flowed into the lake. The silt, derived from glacier grinding of rock, settled to the lake floor and over time tens of metres of sediment accumulated. Eventually, the glacier receded, releasing the lake waters, and re-establishing the South Thompson River . The river cut a valley through the soft silt, leaving the old lake floor high and dry, as benchlands of silt. Over time, small streams cut gullies into the benchlands.

   

How To Get ToThe Kamloops Bike Ranch

Drive east on Highway 1 from the City Centre to Highland Road in Valleyview. Turn right (south). Highland Road rises through the benchlands along a gully. Pass the turnoff to the Valleyview arena. Highland Road rises above the benchlands to Juniper Park at Qu'appelle Boulevard. Park at Juniper Park and walk north along the Quick Draw bike trail to a grassy bench with a panoramic view of the South Thompson River valley.

Drive east on Highway 1 from the City Centre to Highland Road in Valleyview. Turn right (south). Highland Road rises through the benchlands along a gully. Pass the turnoff to the Valleyview arena. Highland Road rises above the benchlands to Juniper Park at Qu'appelle Boulevard. Park at Juniper Park and walk north along the Quick Draw bike trail to a grassy bench with a panoramic view of the South Thompson River valley.Drive east on Highway 1 from the City Centre to Highland Road in Valleyview. Turn right (south). Highland Road rises through the benchlands along a gully. Pass the turnoff to the Valleyview arena. Highland Road rises above the benchlands to Juniper Park at Qu'appelle Boulevard. Park at Juniper Park and walk north along the Quick Draw bike trail to a grassy bench with a panoramic view of the South Thompson River valley.

 

 

FREE Kamloops Geo Tour Guide for Download

Special acknowledgements to the City of Kamloops & Kamloops Exploration Group who put the Geo Tour Guide for Kamloops, British Columbia together.