History
The name Pinantan means 'shoe' or 'moccasin' in traditional Aboriginal language. The lake was given this name because its shape resembles a moccasin.
Location
Pinantan Lake is a small community located about 20 minutes out of Kamloops, BC. It is home to a general store, a resort, a small school, and about 500 residents. The lake itself is actually two parts, usually referred to as Big Pinantan and Little Pinantan. It is a small lake that only allows electric motors.
From Kamloops, travel north on the Yellowhead (highway #5) for about 5 kilometres (3.1 miles). Turn off to the east (right) onto the Paul Lake road. Stay on the Paul Lake road until reaching the Pinantan Lake road (approximately 12 kilometres/7.4 miles) and turn left onto the Pinantan Lake road. Drive about 13 kilometres (8 miles) farther. There are many public and private boat launches.
Places to See
- Pinantan Family Lake Resort
This four season resort has everything you need for a relaxing or active holiday. Fully equipped cabins and an RV park in quiet surroundings, excellent fishing, swimming, horseback riding, hiking, and biking - it's nature at its very best! For a winter holiday, enjoy skiing, skating, ice fishing, and much more.
- Jandana Ranch
30 minutes from Kamloops, 27 kilometres off Highway 5. This is a beautiful lake-view horse ranch, with open grassland and wilderness. There are family-oriented, cosy, well-appointed cottages. All riding pursuits are done with a safe, instructive approach, using National Horsemanship principles. The atmosphere is personable and friendly, and there are lots of animals.
Things to Do
- Fishing
Pinantan Lake ices over from November to mid April. Rainbow trout in the 1-pound range are numerous and offer fast action on trolling and spinning gear. A good mayfly hatch is a bonus for the fly fishers.
- Skiing / Snowboarding
Harper Mountain is one of the hidden secrets of the Thompson Okanagan region of British Columbia. This family-friendly ski hill offers great Okanagan powder for downhill skiers and snowboarders, as well as night skiing and cross-country trails - all at affordable prices.
- Golf
Nearby Kamloops has 16 quality golf courses, of which 5 are 18-hole championship fairways. Renowned course architects such as Thomas McBroom and Graham Cooke have been attracted to this area to design many of these fantastic golf venues.
Location
- Kamloops Cowboy Festival
The annual Kamloops Cowboy Festival is a celebration of western heritage in Kamloops and showcases the best in cowboy poetry and western music, as well as cowboy artists and artisans. The two main venues - The Calvary Community Church and Forster's Convention Centre - allow the Kamloops Cowboy Festival to accommodate an ever increasing number of guests. The Cowboy Festival attracts entertainers, artists and fans from throughout North America and as far as Europe!
Entertainment begins with jam sessions and a kick-off party Thursday night, and goes almost non-stop all weekend. There are three stages offering Cowboy Poetry and Western Music each day from noon until evening. On Friday and Saturday nights, guests have a choice between main stage concerts at Calvary Community Church or the dinner theatre shows at Forster's Convention Centre. Cowboy Church on Sunday morning is always very popular, followed by another day of great entertainment. The Cowboy Art and Gear Show features more than 30 artists and artisans, displaying a wide range of artwork and custom-made cowboy equipment. A series of seminars and workshops are offered over the weekend on varied topics such as ranch roping, poetry and songwriting, guitar picking styles, and learning to yodel the cowboy way.
- Kamloopa Pow Wow
The Kamloopa Pow Wow is one of the largest showcasings of Native relics in Western Canada! The Pow Wow is a spectacular expression of the Secwepemc heritage in the Kamloops area and boasts a vibrant display of storytelling, song, and dance. The Thompson River Valley was first inhabited by the Shuswap people.
The Pow Wow is years upon years of stories and events of previous years, all packed into 3 days in beautiful Kamloops.
Contact Information
Pinantan Lake Family Resort
Website: http://www.pinantanlake.bc.ca
Jandana Ranch
Website: http://www.jandanaranch.com/
