Juniper Beach: An oasis for Travellers in troubled Times

The joys of travelling on Highway 1 through BC

This year, I decided to travel an easier highway than the Coquihalla. We traveled through the start of a heat wave on scenic BC Highway 1, through the beautiful Marble Canyon provincial park. I loved this route. It was gorgeous in it’s barren landscapes dotted with pine groves and blue-green sage bushes. The sparsely travelled highway winds it’s way along through sleepy towns and has plenty of pull-outs and rest stops where we could stretch our legs, give the dogs water or get a bite to eat. By now, you’ll know that when I say “we” I am referring to me and the dogs I work and travel with. Travelers with dogs greatly appreciate such accoutrements, which are rarely available on the immensely more popular Coquihalla Highway.

I like to drive a little slower than many travellers when I am asking my Xterra to tow the weight of the Arfpod. Hills are taxing on a vehicle, whether going up or down them. I want my Xterra to be worry-free for a few more years, so I Indulge it when I can. I really loved that there were big rigs and semis on this highway. Passing lanes are plentiful, something where I find the Coquihalla lacking.

The only really tough climb on BC Highway 1 for the Xterra was a long steep hill called Jackass Mountain. It was hot enough through there that when the engine thermometer on the control display climbed, I pulled over to give my Xterra a much-needed break. It was by then too hot to walk the dogs around on the pavement of the pullouts. At least it was great to have plentiful and scenic rest areas. We had some great camping just west of Kamloops at Juniper Beach along the way.

An oasis by the mighty Thompson River

Juniper Beach is a smaller Provincial Park Campground. It has the atmosphere of a gorgeous little oasis planted with Juniper bushes and peacefully shady Tamarac trees right on the edge of the Thompson River. As I was setting up, the aroma of frying trout (hope I’m not going to vegan hell for saying that?) gave me the impression that there was good fishing in the area.