Hoodoos and comet Neowise, Kamloops B.C.
Image Credit: Steven Gillingham Photography
August 01, 2020 - 7:00 AM
Have you ever seen the strangely shaped rock structures just off the Trans-Canada Highway west of Kamloops?
These natural wonders overlooking Kamloops Lake are called hoodoos, and they can be found in various fantastical shapes, forming columns, pillars or pedestals.
The rocks are eroded by wind, rain, running water, and carved by chemical and physical weathering processes to sculpt the bizarre formations, according to the Canadian Encyclopedia.
Hoodoos in Kamloops, B.C.
Image Credit: Steven Gillingham Photography
They're a popular sight for tourists in Kamloops, but they're not unique to the area.
Hoodoos have also formed along Highway 97 north of Penticton, and they're the only ones in the Okanagan.
READ MORE: The 'white stilts' of Okanagan Lake
You can access the hoodoos in Kamloops by driving west on Highway 1 toward Cache Creek. When you pass the Kamloops Lake viewpoint you’ll know you’re getting close.
The pull-off that leads to the trail to the balancing rock is located 1.7 kilometres down the road from the lake viewpoint on the right hand side.
The Balancing Rock and Hoodoos located outside of Kamloops is a favourite to locals and tourists visiting the area.
(KAREN EDWARDS / iNFOnews.ca)
Keep your eyes peeled, as the turn is easy to miss. Once you are there, park in the grassy area. You’ll see a small opening at the gate that you may have to squeeze through to access the trail.
Some of the hoodoos near the balancing rock.
(KAREN EDWARDS / iNFOnews.ca)
Follow the dirt path for approximately 15 minutes until you see The Balancing Rock, another natural formation. You'll see what looks like a large boulder perched atop a pillar.
READ MORE: Kamloops grasslands home to mysterious salt water ponds unique to B.C.'s southern interior
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