We hiked from the Savona Cemetery on the north side of Kamloops Lake along a well-established trail above the railroad to a beach on the west side of Sabiston Creek.   This is a hike we do every year since it is on a south-facing slope near the valley bottom and it is often one of the first trails to dry out.   the trail starts as a double track then becomes a winding single track with lots of ups and downs.    We have been stopping at a beach area for a day hike, but the trail continues on and climbs up through the hills to backroads above the lake.

For the duration of the whole hike, there are wide views east, west, and south.    Kamloops Lake fills the views, but we also paralleled Savona across the lake and Savona Mountain still draped in snow to the south.   Rocky hills fill the space to the north.

To get to the beach we had to go through a rough gate, cross the tracks, and down a faint trail to a gravel beach.  There are lots of large logs to sit on for lunch.    there is also an old cabin to check out just above the high water mark.    A video of the hike and the old cabin is shared at this link – Hiking the Savona to Sabiston Trail in January.

We returned on the same trail completing a 9.1 km hike.    On the way back a cow followed us and eventually passed us.    Her udders were full and she was trying to find her calf.    At the end we met the rancher from Copper Creek, and he loaded her into his truck to reunite the two.

Near the end, we had good views of the west end of the lake with the outflow into the Thompson River on its way down to Ashcroft.

This is a recommended trail for spring or fall hiking.    There are many cacti along the route so it may not be a good route for dogs.    In warmer weather, there may be dirt bikes on the trail.

The same hike in 2025 – Savona to Sabiston Beach Hike