CENTRAL BRITISH COLUMBIA - British Columbia: Including the Alaska Highway - page 538

Kamloops Airport is on Airport Road, seven kilometers (4.3 miles) northwest of the
city center; follow Tranquille Road through the North Shore until you come to Airport Road
on the left. Air Canada (888/247-2262) has scheduled flights to Kamloops and Vancouver
and Calgary. Central Mountain Air (888/865-8585) flies north to Prince George. VIA
Rail (800/561-8630) runs scheduled service three times weekly southwest to Vancouver
and northeast to Jasper from the downtown railway station (north end of 3rd Ave.).
Greyhound provides daily service to most parts of the province from its Kamloops bus
depot (725 Notre Dame Dr., off Columbia St. W. at the west end of town, 250/374-1212).
Local bus transportation (including out to the airport) is provided by Kamloops Transit
System (250/376-1216); adult fare is $2.25, while a day pass is $5. Taxi companies include
Kami Cabs (250/374-5151) and Yellow Cabs (250/374-3333). For a rental car, call Budget
(250/376-5423) or National (250/376-4911), which both have desks out at the airport.
North to Mount Robson
From Kamloops, Highway 5 follows the North Thompson River to Tête Jaune Cache on
Highway 16. This stretch of highway is part of the most direct route between Vancouver
and Jasper National Park, and is also worthwhile for two excellent provincial parks: Wells
Gray, a vast wilderness of rivers and mountains, and Mount Robson, protecting a spectac-
ular peak that is the highest point in the Canadian Rockies.
BARRIERE
In the summer of 2003, Barriere, 66 kilometers (41 miles) north of Kamloops, was evacu-
ated as wildfires surrounded the small town during a spell of hot weather that kept the sur-
rounding mountains alight for six weeks. A sawmill—the town's main employer—and 70
homes were lost in the blaze. Driving through today, you will see scarred hillsides and open
areas along the valley floor where burnt trees and buildings have been cleared.
Along the highway through town, the Monte Carlo Motel (4380 Hwy. 5, 250/672-9676
or 888/660-5050, www.montecarlomotelbarrierebc.com , from $75 s, $85 d) is good value.
The 25 medium-sized rooms are air-conditioned, and if it's a hot day, take a dip in the out-
door pool or take advantage of the barbecue area. Wireless Internet is included in the rates.