Trail Name: Gibraltar Rock
Distance: 3.7 kms
Time: 1 – 1.5 hrs
Difficulty: Moderate
Cell Service: No
Trail: Well maintained single track through the trees
Highlight: Spectacular views at the top!
To get there: Gibraltar Rock is about a half hour drive from downtown Kamloops. Get on the Yellowhead Highway 5 North towards Barriere. When you reach the Husky station, turn right onto Paul Lake Rd. Continue up Paul Lake Rd for 11.5km and continue left on the Pinantan-Pritchard Rd for another 6kms. You should see the sign for Paul Lake Provincial campground on your right. Follow the signs to the day use area. Park as far down in the parking area as possible. Or get directions from Google Maps
The trail starts near the boat launch at the far end of the Paul Lake Provincial Park day use parking area. The trail begins with a fork, keep to the right as the trail to the left takes you down to the boat launch. Continue following the slow and steady uphill climb for about 1km. Here you will reach the base of the bluff and the intersection of multiple trails. Take the trails to the left. Follow the trail as it climbs more steeply up the bluff until you reach the top. Enjoy the views from all sides as you explore the area and take in the views!
This trail can be challenging on hot summer days as it is a pretty steady climb to the top. However, there is plenty of shade and lots of opportunities to rest. Be sure to bring plenty of water for yourself and your pup as well as a camera to take in the views! This is a great summer hike because after a long hot hike, you can always take a refreshing dip in Paul Lake to end the day!
On your way back down, once you reach the trail sign again, you have three choices:
- Go back the way you came up, and end up back at the parking lot.
- Take a little longer route that is relatively flat back to the campgrounds.
- Or head around to the far side of Gibraltar Rock towards the cabins.
Frank
4 Aug 2018Hi there,
I noticed you have your dog off-leach in the photos. But, when I looked up the pet restrictions on the government website for Paul Lake Provincial Park (including Gibraltar Rock), it says:
“Pets on Leash
Pets/domestic animals must be on a leash at all times and are not allowed in park buildings. On the beach, pets are restricted to a signed area near the east end of the parking lot. You are responsible for their behaviour and must dispose of their excrement. Backcountry areas are not suitable for dogs or other pets due to wildlife issues and the potential for problems with bears.”
http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/parkpgs/paul_lk/
So, what are the rules, really????
Does anyone care if the dogs are off-leash on the beach or on the trail?
I just don’t want to offend other people using the park, and not everyone loves my dog simply because I do.
Hike Kamloops
4 Aug 2018Hi there, you are 100% correct. Dogs in Provincial Parks must be on leash at all times. We didn’t realize this at the time, so forgive us.
When we encountered other dogs on the trails, we would imitate whatever the other group was doing (ie. if their dog was on leash, ours would be too. If the other dog was off-leash, ours would be too.) As for being on leash at the beach, we haven’t spent much time here, but would urge you to check with the Provincial Park attendant on specifics.
Natalie
13 Oct 2018Hi there,
Would you say this trail is stroller friendly?
Thanks so much
Hike Kamloops
14 Oct 2018Hi Natalie, we would not recommend taking a stroller. You might be able to make it up to the base of the rock itself, but the climb from there is decently steep and more narrow than the first section. 🙂
RT
4 Jul 2019Hi! I’m visiting a friend here in Kamloops, and have done this, Sunset & Fallsview hikes… and I just wanted to extend a SUPER THANK YOU for compiling this blog, it gave an out of Towner so many options, with so much information! No stress to finding the locations that I had no idea existed! 😀
I just wish I had brought my dogs on this trip D:
Courtney
20 Mar 2020Would you say this hike is easier than Gibraltar Rock II? I’m fairly certain I have done GB II and it was quite steep and more difficult than I thought it would be (though that may have also been the pressure to keep up with who I was with at the time). I just found it to be a lot more intense than I thought it would be before getting to the actual ascent to the top.
Hike Kamloops
20 Mar 2020Hi, I do believe it’s easier than the longer version. Instead of an easy walk along the lake and then switchbacks to the top, Gibraltar 1 is a steady climb from the lakeshore to the junction of the trails. It is also shorter.
Courtney
20 Mar 2020Great to know! Thank you!
Joseph
2 Jul 2020How is the hike for kids-ages 6 and 4, any thoughts?
Hike Kamloops
2 Jul 2020Depends on your kids abilities 🙂 I would describe the hike as somewhat similar to the Tower Trail in Kenna. Its a steady climb the whole way up, although the trail is more narrow. The first 2/3 are less of an incline that the Tower trail, but the last 1/3 is more steep.