Lac du Bois Grasslands Protected Area

Lac du Bois Grasslands Protected Area is a conservation zone north of Kamloops that features rolling terrain with bunchgrass and fescue grasslands mixed with aspen and ponderosa pine, plus Douglas fir forests at higher elevations. The landscape alternates between open grassland and patches of forest, creating a varied patchwork of different habitats.

The protected area was established to preserve grasslands that were shaped for thousands of years by Indigenous peoples and later by ranching activities. Ongoing conservation work today reflects efforts to maintain these ecological communities for the future.

The place keeps its ranching roots alive through grazing that shapes the grasslands and lets traditional land use work alongside conservation efforts today.

You can reach this place via Lac du Bois Road or the Tranquille-Criss Creek Forest Service Road for hiking, mountain biking, and wildlife watching. Spring through fall offers the best conditions when trails are accessible and animals are most active.

This place contains multiple grassland communities within a small area, making it home to rare species like burrowing owls, badgers, and sharp-tailed grouse. These animals gather here because the varied landscapes provide all the food and shelter they need in one compact location.