This is a favorite route in summer and winter.   It is very unlikely you will see anyone along the trail, but watch for wildlife.   We have seen lynx, moose, deer, coyotes, bears, grouse, owls, marmots, rabbits, and wide variety of birds.    In spring and summer, wildflowers cover the hill.   Wetlands in the center of the hill feature waterfowl, frogs, and riparian habitat.    Viewpoints can be found with a short side trail at 3-4 points.   Vertical basalt columns rise steeply on the north and southwest sides of the hill.    Views are 360 degrees at several points with Stake Lake in full view, partial views of Lac le Jeune, and a vista all the way to the Coast Ranges.

The route can be hiked, mountain biked, snowshoed, or cross-country skied.    Having done all four activities on this route, they are all recommended, but the trail on top can be hard to follow and a bit rough, so it is not recommended for novices on a bike or skis.    There is a trailhead sign at the start and you can spot trail flagging here and there, but for the most part it is a wilderness hilltop loop in the middle of the Stake Lake trail system.

The starting point will be the Stake Lake parking lot.   In winter you will have to pay a fee to ski or snowshoe the area.   The marked snowshoe trails do not extend all the way up the hill so you will have to strike off the highest point on the Basalt Bluffs trail and then parallel the Ambush Trail to the top.      Cross country skiers just follow either the Sidewinder or Ambush Trail to the top.   In spring, summer, and fall, this is a pleasant uphill hike or bike along well-cared for double-track trails.

From Sidewinder, take the Bushwacker Trail north.   After 03.km, you will see another trail sign.   This is a junction (although the trail west is hard to see and follow) and you can travel in either direction around the loop.   The closest viewpoints are a short distance down the trail to the west.   If you go counter-clockwise, the trail crosses some rocky hilltops, then descends down a rocky ridge and into the forest.   Several small ponds can be found to both sides of the trail.    The trail turns west and goes to the lowest point on the loop.   There are some ponds and swamps in this area so watch for wildlife.   the trail winds west and at times is hard to follow.   A junction is reached as you proceed west but stay right to go to a viewpoint at the northwest corner of the hilltop.   Return to the trail traveling south along the edge of the hill and climb back up to the southern veiwpoints and then back to the original junction.   the loop is listed as 3.2 km, but by the time you add some side routes to viewpoints, you will cover 4.0 km on top and it is a minimum of 4km each way to get to the top and back, so you will have covered a full 12km.   Bring a lunch and water bottle to make a day’s outing.

If you go in winter, it may be totally untracked, especially until February.   If you see a single pair of ski tracks or snowshoes, they will probably be mine.   This is a route we try to ski or snowshoe each year and then we return in the late spring when the wildlflowers are blooming.   If we can, we return in the fall when the leaves are turning color.  On our unofficial trail rating system, this one rates 4 stars (out of 4)!