Starting in the Inks Lake Exit area, backroads and trails expand through the forested slopes, linking over to Greenstone Mountain southwest, to the Timber Lake-Bush Lake area south and beyond southwest to the Chuwhels Mountain trails.   The total area is 15km by 7 km, with hundreds of trails, tracks, and backroads within a 100 square kilometer area.    Much of the area is used by ATVers, motorcycles, and snowmobiles, but no one has mapped all the routes.   The Greater Kamloops Motorcycle Association (GKMA) has posted trail signs for established routes.   Many of these tracks go straight up hills and some of the routes are too long for hikers.   Mountain bikers can follow some of the routes too, but the maze of roads and tracks is confusing for those afoot.   Building access routes for non-motorized use in such a big and complex are s is a big task, but it can be done, using Google Earth, a  GPS, a computer, and some exploration.   As these routes are completed, they will be posted here.

The lowest trailhead and the one closest to town is found by taking the Coquihalla Highway south and then taking the first exit, called the Inks Lake Road Exit.   The Inks Lakes are actually 2km east, but the road under the highway will take you over to the Inks Lakes close to the Lac le Jeune Highway.   The trailhead to the Outer Inks Lakes routes is on the west side of the highway.   Park a the gate or proceed down the road for 200m. and park at an established parking area on the north side.   There are tracks heading off in all directions, but our route follows the main road east to the first major junction in a clearing.   The Dam Lake Loop then climbs up the road to the south, following the course of Alkali Creek, before looping around from the northeast down to Dam Lake.

Many routes are possible. A good loop follows a backroad northwest before following another northeast, then another track east to complete the loop. A GPS is handy in this area and so coordinates are provided for each turn of the loop route.

Most of this 7km hike is in the forest, but there are a number of open spots and occasional views of Sugarloaf Hill and Greenstone Mountain.   Dam Lake is a pleasant spot for a stop and a snack.     With a lower elevation, this route can be hiked until mid winter when it will turn into a good snowshoe route.    The Dam Lake Loop makes a good shoulder season hike/bike/snowshoe route when the motorcycles and snowmobiles are all in storage,