A series of tracks between Lac du Bois Road and Mount Mara can be linked up to create a hiking or biking loop.   It is an area best suited to shoulder-season since there are no trees and can be very hot in summer.   There are a number of junctions to interpret so it takes a couple of outings to recognize all of the turns.   There are multiple options too and some go to gates or link to roads or bike trails.  There were no bike trails in the area 10 years ago, but  new single tracks now can be followed that leave the older double tracks.   Most of the area is within the Lac du Bois Grasslands Protected Area, but grazing rights have been grandfathered, so cattle may be in the area and gates may be up.   There are several potential starting points, all close to the Lac du Bois Road.   The upper trailhead has the advantage of starting above the ATV and motorcycle area and is less used,   Drive past Batchelor Lake and take a small side road to the end and park there.   The trails start at the gate.   Climb an easy route to a junction below the old Batchelor Mine and then turn right, up into the hills.

The route is through grasslands, with sagebrush and an occasional low juniper.   Prickly pear cactus thrives on the south-facing slopes.     Bear right at junctions to wind your way up to the flanks of a hill we call Orange Cap.   A rocky knoll at the top of the hill is bright orange in the sunlight, colored by  lichens.  If you continue to take right turns past Orange Cap, you can follow tracks all the way to the Pruden Pass Road, but we usually go over the top of the hill (the last hill before the slopes of Mount Mara)  and continue to stay right, following a gully down through the hills.    Kamloops lies below on this scenic section.   Continue downhill and either follow the bike trail over to Batchelor Pass, or continue down to the backroads and then angle up to the pass.

We followed the route, taking the single track bike track over to Batchelor Pass and did 7.5 km in about 2 hours. In the snow, this is still a good route but will take longer. With such open south-facing slopes, the snow settles quickly and does not accumulate enough to need snowshoes, so we can hike this route all winter. We see coyote, mouse, bird, and deer tracks in the snow. In the other three seasons, this is also a very good mountain bike route. Wildflowers start in March and continue through to the summer, when you will be able to spot mariposa lilies. The Barren Hills area is grassland habitat. Stay on trails and leave no trace of your passing.