Red Canyon, Dewdrop Lookout, and the Trolls
Three short hikes are side-by-side, but separated by deep gullies. They can be combined, but only with a lot of up and down. All 3 can be accessed from the main Dewdrop Trail parking area. Follow the trail up to the stile crossing, but veer left and follow an old track up into the canyon. The trail disappears after a bit, but we can follow the seasonal streambed for 1.4 km up Red Canyon to a waterfall. The upper sections require a bit of scambling to get around obstacles. From the end point, cliffs surround the deep gully so we return the same way down and, back at the stile, we turn left and follow the Dewdrop Trail for 2km to the Viewpoint. The Kamloops Thompson Trails Alliance has built a bench at this lookout. I was part of the work crew and we had to move the heavy logs 200m with three of us lifting one end, then toppling the log over again and again. This is a good spot for a break, looking out over the Dewdrop Range.
We returned back down the trail, but not to the bottom. To get to the Garden of the Trolls, we need to go up the sideslope east and traverse over to a small vale, the home of the Trolls.
This wooded area has a number of large strangely-shaped boulders which are fun to explore, climb on, and photograph. From the Trolls, we just angle down the open grassland slopes to our parking spot. All 3 features are 8km of hiking with 741m (2400 feet) of elevation gain/loss, a good workout and an interesting day on the trails.
- Parking area – N50 44.692 W120 33.281
- Junction – left to Red Canyon and right to the Dewdrop Trail – N50 45.029 W120 33.425
- Waterfall in Red Canyon – N50 45.644 W120 33.910
- Viewpoint – N50 45.317 W120 33.413
- Turn off the trail to go to the Trolls – N50 45.133 W120 33.203
- The Trolls – N50 45.069 W120 32.938
- More info on these routes:
- Red Canyon
- Garden of the Trolls
- Dewdrop-and-the-Trolls