Much of the Dewdrop Range is rolling grassland hills separated by gullies, but the middle section has a number of rugged, rocky hills.   We can contour between the hills and climb ridges to viewpoints.

With the pine beetle and tussock moth invasions, dead trees have fallen on the double tracks and they are fading into faint trails and tracks so navigation is needed to connect sections of routes through the hills.   We enjoy going south out to the edge of the cliffs overlooking Kamloops Lake.   Bighorn Bluff juts out, providing views east up the lake toward Battle Bluff.

Contouring around hills, we can minimize elevation gain.   Along the way, we see snags and stumps.

Living trees are mostly found in gullies where moisture is retained in these predominantly south-facing hills.   A few hang on to the edges of slopes, but become targets for lightning strikes.

From the top of the highest hill of the area, we have wide views of the volcanic Red Plateau Escarpment to the north

To the south, beyond the hills above Frederick is Kamloops Lake.

Rising above the Dewdrop Range, Castle Butte calls out an invitation for another challenging hike this spring, already scheduled for 2015.

  The Dewdrop Range has few trails.   Access roads are used by 4×4’s and mountain bikes.   Trails are few, but we can link up sections with a map and some navigation.   There are ticks in the grasslands, rattlesnakes appearing in late spring, bighorn sheep and deer, prickly pear cactus, and ankle-wrenching rock slopes.   But it is an area of rugged beauty too.   If you want to explore it, go past Tranquille and climb the Tranquille-Criss Creek Road up the gully.   At the hairpin turn on the bench, turn left.   The road is flat for about 2.5 km and the trailheads for Battle Bluff and the Dewdrop Trail are passed along the way.  The road splits into two.   The lower road goes through the map area provided in this post then winds down to Frederick, although there is a gate part way down.   The upper road winds through the Outer Dewdrop area, but the road is rough, best suited to high-clearance vehicles.