The Hamilton Corrals Commonage is a section of Crown Land surrounded by private ranching lands.   A commonage is used as pasture land and fences may be erected to control the cattle (or horses).   As public lands, we can access the area, but as always, we want to respect cattle, gates, and fences and leave nothing but our footprints.

The commonage is found 11.5km up the Pennask Lake Road.   There are a couple of access roads into the section, but the lower road goes through a piece of land owned by the Douglas Lake Cattle Company so we should go around that section to the east.   Any hiking through this area will mean going over fences so do this carefully.

The area is upper grasslands, above the sagebrush – buckbrush zones below.  There are a number of small ponds and there were ducks and blackbirds in them in the spring.

We hiked up through the upper slopes enjoying the views along the way.  We picked a route away from grazing cattle.

Pockets of douglas firs or aspens are found in swales and north-side slopes.

Low areas have pothole ponds, supporting the indigenous life of the biome.

The grasses will grow taller over the summer.   Wildflowers were abundant along the way and a few erratics could be spotted on sideslopes.

From the upper slopes, there are wide views of the grasslands .   The northern Cascades lie to the west.

There is a subtle beauty to the upper grasslands.   If you go, do so quietly.   Give grazing animals a wide berth.   Stop to enjoy the virtues of the grasslands ecosystem, thankful for access to such a beautiful area.