Mt. Ida stands south of Salmon Arm at 1564m (5134 feet).   The upper part of the mountain is all rocky ridges and cliffs making interesting hiking, but the road up is a long and rough 4WD route.

[map style=”width: auto; height:400px; margin:20px 0px 20px 0px; border: 1px solid black;” gpx=”https://kamloopstrails.net/wp-content/uploads/Mt. Ida Road.gpx” elevation=”no” download=”no”]

After driving very slowly for 10km, we arrived at the signed parking trailhead area at N50 38.098 W119 17.338 at 1362m elevation.   Trails go east and west from the same spot.

We went to the west peak first, climbing 1km up a ridge to a good viewpoint.   At the end of the ridge is a scramble which extends the route a bit farther.   The actual highest part of the mountain is farther west but is separated by sheer cliffs.   It is possible to scramble down the ridge to the south, drop into the basin below and scramble back up to the true peak, but this would be a slow and careful route without the benefit of additional views.

We liked the viewpoints on the west trail, especially of the rocky north-facing cliffs of Mt. Ida.

Views extend north to Salmon Arm, Mt. Bastion, the Fly Hills and beyond,

We went up and back on the west peak trail, then went out onto the East Ida Trail.   This route goes through cedar-hemlock forest for 1.7 km.   We passed a Comshell then at the end of the east ridge, we come out of the forest to a north-facing viewpoint.   Farther back, an open area provides views east past Gardom Lake to the Shuswap River and the Enderby Bluffs.   This is also an out-and-back route.

[map style=”width: auto; height:400px; margin:20px 0px 20px 0px; border: 1px solid black;” maptype=”OSM Cycle” z=”13″ gpx=”https://kamloopstrails.net/wp-content/uploads/Mt. Ida.gpx”]

This hike is a pleasant one, but the road in makes it a tough sell – a long, rough, punishing road and short hike.   Some people park lower and hike the road which may be the way we do it if we go back again.