The hike up Mara Canyon is one of the best in the region, but we hiked up the loop trail to the summit, then we came down the canyon for this outing.   We drove the side road from the CNR level crossing to the end of Ord Road, then followed the trail through the sagebrush toward the mouth of the canyon.   We turned right to follow the steep single track that climbs the ridge between Mara Canyon and the larger canyon to the east.

It is 1.7 km with an average slope gradient of 30% to the junction below the peak.   We then climbed up the steep single track on loose material to the top and looped over to the viewpoint on the south rim.

The canyon route is sometimes called The Hoodoos and the lower canyon has lots of ragged terrain.

There are also steep cliffs on both sides of the canyon.

The loop trail follows the spine of the ridge to the cliffs below the summit, then angles over into the eastern gully.

From the viewpoint are wide views of the area.   The Thompson River drains into Kamloops Lake near Tranquille.

Tod Mountain and Sun Peaks were still capped with fresh snowfall to the northeast.

From the summit, we hiked down the single track to the junction, then worked our way down into Mara Canyon.

an eagle soaring on the updrafts

The route is a scramble down the bottom of the canyon, over fallen trees, down eroded gullies, along narrow tracks, down two small waterfalls, through a narrows, and out into the rocky, barren hills at the mouth of the canyon.

	basalt columns on their side

This rugged route is only 7km, but it is often steep, on loose material, and has sections where care is required, but the scenery is varied and dynamic, a destination for those who love wild places.

in the narrows

woodland star in the lower grasslands