The Lundbom Commonage area is in the hills to the southeast of Merritt.   There are extensive grasslands, some wetlands, and rolling hills with good access on older double tracks and a few single tracks.   We have hiked all through the hills, but we returned to hike the Cocobonk Trail in June.   We parked next to Lundbom Lake and followed the double track toward Hamilton Lake, then turned to climb the hills to the north.

Hamilton Lake is a peaceful spot on the old Nicola Bypass Road at the foot of Sugarloaf Mountain.   The Stoyama Range was visible to the southwest, still snow covered in mid-June.

The uphill section of this route follows a double track through the grassland hills and open forest for 3.5 km.   At a junction with the Wounded Knee Trail we stayed right on the Cocobonk Trail and followed a mama duck and ducklings near some ponds in the upper hills at 1250m (4100 feet)

From the uplands ponds we gradually descended through open forest, aspen groves, and grassland meadows.

Along the trail were a number of wildflowers, a few shown in a short video:

The hike was 12.2 km, taking about 4 hours.   As we finished our hike, an osprey kept an eye on us from a perch on a snag.   We will be back to do the Wounded Knee Trail in the fall.

More information:

• Lundbom Commonage
• Cocobonk Trail
• Sugarloaf by Lundbom
• Trailhead at N50 05.373 W120 38.825
• Right turn at N50 05.848 W120 37.368
• Right turn at N50 07.483 W120 35.794
• Stay right at the cattleguard.