The route through the bluffs on the eastern end of the dewdrop Range took several days of exploration to link the parts, but having done the route a few times, we hike is a perennial spring favorite.   We hike from the Frederick Road to the top of the Dewdrop Ridge then we traverse over to the east side and come down below the bluffs.   there was no trail for this route, but with a few hikers and a few bighorn sheep, there is now a faint trail to show the way.

We park at the first pulloff on the Frederick Road, then cross the flats bearing south.  There is no right way to the top of the bluff.   The area has open forest so hikers can pick any route to the top.

The first wildfire of 2017 was on the east side of the Dewdrop Range and we hiked through some of the burn zone.

From the top of Dewdrop Ridge there are fine views down to the Thompson River Valley.

There are some small bluffs on the east end of the ridge but we go as far to the east as we can go before descending to the edge of the basalt bluffs.

Our route follows the foot of the basalt bluffs bearing west.

Our route requires some light scrambling under the bluffs, then we traverse across a sideslope over to the top of a ridge bearing west.  On the edge of the bluffs are some wind-shaped trees

This stunted tree stands atop the bluffs directly north of Battle Bluff.

he route on top of the bluff has wide views. one of which is down Kamloops Lake.

After having lunch on the ridge, we scrambled down to the foot of the lower (but larger) basalt bluffs

Our route then wound through a gully almost to the Battle Bluff Trail, but we angled back up over Dewdrop Ridge instead, closing the loop on a 5 km route.

More Information:

• Dewdrop Ridge: Over and Under
• Dewdrop Ridges Loop
• Next post – The First Wildflowers of Spring – April 13