There are a series of ridges that can be connected from the top of the Pimple (a hill overlooking the Tranquille River) all the way down to where the Tranquille- Criss Creek Road and the Tranquille River intersect.   There is no trail, but we can work our way downhill over 4.6 km  staying on top of the ridge where we have continuous views and interesting terrain.   On this day, we had a vehicle at each end allowing us to do a one-way hike on a sunny April day.

From the north end parking area, the climb to the top of the Pimple is a half kilometer.   We have to make our way down from the top by the southeast corner carefully on loose material to continue our trek along the ridge.

Along the ridge there are many views down into the Tranquille River Valley.

The rocky ridge has many volcanic features, combined with millennia of erosion forces, to expose hoodoos, gargoyles, outcrops, and erosion gullies.   We also found agates on both sides of the ridge.Lower down on the route are more exposed glacial tills, eroeded and shaped by water running down from above.

The lowest end of Tranquille Ridge has more colorful silt and glacial tills, mostly washed down from the hills above.

We descended to the river and followed it down to the road.

From the viewpoint near the river we could see the long angle of Tranquille Ridge and our route, a 2 hour slow-going, off-trail route from the top.  .

More information:

• Tranquille Ridge Route
• Tranquille Ridge
• The next post will be April Wildflowers on April 21