Any hike from the Dewdrop Range to the rim of the Dewdrop Escarpment will be long climb.   The loop route which goes up the Dead Coyote Trail, along the Dewdrop Traverse Trail, and then down the Three Amigos Trail climbs 734 m (2408 ft) steeply to the rim.   The whole route is 13 km and a hard hike at any time of the year.  The trail is a good single track for the whole way.   The first section winds through the sagebrush and open forest on the Dewdrop Range for 1.5 km then a junction is reached and the Dead Coyote Trail angles uphill on the right, with 2.7 km of steeper hiking.

From the upper sections of the trail, we are offered fine views southeast to the Dewdrop Range.

We stopped for lunch on a rocky open spot on the rim   The upper volcanic ridges are rocky and infertile spots, but the succulent Okanogan fameflower can survive on the exposed slopes, flowering in June.

The Dewdrop Traverse route includes the Dewdrop Trail, some older motorcycle trails, and a a lot of new single tracks set by the mountain biking community.   It stretches for 20 km from the Pimple on the Red Lake Road to the western edge of Hardie Hill.

The trail stays close to the rim as it bears west.   At an unsigned junction, the Three Amigos Trail bears left, right next to a bigger pond, angles into a broad gully, then descends steeply down a ridge to a significant treed gully about halfway down.     There are no side trails so it is easy to stay on track.

The final section traversed the lower sideslopes back to our starting point.   The Escarpment stood above, a wild and rugged area right in our backyard.

More Information:

• Three Amigos Loop (article)
• Park – N50 45.657 W120 36.079 ; follow the double track to the north
• Start of the trail – N50 45.85 W120 36.139
• Junction – N50 46.042 W120 37.119 ; Dead Coyote Trail on the right climbing the hill
• Rim and Junction on the Dewdrop traverse- N50 47.051 W120 36.559; go left
• Junction – N50 47.308 W120 37.736; the trail to the left is the way back
• Next post – Bonaparte Plateau – June 23