The south side of Kamloops Lake is all rocky hills with steep vertical slopes down to the lake.   Only the Tobiano benchland has relatively easy access.   The rest of the slopes have limited access.   Private property, grazing fences, and very few roads can be found along all of the south side of the lake from Kamloops to Savona, with a couple of exceptions.    During grazing season, hikers must be respectful of all fences and posted signs, but in winter, there are a small handful of routes through rocky hills and beside alkali ponds and lakes.

 

From the tops of the northern hills we can look upriver.   Mara Mountain stands over the sandbars of the river mouth.

 

There was a long view to the west too.   Kamloops Lake is 28 km long.

 

 

Directly across the lake is Battle Bluff with the Dewdrop Range and Red Plateau behind.

 

Later in the fall, the alkali lakes had been recharged with seasonal rains.   In summer the lakes shrink and alkali salts fringe the lake   In late summer, pickleweed turns red on the shoreline.

 

Evaporation shrinks the lakes and ponds leaving a ring of alkali salts in summer.

 

On this sunny fall morning blue skies were reflected in the ponds and lakes between the rocky hills.

 

Soon winter snows will cover the hills and the lakes will be fully recharged with the early spring melt.

In late fall, there was no one around except for a few ducks in the ponds.

 

November through March is the best time to wander through these hills, leaving nothing behind but footprints.