On a grey spring day we hiked from the Frederick Road up open slopes on a favorite route, to Dewdrop Ridge.   By hiking up through the grassland-sagebrush slopes for one kilometer, we reach one of the best viewpoints of our area, looking up the Thompson River toward Kamloops.  

Cooney Bay and Kamloops Lake lies 1.3 km below the upper rim of the basalt bluffs.

We usually hike west along the top of the ridge, overlooking Battle Bluff.

There is a lower ridge which we drop down to. This area is at the top of the basalt columns seen from Battle Bluff. Views down Kamloops Lake on the west side of Battle Bluff are found from this spot.

At the westermost part of this figure-eight route, we have more views down the lake and across the Dewdrop Range.

On this windy day, photos and videos were part of the morning of hiking in the area.

The slopes are open on Dewdrop Ridge and the few trees on the ridge are often wind-shaped.   

To hike Dewdrop Ridge:

• Turn off the Tranquille-Criss Creek Road onto the Frederick Road.
• Park at the first pullout on the right (282m along the road)
• Aim south up the slope.    There is no trail, nor any wrong routes.   Continue west along the ridge to enjoy the views.