Uplands Benchlands Loops
On a cloudy and mild November morning we hiked the trails at the end of Uplands Drive in Barnhartvale. Single track trails wind along the benchlands, gullies, and ridges and there are some loop routes through the grasslands and open forests.
From the northeast corner of the trails we can look out over the Pineview golf course and the South Thompson River.
Views to the northwest include the South Thompson River and Mt. Peter.
To the south the steep rocky slopes of Sunrise Mountain rise up above the benchlands. There are trails through those hills too, steep hikes up and back.
Gullies provide drainage from the hills down to the river. There are winding trails up, down, and across the gullies. None of the trails are marked, so hiking the area a few times helps to see how the tracks can be linked up.
The area above can also be hiked but it will be a more challenging route. The area farther to the east has trails too, but there is a working gravel pit to go around, requiring a route going up or down on single tracks to link to other routes. We can hike for about 1.25 – 1.5 hours on the benchlands for a moderate shoulder season hike.
A few more images are shared here. Click an image for a lightbox view and a caption.
More information on these trails can be found on this website – Uplands Trails.