Buse Lake Protected Area includes Buse Lake, accessible from Barnhartvale Road, the upslopes to the south, the cliffs of Buse Hill and some of the southern slopes behind the ridge.   Most of us hike Buse Hill from Robbins Range Road, parking at the side of the road and then we hike up a track through private and leased lands owned by Buse Creek Ranch.   The Ranch grants access to use the main trail into the park,  as long as access is on foot and users stick to the track (with our thanks).    The trail to the top is steep, but not very long.   We usually hike to the ridge for all of the wonderful views, then do a loop to return, although there are also side routes on top to explore.

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On the way up the hill, we wind through grassland slopes with Bestwick Hill to the southwest.

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A pond lies in the low spot between two hilltops.   A family of muskrats swam to the other end as we approached.

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The cliffs of Buse Hill have reddish-colored rock.   We spotted what we though was a peregrine in the cliff bands below.

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The line of Barnhartvale Road and the ponds, grazing lands and forests of the route stretch toward Monte Creek to the east.   Mount Martin, mantled in snow, stands above Pritchard 20 km away.   The South Thompson River flowed down the river valley from Little Shuswap Lake at Chase.

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Buse Lake was1.6 km directly north, 555m (1820 feet) lower.   Buse Lake is a highly alkaline lake and brine flies and alkali-tolerant insects, plants, and birds can be spotted from the shoreline.   In some years the lake turns a bright purple/pink color when brine flies and brine shrimp feed on a purple bacteria in the salt-rich environment.

The slopes above are also explored by rockhounds searching for blue agates.

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A few wind-twisted dwarf trees grow on the windy clifftops along Buse Hill.

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The view to the northwest was through Barnhartvale (Hidden Valley) and beyond to the South Thompson River Valley stretching into the City of Kamloops

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On the west side of Buse Hill is the Buse Pinnacle, 0.5 km away.

 

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The weather came in and showered us with hail so we hiked back down, completing a 3.2 km loop route.   Buse Hill is a great hike for anyone, but great care must be taken at the edge of the unforgiving cliffs at the top.

Driving Directions:

• Take Barnhartvale Road to the Robbins Range Road turn-off.
• Follow the signs to Robbins Range Road at 2 intersections (don’t drive to Hidden Valley or the Campbell Range).
• Continue along Robbins Range for about 5.2 km.   Watch for the large sign on the left asking you to stay on the designated roads.   The dirt track is the trailhead to the top