On an October day I hiked up the Tranquille River Trail through the colorful corridor. At the old Tranquille Water Plant, I followed a single track trail upstream to the end, then scrambled on rocks as far as I could go without getting wet. At the end of that rock-hopping section, I crossed the river. The west side … Continue reading…
On a mild, grey day in October, I used the upper trailhead in the Ironmask Hills area to hike cross-country and on single tracks through the hills, across grasslands, and through open forests. I traversed above Wallender Lake, fringed in alkali salts and pickleweed. Spring ponds become are fall meadows and provide open routes between the hills. A few grassland … Continue reading…
On a mid-October day we drove up the Greenstone Mountain Road to hike the Greenstone Bench Trail. The trailhead (N50 37.289 W120 33.967) is an old road, bearing west across the hills about halfway up the mountain. The double track is in good shape providing a good route through mixed forests, plantations, and across ridges. The combination of sunny weather, … Continue reading…
In the fall over a few years we have hiked a loop route in Roche Lake Provincial Park. It mostly follows rough backroads and tracks past lakes and marshes, with fall colors along the route. It is rare to see anyone in the backcountry areas. We hiked 12.4 km on this day and saw no one else. The first leg … Continue reading…
Lyons Lake is located at the southern end of the Sullivan Valley. It can be accessed by an old rough road from the Heffley Creek Dump. It is about 2.5 km along the double track to the lake. The track is usually fairly quiet, but on busy weekends there may be ATVs in the area. Close to Lyons Lake the … Continue reading…
On a sunny warm October day we traveled from Kamloops down to the Coquihalla Summit area to hike Zoa Mountain. We turned onto the Falls Lake Road and parked at the trailhead. The Zoa Trail is signed and we turned uphill through the “alder tunnel” to the upper track. From the upper track a sign points up to a steep … Continue reading…
On a cool fall day I drove to Logan Lake and paddled the lake (2 loops) from the campground, then secured the boat, I hiked the Mimi Falls Trail from the campground. The trail was developed in 2020 by the District of Logan Lake (as a 50 year celebration of incorporation) in collaboration with the Lower Nicola Indian Band. It … Continue reading…
The Mt. Embleton Trails are a network of well-established trails (a BC Rec Site) on the northern hillside above Heffley Lake. There are several trailheads but we usually drive up the rough road to P2. We usually hike a loop route, climbing up to the lookout, then we hike down the ridge (Skyline Trail), and return on the Old Mills … Continue reading…
On a cool, grey day I drove down to Nicola Lake, then up the west side of the lake to Monck Park. I paddled the lakeshore, then secured the boat and went for a hike on the trails. The hike is one I have done a few times and I return to do it in the fall most years, From … Continue reading…
At the end of September on a sunny day, we hiked Wheeler Mountain from Lac du Bois. We followed the double track south (Upper Grasslands Track) past the large pond at the edge of the douglas fir forest. There was some fall color in aspen groves. The route follows the Wheeler Mountain Road, an old double track that winds around … Continue reading…
On days with marginal conditions, we often go to routes that we know we can do in a limited time and get back to the vehicle. One of our “go-to” hikes starts at Home Depot. We follow the Reservoir Trail as it angles north up the eastern slopes of Mount Dufferin. We turn onto the Magpie Trail which takes us … Continue reading…
On a day near the Fall Equinox I headed into the hills from the end of Abbey Road, on an eclectic route, making choices along the way, combining old double tracks, single tracks, and cross-country paths, combined to make a loop. The hills were dry on the grasslands slopes and open forests. There were a few birds put, including some … Continue reading…
On a warm mid-September day I drove out through Barnhartvale to the Robbins Creek Road, then followed the Scuitto Lake Road all the way to the lake. I parked at the Rec Site and hiked to the northeast corner of the lake. An old ATV track goes up between two hills. This is the start of the route to Mt. … Continue reading…
The Stake Lake Trails were closed, but as the Ross Moore Fire lessened, the gate was opened and people returned to fish and paddle the lake and to bike, walk, and paddle the trails. On a day in mid-September I hiked on ski trails to the base of McConnell Hill. Near the Basalt Bluff area I followed a snowshoe trail, … Continue reading…
We have hiked various routes on top of Red Plateau, starting from the Red Plateau Forest Service Road. The road is a bit rough, best suited to high clearance vehicles and best attempted in dry conditions. We use it to avoid the long climb from the Dewdrop Range below. Those trails are steep, making a good fitness challenge, but they … Continue reading…
On a clear September day I drove to Tunkwa Lake Provincial Park. I paddled Leighton Lake (3.4 km) from the Leighton Campground then hiked a signed trail around the lake, out to the Bluff Hill lookout, back through Tunkwa Campground, and then back to the start, a 6.5 km trail hike. An early start provided calm conditions on the lakes. … Continue reading…
