We returned to hike trails around Kentucky and Alleyne Lakes to take in fall colors around the turquoise lakes. These are moderate trails, but we chose routes that still provided 11.2 km of hiking on a cooler day in September. The hikes start from the Day Use parking areas within the Provincial Park. The loop around Kentucky Lake … Continue reading…
For many years we hiked the old double tracks that led up to the abandoned mines in the Ironmask Hills, but ownership and access changed so the area was not open to hikers, runners, and mountain bikers. The Kamloops Performance Cycling Center (KPCC) has negotiated an agreement with the owners of the lands for seasonal access (link to information) to … Continue reading…
Park Lake Canyon can be accessed from a (closed to vehicles) State Park Road on the south side of the lake. We rode our bikes down from the campground, then hiked up an old jeep track all the way up the canyon. Basalt cliffs lien the canyon on both sides as the track gradually climbs all the way to the … Continue reading…
Steamboat Rock State Park has two fine hikes – Steamboat Rock (itself) and a trail up Northrup Canyon to Northrup Lake. The Northrup Trail starts on the east side of Banks Lake at a signed trailhead. Basalt cliffs rise above the trail as it gradually heads northeast. The trail continues to an old abandoned farmhouse, occupied by successive pioneers from … Continue reading…
The hike to the top of Trophy Mountain is the premier route in our region. We started going up the mountain in 1976 and we have returned every year. The month for our hike varies, but we always go up through the meadows to Plateau of the Lakes and from there we vary the route – up to Long Hill, … Continue reading…
From the summit of the Trophy Mountains a number of remote mountain ranges are visible. To the northwest is Garnet Peak overlooking Azure Lake. It is the third highest peak in Wells Gray at 2876 m (9874 feet). It was first climbed by a team led by Hugh Neave in 1974. Access is from Huntley Col from Azure Lake. To … Continue reading…
Monck Provincial Park lies on the western shores of Nicola Lake. From the campground area, trails go along the lakeshore and up onto the rocky hill above the road. Views over the lake are found at many points along the trails. There is one short spur tail that goes from the campground out to the bluffs on the south side. … Continue reading…
In the summer, we plan and schedule hikes to the summits of peaks in the Interior, but the weather doesn’t always cooperate on a schedule so we try to have a Plan B, an alternate local hike. The Stake Lake Trails have many options for a summer hike over the hills. Less interesting than hikes into the alpine zone, … Continue reading…
The Dewdrop Trailhead starts at a short side road off the Frederick Road and climbs for 5km onto the escarpment of the Dewdrop Plateau with a vertical climb of 736m meters (2414 feet). We hiked up onto the rim one morning in early July. Along the way were a few wildflowers, in the lower grasslands, on the ridges, and in … Continue reading…
Nicola Lake offers kayakers days of paddling, but it is a windy lake so checking the wind forecasts is recommended. Since the lake is too big to paddle the entire shoreline in one day (or even two), we can pick one area for a shoreline exploration of a loop route. One of the best launch spots is at Monck Provincial … Continue reading…
Steamboat Rock State Park is found just south of the Grand Coulee Dam in Central Washington State. It is right in the middle of the Grand Coulee that was formed by the scouring of the lands into the channeled scablands caused by the release of Glacial Lake Missoula at the end of the last Ice Age. In an earlier era, … Continue reading…
Ruckle Point Provincial Park is located on the south shore of Salt Spring Island. There are 7 km of shoreline and 15 km of forested trails for hikers. The walk-in campground is on a grassy-rocky bench overlooking the channel. This was our base camp for a week of paddling and hiking. The entire south shoreline is rocky, but there are … Continue reading…
July Mountain is a remote peak on the north end of the Coquihalla Summit area. It is accessed off the Coquihalla Highway at the Juliet Creek exit. A narrow gravel road goes uo the valley for 4 km before crossing the creek. Over the next 4 km, the road becomes rougher, more grown-in with alder, and there are a number … Continue reading…
On rainy days, picking trails closer to home and not too far from the vehicle is a good idea. We still want to find scenic routes and we often return to the Mesa Trail when we have less time and the weather is marginal. We hiked from the trailhead just past the prison up to the Mesa Trail junction. Sure … Continue reading…
Mt. Kerr is the highest peak in the Marble Range at 7480 feet. It is a challenging route since it is a 22 km out-and back hike. The trailhead is the same one we use for Mt. Bowman or Wild Horse Ridge (links at the bottom). The approach is on a high-clearance track which follows the power line and ends … Continue reading…
Tuktakamin Mountain stands at 5816 feet above the village of Falkland, Highway 97 goes around the base of the mountain on 2 sides and there are numerous communications towers on top. It is possible to drive to the top, but there is also a good loop trail that follows one ridge to the summit and another ridge down. The trailhead … Continue reading…
