Dewdrop Ridge: Over and Under

An open hill overlooks Kamloops Lake between Tranquille and Battle Bluff. It is a 0.8 km hike to the top of the Dewdrop Ridge and we hiked over the top, then under the bluffs in early spring. Red Plateau Escarpment rises 640m (2100 feet) above the Dewdrop Range on the north.

We hiked up the open slopes to the top of Dewdrop Ridge then traversed over to the east end and descended steeply to the foot of the basalt cliffs, following that section for 1 km before climbing onto another ridge continuing our route bearing east.

From the ridges we had constant fine views west up the Thompson River and southwest to Kamloops Lake.

The north slopes have some open forest but the south slopes have only a few trees clinging to the cliffs here and there.

The basalt bluffs between the middle Dewdrop Ridge and Battle Bluffs are about 45 m high. We followed the rim to the west, then curled northwest.

Kamloops Lake was calm and the reflections of the Six Mile area were unrippled on a warm early spring day.

Although the route is only about 5km, there is no trail, so progress is slow. We carefully hiked over the bluffs, then under the same bluffs, over another set of basalt bluffs, under a different set of bluffs, then back over the top and finally down to our vehicles.