Dogwood Marshes Snowshoeing
The Dogwood Marshes may be the best snowshoeing terrain in the Kamloops area. We can drive up the Lac le Jeune Road and park at the Bush Lake pull-through/parking area. The trailhead is right by the fence on the east side. The trails drop into the bowl and then snowshoers just follow any of the informal tracks. Many routes are possible. We had a day of Dogwood Marshes snowshoeing in early December.
Tracks are set early by many users so we just choose whichever ones we want each day. Extended routes also climb out of the bowl to the slopes above.
The bottom of the bowl is really a series of ponds, marshes (lined with red-ossier dogwood) and streams, much of which is open and scenic.
Above the Dogwood Marshes are some logged and replanted areas so routes wind among the trees.
A few upper ponds are worth exploring, especially on a sunny day above the valley clouds.
It may take a couple of explorations to find all the ponds and creeks in the area, but it worth the effort.
There are some shorter steep sections on the upper east slopes and there are some areas that have some deadfall which snowshoers have to wind around or step over, but previous snowshoe tracks most often find the best route.
We have started to work our way up the eastern slopes of Hull Hill. A loop in the lower bowl can be 2 – 4 km, but by going uphill to the east we can create loops of 5 to 8 km.
There are no signs along the way and there may be a bit of flagging tape here and there. Novices can just follow a stomped-in track. Intermediates can follow the tracks up the hill to the east or can follow old skid tracks and backroads wherever they lead. As the winter progresses the snowshoeing community will add more tracks in a widening arc.
Google Earth shows a number of ponds, creeks, and open areas so we try to link these up into an eclectic loop.
It would be possible to get lost in this area so follow established tracks and if you venture farther up the hill, be sure to carry the Ten Essentials.
Also: