A single track trail winds over rolling terrain for 6 km across the Dewdrop Range from the area near Battle Bluff west to the trails going up the Escarpment. The Bluebird Trail was so named because the Kamloops Outdoor Club installed a series of bluebird birdhouses along a faint track south of the Frederick Road. Mountain bikers and hikers …Continue reading…
With nature parks closed and smoky conditions in the area, the best bet for hiking was to go to travel to an area that was clearer, or alternately, to watch for a break in the local conditions. On a less-smoky day I hiked the Battle Bluff Trail in the Dewdrop Range. It had rained the day before so conditions were …Continue reading…
Jag Hill is the prominent ridge/hill on the southeast corner of the Red Plateau Escarpment. Ragged cliffs with spires and an arch stand above the Dewdrop Range. Access is from the Tranquille – Criss Creek Road. On this day I followed a single track used to get to Garden of the Trolls, then veered off to the rocky slopes below …Continue reading…
Frederick Bluffs are series of rocky hills in the Dewdrop Range, a benchland overlooking Kamloops Lake. There are no trails through the Bluffs, but we can hike various routes through the grasslands hills to create a loop route of about 6 – 7 km. All routes will involve lots of up and down and there may be loose material underfoot …Continue reading…
In a mild month of February, we hiked into Red Canyon, the longest canyon that winds up into the Red Plateau Escarpment above the Dewdrop Range. There was no snow at the parking area (the Dewdrop Trail), nor on the trail to the mouth of the canyon. We hiked past the stile fence crossing for the Dewdrop Trail, then continued …Continue reading…
On a mild day in May we drove on the rough Upper Dewdrop Trail to access the Dead Coyote Trail. Using our maps and GPS, we located the Forgotten Trail and hiked to the foot of the Red Plateau Escarpment. The Forgotten Trail was the designated down route for the Dewdrop Trail. Soon after the trail was built I went …Continue reading…
I spent half a day with a producer from CFJC TV recording footage for an video to be broadcast later in the month. We hiked up and along the ridge taking videos and flying the drone. The footage will be edited back at the studio. While on the ridge, I took some photos and recorded some action video, shared here. …Continue reading…
On a cool grey day in early April we hiked the rocky Frederick Bluffs. There are no trails in the area, but we have hiked through the hills and gullies many times, passing a series of hidden ponds along the way. As we approached Bighorn Bluff we had our first views over Kamloops Lake. From the bluff, the views extended …Continue reading…
A hike on Dewdrop Ridge, all off-trail. Images of snags and trees in a photo essay: … … … … … … … … … … … There are several articles on the website about hiking Dewdrop Ridge for anyone else who wants to enjoy wind-shaped trees and snags.
Near the end of summer we were looking for smoke-free days to hike some of our local area trails. We picked Dewdrop Ridge as our hike, on a route we have done many times. We started at the first pullout on the right on the Frederick Road and headed south, up the open slopes to the top of the …Continue reading…
The Frederick Bluffs are a series of rocky hills on the benchland overlooking Kamloops Lake. there are no trails in the area, but the hills have open grassland-sagebrush-scattered trees, so we can make up our own routes. We always do a loop route and this time we followed a line of hills in a clockwise direction. We usually take an …Continue reading…
On a sunny day just before the start of spring I hiked a route across the hills in dry conditions, taking in a series of viewpoints on the southeast end of the Dewdrop Range. I parked at the first pull-out on the Frederick Road and made my own path up the slope to the top of Dewdrop Ridge. The top …Continue reading…
From the Bluebird Hills in the Dewdrop Range I spotted a frozen waterfall on the Red Plateau Escarpment east of Castle Butte. I returned the next day to explore the route up to the falls. I parked on the edge of the road and hiked the 1km off-trail route to the base of the falls. The gently sloping foot of …Continue reading…
As winter snows disappeared and the ground started to defrost, I headed into the Dewdrop Range on mostly dry terrain, hiking over the hills and dropping into gullies to explore frozen waterfalls. The route followed the Bluebird Trail at the start and finish, but wound south on rougher terrain overlooking Kamloops Lake. On a blue sky day I followed a …Continue reading…
Over the years I have climbed Jag Hill from every direction. Recently I hiked up from the Pimple on double tracks to the right elevation, then traversed along the ridge off trail to the summit overlooking the valley. We have driven up Rd Plateau Forest Service Road and traversed to the summit (the easiest route). I have gone up from …Continue reading…