We rode the backroads from Douglas Lake to Westwold on our mountain bikes.   The starting point was just past the Douglas Lake Ranch (community) and we rode east up over the grasslands hills to the high point on a gravel road, then descended down into the Salmon River Valley.

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The route through the Douglas Lake Ranch lands goes through a grasslands ecosystem dedicated mostly to cattle grazing operations.

The road climbs 466m (over 1500 feet) over 27 km to the highest point.   Grazing cattle and horses and grasslands birds kept us company along the ride.   We rode past Douglas Lake, then Chapperon Lake, Rush Lake, and Salmon Lake.   The ascent was through grasslands and the descent was into the forest.

At the summit at 983m elevation (3225 feet) northeast of Salmon Lake, douglas fir forest covered the higher areas.

The road descends steeply into a narrow valley following the Salmon River.   The ride continued for 15 km along the river at the bottom of the valley, but we stopped for a short hike into a hidden backcountry gem, Weyman Falls.   The creek plunges and cascades 100 feet and is listed as one of the top 100 falls in the book Waterfalls of BC.

Our route finished outside of Westwold where the gravel road turns to pavement and the homes begin.   The ride was 45 m, supported by trucks so that riders could choose to ride some portion of the entire route (most did about 20 – 30km).   There are many opportunities to explore the backroads by mountain bike and the Douglas Lake Road is one of the most scenic routes in our area.