Dewdrop Arch

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The Red Plateau Escarpment rises 700 vertical meters (2300 feet) from the Dewdrop Range below.    The Dewdrop Range is a hilly benchland above Kamloops Lake.     The Escarpment above was formed by successive volcanic eruptions over many millions of years.     The rock in the Escarpment is composed of the rough a’a lava.    It was viscous, flowing rapidly, breaking up into chunks (clinkers) as it cooled.     Most of the escarpment is this rough basalt, piled high into cliffs.    There are air pockets, small caves, crevices, and a few arches in the Escarpment.     There are three arches that are large enough to climb through.    The largest  is directly below Castle Butte and we can scramble up to a spot just above the arch.    The second is a smaller arch which we can hike through, located just off the Dewdrop Traverse Trail on the rim, to the west of Castle Butte.    The third is in the Jag Hill cliffs, hard to see unless you are in the right spot.    I have hiked through all 3 (I did one of them again this year).

The largest of the three was named Dewdrop Arch.    We can see through the arch at a spot on the rough Dewdrop Road to the west of the arch.     Near there a rough trail/route that goes up a gully to the top of a ridge above the arch.    It is a bit precarious to go down to the top of the arch, but it can be done.    We climbed up through the arch, using a rope for safety, then we scrambled all the way to the top and came back on an established trail.

Any hiking/scrambling to Dewdrop Arch is best done by experienced scramblers/climbers.     It is a rugged route on loose material.   Shared here are some photos of successive outings to the Arch.

Dallas – Barnhartvale Loop

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On a greyish, cloudy day the hike for the day started on Mountview Drive, just off Dallas Road.    The loop route went up the Hoodoo Trail to the upper area near Eliza Road, then a cross-country (off-trail) route across to the Blackwell Trails, a side route out on a ridge to an overlook, then north to the silt cliffs overlooking Dallas, following single tracks back … Continue reading →

Gils Trail to Tod Lake

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On a sunny late August day we rode the Sunburst Chair up Tod Mountain to mid-station.     We hiked Gil’s Trail all the way to Tod Lake.    After a break there, we hiked the Saddleback Trail over to a junction with the Whyte Bowl Trail and down through part of the West Bowl, and back by the Altitude multi-use trail to the chairlift for a … Continue reading →

Red Lake Rec Site

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On a warm day with no smoke, I drove up the Tranquille – Criss Creek Road 36 km to Red Lake.     the usual boat launch is from the east side, but there is a newer Recreation Site at the north end.    From the junction to Red Lake, continue up the Criss Creek Road for 2 km, then turn left onto the Seven Lakes Road.  … Continue reading →

Mud Lake Hike

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Mud Lake is a small marshy lake in the hills between McQueen Lake and Opax Mountain.   The tracks that lead to Mud Lake and around the lake are restricted to non-motorized use and somewhat grown-over.     I had been in to Mud Lake a number of times and I had explored several of the tracks branching off, but I had never worked out a loop route … Continue reading →

Outer Inks Hike

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The trails in the Outer Inks area are accessed off the Inks Lakes Interchange on the Coquihalla Highway.    there are many backroads, secondary roads and single tracks, mostly used by motorcycles.    ATVs and 4WDs sometimes use the doubletracks, linking to routes on Chuwhels Mountain.    Some mountain bikers and hikers also use the trails.    With many possible routes, most of the hiking routes … Continue reading →

Six Mile Lakes

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In the heat of summer and weeks of smoky conditions, finding a reasonable hiking route became a daily review of forecasts.    By using weather apps like Environment Canada’s and another government app – FireSmoke.ca, I have been able to determine where the least smoke would be at any given time.    For this day, the smoke-free area was near Savona for a few hours.    … Continue reading →

Mt. Embleton Trails

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The Mt. Embleton Trail system started as a combination of old logging roads and tracks that went around grazing fences.     A local Heffley Creek resident, Tony Embleton worked to make the trails into a recreational opportunity and over the years, a 9.5 km network of recreational trails was established with parking and signage, now part of BC Rec Sites and Trails.   Many users park at … Continue reading →

Surrey and Sussex Lakes

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The Surrey Lake Forest Service Road starts as a turn off the Meadow Creek Road (between Lac le Jeune and Logan Lake).    It is a gravel road bearing south, climbing up through the forest.     After 7 km it passes under the Coquihalla Highway.     It provides access to several lakes in the area – Surrey Lake, Frogmoore Lake, and Sussex Lake.   The Surrey Lake … Continue reading →

Exploring Badger, Spooney, and Little Badger Lakes

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On a summer day I drove on backroads to Badger Lake.    I launched my kayak, then explored narrow marsh channels to get to Spooney Lake, then did a loop route to do much of Badger Lake.    After paddling, I secured the boat, then hiked secondary backroads to Little Badger Lake, a quiet and remote spot in the hills. Badger Lake is one of the … Continue reading →