In the hills above the Thompson River estuary and Kamloops Lake are expansive sagebrush – grassland slopes.    There are some scattered ponderosa pines and shrubs in drainages.    The north side of the steeper hills have mixed forests of douglas fir, pine, and juniper.   Some of these areas are used for seasonal grazing, so any hiking in the areas is best done in the off season (November through March).   One large area I call the Dry Hills has no trails, but has some old tracks occasionally used in grazing season.    There are also some older grown-in tracks.    On this sunny, cool November day, there was no one around as I hiked on known routes, sometimes on tracks, but at least half off-trail, winding up slopes in a large 2.5 hour loop route.   Most of the hills are rounded, but there are a few rocky bluffs too. and there are some open viewpoints to enjoy.

There were no people, no cattle, and little activity, but there were some deer and a few crows and magpies along the route.

There are no apps or maps to help with navigation in these areas.    I return every year and hike a different route each time.    Over the decades I have found favorite routes, but I am always interested in exploring new routes too.  An album of photos is shared here – Dry Hills Album (Google Photos).

 
I found a new track to explore so I will be back over the winter to enjoy another hike in the Dry Hills.