On a hot summer day the plan was to explore a route to try to link up two old tracks, going around two hills on the north side of Lac du Bois. On previous explorations routes were taken that went over the top of the hills and another time I gone cross country around the hills, but for this time I was hoping to link … Continue reading →
Red Plateau is line of a volcanic hills and ridges rising up above the Dewdrop Range. the steep cliffs comprise the Red Plateau Escarpment. We can get to the rim of the escarpment from below, hiking up a variety of routes, or we can drive up the Red Plateau Forest Service Road. There are many possible combinations of trails which can be hiked, … Continue reading →
On a spring hiking trip into Central Washington, we hiked a dozen routes in “Washington desert lands.” We camped on Wapunum Lake (one of the many lakes/reservoirs on the Columbia River). We hiked two routes nearby – Gingko Petrified Forest State Park and Whiskey Dick Wildlife Area. Both areas are open hills with no trees. We saw cactus and lizards, and plants … Continue reading →
We have twice hiked into Tsintsunko Lake. It is located in a remote area of the Bonaparte Plateau. The driving route requires some navigation – Westyde Road > Jamieson Creek Road to Whitewood Lake (27 km) > Beaverhut/Cabin FSR (12.5 km) > Branch Road. There are some rough trails/routes in to the lake. On our first trip, we took the signed trail from … Continue reading →
Glimpse Lake is located on the Douglas Lake Plateau. To get to the lake, turn onto the Douglas Lake Road from Nicola Lake and 7 km up the road, turn left onto the Lauder Road. The community, a public boat launch, and two Rec Sites are on the lake 15 kms farther. I use the public launch at the northwest side of the lake for … Continue reading →
On a mid-July morning I hiked a trail I have done quite a few times from McQueen Lake to Isobel Lake. this was once called the Forest Capital Trail, and interpretive route with a series of numbered signs with a printed guide available to McQueen Lake students and others. The trail starts 0.25 km past the road into the McQueen Lake Center. It angles … Continue reading →
On a sunny weekday morning I headed out early to paddle Lodgepole Lake and then hike around the Lake Trail. From the Lac le Jeune Road, I followed the Chuwhels Mountain Road up to the Lodgepole Lake Rec Site. The campground was mostly full but I arrived early and so there was no one on the lake and it was quiet in the camping … Continue reading →
McQueen Lake Environmental Education Center offers an overnight camp for School District classes throughout the school year and outdoor education day trips on selected weekdays. Hikers are asked not to access the Overnight Center (security, safety, and privacy), but they can hike the trails on the south and east side during days when students are not on site. On a summer day after school was … Continue reading →
On a hot summer day I drove on backroads for an hour to get to Rossmoore Lake. There are some 4WD tracks to the lake, but the best road is the Rossmoore Lake Road, accessed by the Long Lake Road or the McConnell Forest Service Road. Either of the recommended roads are backcountry gravel roads, but do not need 4WD, although high clearance is recommended. When … Continue reading →
Hamilton Mountain rises above the grasslands between the Douglas Lake area and the Quilchena Highlands. Most of the slopes are in the Nicola Provincial Forest and in the Hamilton Commonage, but access is bit limited, except by a gravel road which has a gate just off the Douglas Lake Road. The road was added in 1951 to provide access to the fire lookout on … Continue reading →
