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 →
At the end of June I returned to Stake Lake to do three loops, two on the lake and one on the trails. I got an early start since it was the long July 1st weekend. I launched my kayak at 7:15 am and paddled twice around the lake, once in each direction. There were other boats on the water, quietly fishing. Two … Continue reading →
It is a longer drive on gravel roads to get to Saul and Tranquille Lakes. I have been to Tranquille Lake four times, passing Saul Lake on the Sawmill Lake Road on three of these days. On one trip I drove to Tranquille Lake and paddled around the lake, then drive back to Saul Lake and paddled it too. There is a signed turn … Continue reading →
On a spring day I hiked the Outer Inks Trails to Dam Lake, then followed a series of tracks to the Spade Lakes, and then back on different trails. The trailhead is on a dirt road accessed by turning off the Coquihalla Highway at the Inks Lake Interchange. Most of these “trails” are double tracks used by ranchers, loggers, and backcountry recreationalists, including dirt bikes and … Continue reading →
On a rainy day in June, overcast skies and wet weather discouraged hiking or paddling outings in the hills, but if the winds are not a factor, another choice is to go to a smaller lake with a kayak to paddle for about an hour. To stay comfortable, a rain jacket is needed and a spray skirt (or equivalent) can keep the legs dry. … Continue reading →
In a past spring we traveled to Central Washington to hike the desert lands over a two week period. We did a circle route, camping at State Parks and doing a new hike each day. We went through Grand Coulee then stayed at Steamboat Rock and in the next two days, we did two hikes venturing out from this lovely campground. We drove to … Continue reading →
On a mid-June day I drove west toward Savona, then turned up the Six Mile Lake (Pat Lake) Road to go to the lakeshore. This route was the old road from Kamloops to Savona going around the southern end of Six Mile Hill and down to the Tunkwa Lake Road. When the Trans Canada Highway was improved, a route was cut through the Six … Continue reading →
On a hot day I got an early start to hike through the Vista Hills from the pipeline track. Rather than follow signed (official) trails, I went onto a faint single track over to the fenceline. From there I was off-trail, working my way up the slopes on the western edge of Kenna Cartwright Park. I went to the top of the hill … Continue reading →
