On a day where it rained in the morning, then rained again in the late afternoon, I got out to do a loop route hike in the Ironmask Hills. The trails remain open until December 1st. From the Triple Lumen Trailhead just off Lac le Jeune Road, I followed the old double track (originally a mining access road), then turned onto the signed Spin Cycle Trail, then onto the Low Iron Trail. these three trails offer moderate terrain through open forest and grasslands on the northern slopes of Ironmask Hill. I turned onto the Mine Trail which winds down the hill with several steep sections. Since this is a downhill bike trail, I always hike off the trail in the steep sections. After going over a small hill with a wind-shaped tree on top, it goes down a rocky bluff. This area is part of the old Ironmask Mine. the main pit is to the west and is fenced off. There are spots nearby with old mine tracks, some horizontal tunnels, and some old iron and wooden relics in the bush, but hikers need to be cautious if going off-trail.
The Mine Trail loops back to the start of the Triple Lumen Trail for a pleasing loop route of about 1.5 hours. Some photos of the route are shared here in a Google Photos slideshow. Click any image to go the album where there are captions for more information.
More Information:
- Kamloops Mountain Bike Trail Association – Pineview Trails
- Ironmask Hills Hike on the Snow (Nov.) – KamloopsTrails
- Hiking the Ironmask Hills – YouTube