One of our favorite hiking areas is in the Lundbom Grasslands (Commonage).   We usually hike a route in June and sometimes return for a different route in the fall.   On a fine June morning we drove through Merritt, then up Highway 5A, turning onto the Lundbom FSR.   We parked near Lundbom Lake and hiked toward Hamilton Lake.

We had hiked to the top of Sugarloaf Mountain before and we have also hiked the Cocobonk and Wounded Knee Trails before, but we opted for a different set of trails for a 13 loop route through the grasslands and open forests.   Hamilton Lake and Sugarloaf Mountain were west of our trailhead.

We turned onto the Cocobonk Trail, a double track that climbs over the hills, passing aspen groves, grassland meadows,  and sections of douglas fir forest.

There are no dramatic peaks, cliffs, gorges, or high viewpoints in the area.    But there are verdant grasslands, aspen groves, open forest, wildflowers, quiet dales, ponds and lakes, and peaceful slopes.   We enjoy exploring the various routes, leaving nothing in our wake.

At a shaped tree on the edge of a hill, we stopped for lunch, enjoying the wildflower slopes around us.

There are a few signs at intersections, installed by mountain bikers.   The older double tracks have been there for a century, but the single tracks are new, cut by bikes and cattle grazing on the Commonage.   There are more routes to explore.

We returned over the shoulder of Sugarloaf Mountain (really just the highest hill of the area).   The best views are from the top of the mountain.

In the distance we had glimpses of Stoyama Mountain (see the article on that hike), the northernmost peak of the Cascade Range.

Our hiked returned us to Hamilton Lake on the way back to the trailhead.   We have already planned our next hike in the area.

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• My rating of this hike –5.0 out of 5.0 stars5.0