On a mild spring day we hiked up the Dewdrop Trail to the rim.    The elevation gain is 2400 vertical feet and there are a few harder sections.     the route goes from the Dewdrop Range grasslands to the bottom of a gully.    It winds up the gully steeply, then traverses over to a ridge.    The section up the ridge is also steep, but we are provided with some switchbacks and many fine views.    At the rim of the escarpment, the trail winds through douglas fir forest.    We hiked out to a viewpoint at the top of the Ragged Red Ridge.   This is a 4.6 km hike up to the high point.

The escarpment is a massive lava flow from three eruption points on Red Plateau.    The rocky escarpment has ragged lava rock, air pockets, and eroded gullies.    The lava flow extends from Jag Hill on the east side (overlooking Tranquille River Canyon) to Hardie Hill on the west side (above the Sabiston-Copper Creek area).     A trail continues along the rim and there are side trails to various viewpoints.    We can also drive up the Red Plateau forests Service Road in season, then hike the tracks and trails without climbing the escarpment.    There are wide views from the rim.    The Dewdrop Range lies below and Kamloops Lake beyond.    Greenstone Mountain stands at the southern horizon.

The trail on the rim winds through open forests, providing some shade on sunny days.

On this day there were a number of wildflowers in bloom and birds active calling.   The rocky and dry south-facing slopes have a few hardy species to enjoy, especially shrubby penstemon.

We have done this hike every year for 48 years and we hope to continue for a while yet. We usually hike a loop route on top of Red Plateau from the FSR for a second (and sometimes a third) time each year.

More Information:

• Dewdrop Trail to Red Plateau (info page)
• There are several posts on this hike on this website (use the Search bar)
• Video – Red Plateau Loop Hike
• A favorite hike 4.5 out of 5.0 stars4.5