Rising above the Coquihalla stands Mount Thynne.   There is a road to the top and when the snows have left 4×4’s and quads climb to the summit, but in later spring, we can drive up the road, park and hike to the top while snows still cover the upper road.  The rewards are open slopes, alpine meadows, the first wildflowers of the spring melt, and views into the Coquihalla Summit area.

From the Coquihalla, take the Coldwater Exit and drive to Brookmere.   Go through Brookmere as if you were heading to Tulameen, but turn onto the Thynne Mountain Road and don’t forget to set your odometer.   There are a number of junctions, so bring these directions with you.

• At 2.1 km (N49 48.145 W120 50.565), stay left on the main road
• at 6.8 km (N49 56.075 W120 52.015), stay right
• at 10.1 km (N49 45.285 W120 54.129), bear left onto the Upper McPhail Road
• note that you can also take the right fork to go higher up the mountain, but it is rougher
• continue as far as road conditions permit
• at the 16 km point, there is a parking area (at N49 43.989 W120 55.796) near a snowmobile cabin; if you have made it this far, park here
• follow the double track to the top, which is 4.7km beyond and above the parking area

On my last trip to the top, there was snow on the upper road, but avalanche lilies were in bloom in the meadows.   I ran up the old track to the top.   There is an old forestry lookout at the top, a good place for lunch.   There are good views over to July Mountain, the back side of Zopkios Ridge, Needle Peak, Coquihalla Mountain, and the Cascades.   The return trip is an easy downhill route, a return distance of about 10km, most of it on open ridges.