This steep hill stands above Ashcroft.   It is entirely within Elephant Hill Provincial Park (link) and is designated as a natural dry grasslands environment and, as such, has no designated trails, but from exploration, we know routes up the hill and back.

We drive down the main route into Ashcroft, then we park at the Pegasus water tower, just across the road from Government Street.   From the gravel road, single tracks go north-northwest to the power line.   At an old fenceline, a double track goes up the power line to the elephant’s back.   The ridge (the elephant’s back) is sagebrush grasslands.

We hike the track up to the top of the hill, a good spot for lunch.   At the top, we are on the highest point in the middle of the valley.   Below us the Bonaparte River rushes down to the Thompson River.   Ashcroft lies on both sides of the Thompson River.   To our southwest, the Cornwall Hills was still mantled in snow.   To our north the valley goes up to Cache Creek below the forested Arrowstone Hills.   The dry hills surrounding Ashcroft confirm the semi-desert climate of the area.   A few images are shared here.    Click an image for a lightbox view.

The slopes of Elephant Hill have no trees so this is a warm route on a sunny day.   We hiked 7.5km which included some steep hiking, but we enjoyed the views and the bitterroot bloom was a bonus.   The patch is found below the summit near N50 45.087 W120 17.178.   Walk gently on the soil here to avoid trampling the plants, but bring your camera for Nature’s show.