The Cinnamon Ridge – Mara Canyon (the Hoodoos) route gets my votes for the best hike in the Kamloops area.   On a late March day I hiked up from the trailhead parking area on the other side of the railway tracks (more info) and hiked up the trail, bearing right and climbing the single tracks route across open steep hillsides up the ridge.     This is the hardest section of the hike, climbing about 400m in elevation in 2.3 km.    There are rugged and wide views all the way to the highest point.

At the top of the ridge, we have two choices, to continue on up to the top of Mara Mountain (steeper yet) on a single track trail, or to turn and descend into the canyon for a loop route.   On this day the choice was to go up Cinnamon Ridge and down Mara Canyon.

The route up Cinnamon Ridge traverses across steep scree slopes below rugged outcrops and cliffs.     It is a good shoulder-season route, but not as much fun on a hot day.

The trail winds around to a pass between two hilltops, then continues up the ridge between the two prominent gullies on the south side of Mara Mountain.

Some image from the hike up to the upper end of Cinnamon Ridge are shared here.    Click an image for a lightbox view and a caption.

the Cinnamon slopes

going over the ridge

gargoyles on the ridge

on the way up

trailhead

To follow in a few days – Mara Canyon.