At the end of June, I drove down to Nicola Lake, then up the Pennask Lake Road to the top of the Quilchena Plateau.   At an elevation of is the Hamilton Corrals Commonage, upper grasslands and pockets of forest on the southern slopes of Hamilton Mountain.   The land is accessible, but it is also seasonal grazing lands (close gates and respect cattle).    One this day there were no cattle in the hills, but there were signs of wildlife (bears, coyotes, and deer).    I spotted a turkey vulture, two hawks, many grassland and pond birds, butterflies and moths, and various pollinators and insects.    there was no one else in the area, no motorized vehicles, lots of wildflowers and tall, green grasses.   The loop followed double tracks, some clear, and some overgrown.    The final section was cross-country, off-trail, a bearing to return back to the start.    The hike was 13.6 km, taking about 4.25 hours.

From the start, on a double track off the Pennask Lake Road, the route passes a series of ponds and small lakes with rolling hills on both sides.    The track continues to the southern slopes of Hamilton Mountain.

There were ducks, geese, blackbirds, marsh wrens, killdeer, swallows, and lots of other birds in the trees and shrubs near the water.

The route curved up the slopes around the central ridge.    The grasses became taller and the vegetation more grown-in as the route climbed.

There are some smaller lakes along the loop route, quiet spots out of sight.

Aspen groves filled gullies and protected areas.    North-facing slopes had open douglas fir forests.

This was a hike through a 13.6 km wildflower corridor.    Check out A Wildflower Journal too the galleries of images and information.  The trailhead was 11.5 km up the Pennask Lake Road.    On the way back down, we are provided with views down Nicola Lake.

This is not a designated hiking area.     It is a good area for naturalists or hikers who enjoy exploring, finding the right time to enjoy the quiet time in a remote area, especially before or after cattle grazing times.   If you go, leave nothing but footprints, close the gates, and take the time to smell the wild roses.