Basalt Amphitheater Hike - Kamloops Trails

Basalt Amphitheater Hike – Kamloops Trails

Doug Smith  October 6, 2022 at 8:52 am

There are a number of basalt bluffs surrounding McConnell Hill and trails go by the ones on the west and southwest sides, but there is a set on the northeast corner too, forming a kind of “basalt amphitheater.”    To get to the site, the route goes around the east side of Stake Lake, then turns onto trails to get to Sidewinder on the north side of the hill.  

A faint trail leads off Sidewinder to the site.    The trail was obvious and it was flagged, but there were many fallen trees to go over, under, or around.   In past years it was kept open, but at this point, it is a challenging route.    Once at the amphitheater, exploration of the slopes and basalt bluffs is possible (without windfall).   I have even climbed to the top and linked up with the Bushwhacker Trail above.   This is an interesting spot, one which few people know.    A few photos are provided here.    Click an image for a lightbox view and a caption. 

Some video footage of the route and the basalt amphitheater is provided in a YouTube video:

The start of the unnamed trail is at N50 31.092 W120 27.224.

About KamloopsTrails

I started exploring this area in 1976 and I continue to follow tracks and routes wherever they lead, with the aid of map, compass, GPSr and camera. After many dead-ends, but also many discoveries, I chose to share this information. Getting out 12 months each year, I continue to explore trails, tracks, routes, and waterways of the Kamloops area and beyond.


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Doug Smith

Doug writes for Kamloops Trails, a not-for-profit (and ad free) website, offering information on trails, waterways, routes, featured spots, viewpoints, and explorations in the outdoors in the Kamloops area (and beyond).

Doug started exploring this area in 1976 and continues to follow tracks and routes wherever they lead, with the aid of map, compass, GPSr and camera. After many dead-ends, but also many discoveries, he chose to share this information.

The Kamloops Trails website has a massive number of interesting posts and would be of interest to anyone in Kamloops who enjoys the outdoors. Visit the Kamloops Trails website at: http://www.kamloopstrails.ca/

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