Near the Spring Equinox I crossed the tracks at Ord Road (just past the golf course) and drove down the bumpy dirt road to the parking area at the official trailhead for Cinnamon Ridge (also referred to as Mara Canyon or The Hoodoos).    I hiked up the trail to the junction, and then turned right following the switchbacks up the steep slopes as it angles around the rocky hill to the northeast.

Looking north, Mara Mountain rises above the Mara outlier trails.    The Mara Canyon Trail winds up between the two steep rocky hills.     The Cinnamon Ridge Trail winds around the east side of the hills.

The trail is steep, climbing 440 m (1444 ft.) in 2 km.   Looking back we can see Tranquille and Kamloops Lake to the southwest.

Near the top of Cinnamon Ridge the two peaks of Mara Mountain rise steeply above.    There is another steep trail up the gully between the two peaks and we can turn left to the top of the west summit.   On this day, the goal was to hike to the highest point on the ridge then return by the same route.    The canyon probably still had some mud and ice, so we will return to hike the loop route next month.

From the viewpoint on the ridge we can look down the cinnamon-coloured ridges toward the floodlands and the Thompson River Estuary.   Greenstone Mountain was still blanketed in snow to the south.

The steep route back down is a bit tortuous.    It is all on loose material, so care must be taken on the steep sections.   The route is about 4.4 km, but it is a harder hike.    The views are worth the effort.    We will be back to hike the canyon in April, then in May we will be hiking to the top from the northeast.    Watch for upcoming posts.