Walking Time - 5 hours
Elevation Gain - about 375 metres (1,200 ft.) plus there is quite a lot of up and down following the ridge.
Access - Park at the Black Mountain access - the road is 4.2 km south of the junction of Highway #22 and secondary Highway #520. Park at the highway turnoff and walk the road approximately two km to the first cattleguard on the south shoulder of Black Mountain. If you are driving a vehicle with good clearance and the ground is dry you can drive the first two km of this road to the cattleguard. This hike takes place mainly on Waldron Ranch leased Crown land. Please make sure you give any cattle plenty of room and leave gates as you find them.

There is a certain magic in some places. Places that are known to be good for healing attract people from far away. The energy in other places is sometimes patently sensuous. Walking through meadows overflowing with the scent and colour of innumerable wild blossoms we were beguiled by the fecundity of July. The day was hot; I could see the sweat glistening on my companion's legs. We stopped on the ridge, breathless with the exertion, the heat and the beauty surrounding us. It was a perfect place for a meal and blissful dreams.

Walking this route takes the hiker from prairie through creekside willow communities into aspen woodlands then climbs into Douglas fir-limber pine forests. Walking along the ridge is challenging in places but the variety of plant communities and the changing vistas make the effort worthwhile. This section of the Whaleback Ridge overlooks some of the most dramatic landscapes in the region.

There are many places along this ridge that merit stopping and soaking up the unique spirit of the place. Even if the day is warm and the flies are annoying there is usually enough breeze to keep the open ridge bug free.

Route Description

The start of this route is the same as for Whaleback Ridge North Loop. When you get to the point ascending Whaleback Ridge where the coulee and road diverge (002365) turn south and follow the road up to a saddle on the ridge crest.

Go east then south from this point (002360) following the ridge crest. The broad grassy valley you're overlooking to the west is Bob Creek valley. To the east the Porcupine Hills dominate the horizon with Black Mountain prominent in the foreground. As you follow the ridge it takes a jog to the west about a kilometre from where you first reach it. The best course here is to follow the largest game trail. After descending about 100 metres there is a pond in a saddle (003351). Look for blue-eyed grass, ground plum and shrubby cinquefoil in this area.

The route continues on or parallel to the ridge line. Walking is quite rough with a lot of up and down. Finding a game trail that's going south and staying on it at times seems preferable to staying on the ridge crest. Continue this way for about two km beyond the pond. At a major saddle with a barbed wire fence corner in it (009328) there is a valley leading off the ridge to the southeast. Descend this valley on game trails. Watch for false hellebore, wild vetch and wild strawberry when going down this valley.

After about half a kilometre there is a trail junction marked by a salt block holder (017328). Continuing down the valley on the now well-defined trail leads to a junction with a cart track running along the valley (026330). Turn north (left) and follow this road back through the willow patches and grasslands to the parking spot at Black Mountain.

Some of the ridge top is pleasant and open.