Skyline Bumps And Whiskey Jack Hill

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Skyline Bumps And Whiskey Jack Hill

Zosia Zgolak and I hiked up Skyline Bumps and Whiskey Jack Hill near Cranbrook, British Columbia on 26 April 2025. Both objectives are among a number of unofficially-named bumps scattered around the outskirts of the city. These bumps make for pleasant hikes that do not require a long drive or a big time commitment, and access/route information can usually be found on AllTrails if not elsewhere online. Joining us for the two hikes were our gracious weekend hosts, Angie Keller and Ken Gray.

The hike for Skyline Bumps starts appropriately from a cul-de-sac (49.54673, -115.83019) at the end of Skyline Road. Parking in the cul-de-sac was free, but this may change if ever there is more development in this area in the future. There are two separate trails that leave the north end of the cul-de-sac--the left-hand one goes uphill while the right-hand one drops into a gully. Intuitively, Ken, Angie, Zosia and I started along the left-hand trail which, after the initial climb, levels out as it proceeds further into the valley. While this trail was easy enough to follow, we eventually realized that it was not heading up the ridge to Skyline Bumps. We immediately abandoned the trail and climbed up the steep slope to our right until we intersected another trail on the ridge crest. Turning left, we followed this trail up to the top of the ridge which is comprised of at least five distinct bumps all roughly the same height. It appears that the bump furthest to the northwest is the highest point, but we made the extra effort to tag all of them just to be sure. After taking a short break at the most scenic of the bumps, we retreated down the same trail along the ridge crest. Partway down, we discovered a viewpoint replete with chairs and a table not unlike a dining set. We paused briefly here before resuming our descent along the ridge crest trail. As it turned out, we ended up on the "right-hand trail" that we had skipped at the beginning, and this led us directly back to the cul-de-sac.

	The trail to Skyline Bumps starts at this cul-de-sac at the end of Skyline Road. Photo courtesy of Zosia Zgolak
	Angie, Ken and Zosia climb up a steep slope at the southeast end of the ridge leading to Skyline Bumps.
	The group finds a well-worn trail on the ridge crest.
	Zosia, Angie and Ken stand on the highest of the Skyline Bumps (HP5; 1221 metres).
	Angie, Zosia, Ken and Sonny take a break on the most scenic of the Skyline Bumps (HP1; 1219 metres).
	On their way down, Ken, Angie and Zosia discover a viewpoint replete with four chairs and a table.
	Total Distance: 4.0 kilometres Round-Trip Time: 2 hours 35 minutes Cumulative Elevation Gain: 151 metres GPX Data

Upon completion of our hike to Skyline Bumps, Ken, Angie, Zosia and I made a short drive to the trailhead (49.55677, -115.81491) for Whiskey Jack Hill at the end of Wilks Road. Route-finding for this hike was much more straightforward, and we simply headed north along the main trail which eventually gains the south ridge of the hill. Although the overall ascent of Whiskey Jack Hill is short, some sections of the trail are brutally steep. The high point is marked by a massive cairn along with a register box and a small bench. There is a subsidiary high point further north, but it is unquestionably lower and disappointingly viewless. After taking an extended break on the high point, we descended mostly the same way to the trailhead.

	Ken, Angie and Zosia begin their second hike of the day at the trailhead for Whiskey Jack Hill.
	The trail going up Whiskey Jack Hill is straightforward to follow but very steep in places.

I never tire of looking at these beautiful peaks!

Mount Fisher and The Steeples look brilliant to the east.

	This note in the summit register leaves little doubt about the identity of Whiskey Jack Hill's custodian. Photo courtesy of Zosia Zgolak
	Sonny, Zosia, Ken and Angie relax on the high point of Whiskey Jack Hill (1198 metres).
	This is one of several chipmunks that regularly patrol the high point of Whiskey Jack Hill. Photo courtesy of Zosia Zgolak
	Zosia finds some shade from the sun under a massive cairn on the high point.
	The forested bump immediately to the southeast is Beacon Hill. Also visible on the distant horizon are Mount Baker (left) and Cranbrook Mountain (right).
	Total Distance: 2.7 kilometres Round-Trip Time: 2 hours 10 minutes Cumulative Elevation Gain: 170 metres GPX Data