Windy Bluff And The Wall

BOU AVENUE
Windy Bluff And The Wall

On 22 June 2025, Zosia Zgolak and I hiked up a couple of unassuming bumps located on the eastern edge of Cranbrook, British Columbia. The bumps are actually part of an extensive mountain biking trail network which is spread across and beyond Cranbrook Community Forest Recreation Site (CCFRS). Neither Zosia nor I are hardcore mountain bikers, but the trails here are well-suited for walking. Although the bumps are officially unnamed, I think it makes sense to attribute the same names given to the trails that access them--"Windy Bluff" and "The Wall". There are several different access points for CCFRS, and although I had hoped to begin hiking from the Kettle Lake trailhead parking lot, a seasonal gate forced us to start from a pullout (49.54043, -115.73570) at the northern terminus of Sylvan Lake Forest Service Road. This would add about an extra two kilometres (one-way) and 115 metres elevation gain to our approach.

The extra distance and climb did not deter Zosia and me as we marched up the road to the Kettle Lake trailhead (toilet available) in about 38 minutes. From there, we took the most direct route to the top of Windy Bluff via Windy Bluff and Stunty trails. Although signage is plentiful throughout the trail network, I still found myself consulting the map in my phone's GPS application fairly regularly to make sure that we were on the right track. Near the top of Windy Bluff, I inadvertently disturbed a well-camouflaged common nighthawk and then nearly stepped on a couple of eggs that it had been incubating. According to Wikipedia, nighthawks tend to lay their eggs on open rocky ground instead of inside a traditional nest. Fortunately, the nighthawk I disturbed eventually returned to its eggs to continue their incubation which usually lasts between two to three weeks.

	Zosia checks out an information board at the northern terminus of Sylvan Lake Forest Service Road.
	Zosia gets her first look at "Windy Bluff" across a clearing.
	Zosia turns up Windy Bluff's namesake trail at the Kettle Lake trailhead.
	Without a mountain bike, Sonny tries to "ski" the wooden boardwalk. Photo courtesy of Zosia Zgolak
	The forest gives way to rock outcrops and short bluffs near the top of Windy Bluff.
	This common nighthawk has been inadvertently disturbed from its nesting spot.
	Peculiarly, nighthawks lay their eggs on open ground instead of in traditional nests.
	Zosia stands on the high point of Windy Bluff (1145 metres).
	Near the top of Windy Bluff is this horsey swing made of recycled tires.
	Here is a view of "The Wall" from near the top of Windy Bluff.
	A sliver of Sylvan Lake is visible behind Zosia in this view to the southwest.

After tagging the high point of Windy Bluff, Zosia and I descended its namesake trail into a dip where we ultimately connected with an old exploration road running eastward across a power line right-of-way into private land. Non-motorized public access is currently allowed on the trails within the private land, and hopefully, visitors will be prudent enough to not abuse this privilege (ie. no camping, littering, or motorbiking). Just beyond the power line right-of-way, we turned left onto a spur road which then intersects a mountain bike trail zigzagging up the west side of The Wall. The maze of trails near the top can be a bit confusing to navigate, but we managed to find our way to the high point which is on a rock outcrop largely surrounded by trees. We took a short break here before checking out the views from a small clearing to the east.

For our return, Zosia and I dropped back down the same way we came up as far as the spur road. We then followed a couple of different trails--Split Rock and Knight's--until we re-connected with the old exploration road lower down from where we initially joined it. Descending the road quickly brought us back to the Kettle Lake trailhead, and from there, we walked back to our parked car at the seasonal gate with only one inconsequential route deviation along the way.

	Zosia climbs up a spur road going up the west slopes of The Wall.
	Zosia stands on the high point of The Wall (1227 metres).
	Zosia looks toward "Bee Line Hill" from a clearing on the east side of The Wall.
	Zosia crosses a power line right-of-way on the return trip. At right is Windy Bluff.
	One of the trails used on the descent is presumably named after this "Split Rock".
	Sonny relaxes on a bench at one of the last viewpoints before the descent to Kettle Lake trailhead. Photo courtesy of Zosia Zgolak
	Total Distance: 9.7 kilometres Round-Trip Time: 4 hours 2 minutes Cumulative Elevation Gain: 336 metres GPX Data