From Highway 3, turn east onto BC Mines Road (2WD gravel) 1.9 kilometres south of Wilgress Lake Rest Area (toilets available) or 18.0 kilometres west and north of the junction with Highway 41.  Drive 250 metres and turn right onto a slightly rougher road heading south.  Drive about 600 metres and park in a small pullout (49.12494, -118.54041) on the right.  The signed trailhead is about 75 metres further down the road on the left (49.124664, -118.53949).

After a slight delay at the trailhead due to bountiful huckleberries, Zosia and I hiked the surprisingly well-maintained trail eastward along the rolling west ridge of Thimble Mountain.  As expected, there was not a lot to see along the forested trail, but it was pleasant enough to walk.  Around maybe the seven-kilometre mark, we came across an unexpected junction with a fallen sign.  Although we did not know it at the time, this turned out to be the turnoff to the true summit, but because we could not decrypt the meaning of the weathered sign, we simply ignored it and continued on the main trail.  Almost a kilometre beyond the junction, we left the trail to scramble up the first of Thimble Mountain's two northern outliers.  The first outlier is mostly open and grants the best panoramic views on the mountain.  From there, we dropped down and regained the trail which continues northward and does an inexplicable loop around the second outlier without going to the top.  Finding no beaten paths, we went off-trail again and easily reached the high point of the second outlier where we stopped for an extended break.

For our return, Zosia and I dropped down to regain the trail and followed it all the way back to the trailhead without incident.  Again, we failed to take the detour to the true summit which, to be fair, is not marked on my GPS map.  Not until long after the hike did I realize my error, but I am not sure if the true summit--apparently tree-covered and viewless--even merits a return visit unless we bring either mountain bikes or skis.

	Sonny stops to pick huckleberries beside the Thimble Mountain trailhead register box. Photo courtesy of Zosia Zgolak
	These are only the first of many handfuls of huckleberries that will be collected on this day.
	Most of the hike is forested but on a good trail.
	A rare clearing along the trail grants this view to the northwest of Mount Roderick Dhu (first bump right of centre on horizon).
	Zosia finds more huckleberries along the trail.
	Ripe huckleberries are seemingly everywhere on Thimble Mountain.
	Though not as abundant as huckleberries, wild strawberries can also be found along the trail.
	Zosia picks up a cryptic sign at an unexpected trail junction.  It turns out that this is the turnoff to the actual summit of Thimble Mountain.
	This rickety bridge was built to go over a barbed wire fence.
	Zosia finally breaks out of the forest and climbs up the first of Thimble Mountain's two northern outliers.

 

Zosia stands atop the first and most scenic outlier (1289 metres).  The second outlier is just a short distance further.

 

	Zosia and Sonny stand atop the second outlier (1298 metres).
	Zosia begins the long walk back to the trailhead.  The first outlier can be seen at right while the true summit of Thimble Mountain is the forested hump at centre.
	Total Distance:  17.5 kilometres Round-Trip Time:  6 hours 52 minutes Cumulative Elevation Gain:  419 metres GPX Data