Beaverdam Creek Ridge is in the Bob Creek Wildland Provincial Park, in the foothills north of the Oldman River. The trailhead is the same as that for hiking the Little Whaleback Ridge.

The Beaverdam Ridge line

From the trailhead turn right up the “no motorized vehicles” road, before the OHV road trailhead. Soon cross Bob Creek and turn right at the fist junction. You quickly reach the Bob Creek boundary, and immediately, the ridge line of Beaverdam Creek.

Beaverdam Creek valley

The Beaverdam Creek valley is usually swampy and not a good summer hike, according to Bob Blaxley, author of “The Whaleback: A Walking Guide.”

Following the ridge spine

Follow the ridge line and come to the top of this first section, which we shall call the Little Beaverdam Ridge.

Typical upstep on Beaverdam Ridge

The ridge goes up in steps.

Ascent route up Beaverdam Ridge

Drop about 20 metres to a draw and up onto the main ridge. This view is back along the ridge just followed.

Looking back to trailhead

The trailhead can be seen to the south from the ridgetop.

North descent of Beaverdam Ridge

This is the summit, with the descent spur to the northwest dropping to the left. When into a tributary valley, cross the creek and follow a track west, which turns to parallel Bob Creek on benchlands, finally joining the main Bob Creek trail at the park boundary.

Ancient limber pine on Beaverdam Ridge

This ancient limber pine is one of the main reasons for the park.

Bonzai Douglas Fir on Beaverdam Ridge

Likewise this ancient, wind blasted Douglas fir, with huge trunk and bonzai appearance of what's left of it.

Butterfly on Beaverdam Ridge

Exquisite flowers and butterflies await the visitor. The hillsides are covered with arrow leaf balsam root, which would be a sea of yellow flowers in May-June.

Trip statistics: 8 km (our route), 420m elevation gain. Ramblers exploration party July 5, 2009: Sharon, Stephen and Carl, coordinator and scribe.