Jumpingpound Mtn to Cox hill Trail hike on 29-May-2025
We had a very enjoyable ridge traverse from Jumpingpound summit trailhead up to the summit, across to Cox hill then down to Dawson parking lot. It was a new traverse for some of the participants and enjoyed by all. We saw only two other hikers and one runner all day, probably because this was a midweek trip.
The weather was superb with lots of sun, mostly clear skies and enough wind to cool us down once we were on the ridges. Some flowers had emerged but it was still a bit early in the season with small patches of residual snow remaining on the north side of Cox and partway along the Jumpingpound trail.
We had a late start of 10:00am so reached the first summit just after 11:00am, had a short break, later a longer lunch break on a small ridge section with views, then reached Cox hill by 1:40pm. After another lunch break, we set off down the trail and reached Dawson shortly after 4:00pm. Total distance was 16km with about 740m elevation gain which felt much higher due to the day’s temperature and no wind when in the trees. The extremely eroded Cox hill trail seemed endless after such a wonderful ridge walk. By the time the cars returned from the trailhead to Dawson, the sky was dark and we left shortly before the rain started from the system that blew in.
I thank those who joined me for their company on this very enjoyable traverse.
Junction to Cox hill from Jumpingpound ridge
Lunch break on Jumpingpound ridge with Lusk hills in the background
Cox hill seems far away from our first lunch stop
Cox ridge with clouds starting to gather as a system blew in