The Napier Lake Ranch Conservancy is located just off Highway 5A near Napier Lake.   A short dirt side road climbs the hill to a parking area.   Visitors on foot can explore the grassland bench by going through a person gate and are asked to stay on established tracks in the 526 hectare area.

The ranch owners were stewards of the land, protecting the grasslands on the hillsides.

Grasslands conservancy

Tall grasses flank the double tracks in golden fall colors.

bromes

Crested wheatgrass was easy to spot where the grasses were not as tall.

crested wheatgrass

A few foxtail barley grasses grew in seep zones on the slopes.

foxtail barley

The taller grasses like wild rye grew above my waist as I hiked the hills.

tall wild rye

In the gullies were hawthorns, aspens, and snowberries.

hawthorn

Hawthorn berries were shriveled like raisins by November.

hawthorn

A small herd of  deer bounded off when I got too close.

bounding mule deer (thanks, Rick)

A few wildflower seedheads were still standing in the grasses, but most were already on the ground.

A few rock outcrops and some erratics had lichens growing on them.   This rocky pile had orange rock posy lichen (or a close relative)  .

orange rock posy lichen

On the way down the hill, I stopped to use the telephoto lens to capture images of trumpeter swans on Ritchie Lake.

trumpeter swan

I hope to return to the Conservancy in the spring to welcome the grasslands birds and emerging herbs on the hillside.