Elk Mountain & Thurston Mountain

(Elk) Level: Difficult Hike | Return Distance: 8km | Time: 4hrs | Elevation Gain: 800m | Highest Point: 1400m
(Thurston) Level: Difficult Hike | Return Distance: 15km | Time: 7hrs | Elevation Gain: 1030m | Highest Point: 1630m

Everyone’s favorite hike! Easily accessible trailhead, alpine meadows and a spectacular view are your rewards for a strenuous uphill climb. Suitable for the faily fit.

Directions: Highway 1 exit 123 (Prest Rd.) South 4km to Bailey Rd, turn left and go 1km to the bottom of the hill turning right and uphill on Elk View Rd. Stay on the same road for 8km, where the pavement ends and the road continues straight ahead for 2km as the Chilliwack Bench Forest Rd. The gravle pit/parking lot is on the left, with the trailhead on the right.

Level: Difficult Hike | Return Distance: 10km | Time: 6hrs | Elevation: 650m | Highest Point: 650m

A challenging hike with plenty of round rock underfoot to start, steep sections through the forest, and broken log bridges to cross further along. You do get a grand view of Harrison Lake from an old heli-pad part of the way up, but be aware that the lake itself is not the prettiest and offers no great views.

Directions: Highway 1 Exit 135 (Agassiz-Harrison). Follow the signs to Harrison Hot Springs. The trailhead is 2km past the overhead “Welcome to Harrison” sign. Watch for a green sign on your left. Be sure to stay to the right after climbing the water tower near the bottom. Orange squares mark the route.

Level: Difficult Hike | Return Distance: 20km | Time: 7hrs | Elevation Gain: 1010m | Highest Point: 1048m

A double whammy! Super-views of Harrison Lake and the Fraser River … both on the same hike!

Directions: Highway 1 Exit 135 (Agassiz-Harrison). Follow the signs to Harrison Hot Springs. Turn right on the Lillooet Ave. (just before the lake) and travel 4.9km along Rockwell Dr. (beside the lake). Watch closely for a large gate on the right with Bear Mountain Forest Service Rd. sign beside it. Park and walk up the old road, keeping to the right at the mining debris. The first 6km of this well marked route follows the unused road uphill and features an old mining-site, a nifty little waterfall and good views of the lake. Another 2km of flatter road leads to the last 2km, a sweet trail through second growth forest, from which you literally burst out into the viewpoint area, with the mighty Fraser below and Mt. Cheam and friends across the way. The view will make up for the tower and heli-pad on site. Be sure to take an extra few minutes to visit Bear Lake, marked at around 7km.

Level: Difficult Hike | Return Distance: 6.5km | Time: 3hrs | Elevation: None

Great loop trail with no great ups or downs.

Directions: Highway 1 Exit 135 (Agassiz-Harrison). Travel through Agassiz to the junctions of Hwy. 7 and 9. Turn left and drive west over Mt. Woodside to Harrison Mills. Cross the Harrison River Bridge, turn right on Morris Valley Rd, to the Weaver Creek spawning channel. Just after it, watch for ‘Weaver Lake’ sign on the left side of the road. Note: the 2.5hm road to the lake is rough and a 4×4 vehicle is recommended.

Level: Difficult Hike | Return Distance: 8km | Time: 5.5hrs | Elevation: 915m | Highest Point: 1325m

The end justifies the means on this ambitious foray up to one of the prettiest lakes the North Cascades has to offer. The trail has all you could wish for; a rushing gushing creek complete with log bridges and a waterfall, trees overhead with little underbrush underfoot, roots to trip over and curse, kilometre markers that you’ll swear are miles, and as a final reward “the serenity of a clear blue mountain lake” complete
with its backdrop of tantalizing peaks. Who could ask for anything more? (Oh…how about some trout?)

Directions: Highway 1, Exit 168, follow signs towards Skagit Valley Provincial Park. Turn right onto Silver Skagit Road. “0” odometer and travel 16km, ignoring the right turn into Silver Lake Campground and
passing by with the lake on your right. Just past 16km look carefully to the left for the old Eaton Creek Forest Recreation Site. Park roadside or venture in the short distance to the rustic parking area. Follow the old road which becomes the trail. Orange squares mark the route. Note: Take care on the log bridges; slippery when wet.

Level: Difficult Hike | Return Distance: 14.6km (with 4×4 = 8.6km less) | Time:5hrs | Elevation Gain: 1005m | Highest Point: 1410m

360 degree view from the top at an old Forest Service fire lookout site. Trail continues along the ridge to join Williams Ridge trail (Hike #13) and on to Williams Peak.

Directions: See Chilliwack River Valley directions. At 28.4 km watch for Ford Mountain Forest Service Road and signpost on the left. 4×4’s can travel the 4.3 km of rough, steep road (2WD can only make it 2km). At around 4 km follow the old road on your left to the trailhead Orange squares mark the route. Note: The trail continues beyond the lookout area along the ridge to Williams Peak, with Williams Ridge trail (Hike #13) rising steeply to join it 5 km along. From the junction of the trails it is another 4 km of ridge hiking to the open area below the conical peak itself, a good place to turn around unless you’re equipped for rock-scrambling.

Level: Difficult Hike | Return Distance: 15km | Time:6hrs | Elevation Gain: 910m | Highest Point: 1460m

Plenty of trees, bridges, and some wide open spaces are all yours to enjoy on your hike to this small lake nestled in a meadow at the base of Mt. Webb and Mt. Macdonald (2 km further). An old cabin, magnificent peaks and a glacier to view too!

Directions: See Chilliwack River Valley directions. Drive 42 km to Chilliwack Lake Provincial Park and turn right at the Gatehouse. Park in the Day Use parking lot and walk back towards the sani-dump, turning
left and passing the Info Board on your way down the campground road to the TC Trail Radium Lake sign. This will take you to the footbridge over the Chilliwack River where you cross, turn right and follow the TC Trail downstream for 1km. Watch for the Radium Lake signpost on the left. If hiking beyond the lake be sure to turn left just past the cabin. If staying overnight please let park staff know. Note: If the park gate is closed park roadside and follow the TC Trail signs in.

Share