(This is why you hike up mountains!!)
This will be the first post in a series highlighting all the hikes that I have done around the Lower Mainland and other parts of my home province of British Columbia, Canada.
You will find the trailhead to this hike about an hour 45-minute drive from downtown Vancouver along Highway 1. Once you leave the highway at Prest Road you have a lovely 16km drive along Elk View Road that takes you around to the backside of the mountain through a picturesque countryside. On a nice day, the parking can be packed as it’s really just a dirt pull out near the trailhead. There are always lots of people parking along the side of the dirt road but be prepared for a pretty dusty car when you get back!
The Details:
Round Trip – 2.5-3 Hours
Distance – 7 Kilometres /4,35 Miles
Elevation Gain – 800 Metres / 2625 Feet
Difficulty – Intermediate (This ain’t no walk in the park)
The hike starts out on a steady incline that is sure to get the pulse rate going. The spacious and easy to navigate pathway takes you through a dense forest . There are not too many flat spots on this trail. It’s either a steady rise or super steep but if you pace yourself, the reward at the 1 hour and 20-minute mark will be totally worth it. This is where you emerge from the forest and start to realise why you worked so hard to get here.
(Family GoPro selfie!)
The reward is a sweeping panoramic view of the entire Fraser Valley with Cultus Lake and the city of Chilliwack below. We took some time to snap some photos and get a little GoPro footage and then continued on to find the second viewpoint. After only 10 more minutes or so we arrived at our lunch spot. This clearing near the top faces due south towards the US and has gorgeous views of the neighbouring mountains that tower above the Chilliwack River below. Take note that the last climb to the top has a lot of loose gravel and can be a bit slick on your decent. Take your time!
(View to the south from the second view point)
Travel | Hike | Craft Beer 