Old growth forests are precious places! Take the time to wander through this grove near Rossland – it’s a short, but worthwhile hike.
Distance, round trip: 3km
Elevation: -75m
Season: April to November
Difficulty:
Easy Trailhead and Driving Directions
From the Rossland Museum, drive 15.5km north on Highway 3B and look for the sign on the right-side of the highway.
From Castlegar, drive 30km west on Highway 3 and then turn left onto Highway 3B at Nancy Greene Lake. Continue 13.5km south on Highway 3B and watch for the sign on the left-side of the highway (it comes up fast!).
Once you’ve turned off the highway, you can either walk or drive the remaining 300m to the official trailhead. Head down the gravel road and shortly see a signed junction. Turn right and continue to reach the trailhead with a wide parking area in the forest. The gravel road is suitable for 2WD low clearance vehicles.
This trail is also known as the Murphy Creek Rec Site.
Around the forest
The trail descends through the forest and then hits a loop which is best hiked counter-clockwise. Watch for interpretive signs and take your time to learn about the ecology and value of old growth forests. Soon you’ll walk through impressive stands of cedar and hemlock.
Light filtering through the canopy 
Hiking along the trail 
Old growth cedar and hemlock
As you loop around, reach a beautifully carved bench overlooking the distant Columbia Valley. This is a great spot to stop for a snack, then you’ll be heading back up to return to the trailhead.
Lookout bench 
