Category: Difficult Hike

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Ripple Ridge/Lightning Strike

Stagleap Provincial Park is renowned for backcountry skiing, but there is also a summer trail that rises along Ripple Ridge. Ridgeline hiking is always a good choice, and this trail doesn’t disappoint with panoramic views of the mountains around Kootenay Pass. Lightning Strike and Ripple Ridge are used interchangeably to refer to this ridgeline which is confusing. The proper Ripple Mountain looms far in the distance and isn’t connected at all to the ridge.

Summary
Trailhead: Bridal Lake, Stagleap Provincial Park
Distance, round trip: 9.4km
Elevation: +393m
Season: early July to early October
Difficulty:   Moderate
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Whitewater Canyon

Local wisdom has it that Whitewater Canyon is the prime location for grizzly bear viewing across the valley slopes. We saw no bears. Regardless, Whitewater is a wonderful and challenging hike that brings you along the canyon edge to a high alpine pass surrounded by peaks and tarns.

Summary
Trailhead: Whitewater Creek FSR
Distance, round trip: 12.8km to Whitewater Pass, 14.4km to Whitewater Tarn
Elevation: +670m to Whitewater Pass, +820m to Whitewater Tarn
Season: mid-July to late September
Difficulty:  Difficult

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Wakefield Trail – Idaho Peak

Do you think driving to the top of mountains is overrated? Do you really want to earn it? The Wakefield Trail gets you up to Idaho Peak using your own two feet. It’s a hard, steady climb that traces old mining routes to the top of Silver Ridge.

Summary
Trailhead: Silverton Creek FSR,
Distance, round trip: 14.2km
Elevation: +1000m
Season: late June to late September
Difficulty:  Difficult

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Gimli Ridge

Mt. Gimli is a striking pillar of rock, towering high in the Valhalla range. This hike is tough, but rewarding. The trail leads up to the base of Gimli where it wraps around to a final ledge. Here, hikers can look down into the Mulvey Basin lakes, or just spin and spin and take in the panoramas of jagged peaks and sky.

Summary
Trailhead: Bannock Burn Road
Distance, round trip: 10.3km
Elevation: +909m
Season: mid-July to late September
Difficulty:  Difficult

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Gwillim Lakes/Drinnon Pass

Turquoise lakes, mirrored pools, and circles of peaks all around! The hike to Gwillim Lakes goes from ‘impressive’ to ‘fantastically incredible’ and doesn’t stop there! This is one of the region’s best hikes and a worthwhile backpacking destination for a weekend in alpine paradise.

Summary
Trailhead: Hodor Creek Road
Distance, round trip: 12km
Elevation: +894m
Season: mid-July to late September
Difficulty:  Difficult
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Old Glory Mountain

You won’t be disappointed standing atop the highest peak in the Rossland Range. At 2377m, Old Glory towers above the visible world and offers spectacular views of the nearby Monashee mountains. Most of this hike is done up high, along alpine meadows and ridge lines, so your trek will be bordered by wildflowers and the hazy blue of distant horizons.

Summary
Trailhead: Highway 3B
Distance, round trip: 17km
Elevation: +1145m
Season: late June to late September
Difficulty:  Difficult

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