Mount Beattie

Sometimes you just need a moderate hike with a moderate view. Mount Beattie is like that. It’s a forested ridge line, tucked away in the Whitewater backcountry. Beattie’s treed summits are uneventful, but sometimes the journey is more important than the destination. And a day out in the mountains is never a day wasted.

Summary

Trailhead: Whitewater Ski Hill Road
Distance, round trip: 11.2km
Elevation: +499m
Season: late June to late September
Difficulty:  Moderate

Trailhead and Driving Directions

Drive 6.9km up Whitewater Ski Hill Road to park at Hummingbird Pass (before the main ski resort area). The road will widen with a large pull-out on the left for parking.

Hike down the road to view the summer kiosk with the trail map for White Queen. The extension to Beattie isn’t marked on this map, but the first half of the hike follows the same route.

Up the Humming Bird Mine Road

From the parking spot, walk down the road, past the winter kiosk, across the bridge, and continue on as the road slowly ascends. After 0.8km, reach a junction where the road is signed “Cat’s Paw”, and switchback left away from the main road to keep ascending. At 1.4km, the road will switchback right as it climbs higher and can become overgrown as it goes on.

By 2.2km, the road fades away into hiking trail, contouring above Hummingbird Pass and then curving East. Pass the signed Friendship Tree at 2.6km.

At 2.7km, reach a signed junction and stay left to head left to Mount Beattie (right goes to White Queen). Shortly after, you’ll cross a creek and then slow down as you’re passing by the old Hummingbird Mine. You’ll see the tailing pile to the right of the trail (across the creek) and then look on either side of the path for rusted artefacts. On your left is a hill and you can explore off-trail to find the footprint of old cabins, with a stove, kettle, and bedsprings rusted.

To Mount Beattie

The trail ascends at a gentle grade through the forest, winding through huckleberry bushes and crossing open meadows. In late August, the berries are ripe and it’s a good idea to call for bears! The trail is well marked with a beaten path and clipped shrubbery.

After 4.5km, reach a flagged junction. Heading right will ascend 0.1km to Beattie’s true summit. It’s an uneventful lump in the trees, but offers another route over to White Queen if you want to hike a big loop with some real scenery.

Heading left at the junction will take you along the ridge to North Beattie, another low summit but with a little more view and a little more walk.

North Beattie

The trail to North Beattie has recently been established, but it’s well marked and clipped. You’ll get views over Five Mile Basin as you make your way along the ridge.

Reach the top of North Beattie after 5.6km. There is a large flat clearing and you’ll look out at the old burn across Five Mile Basin. Your eye can trace the ridge line back to Beattie and beyond to White Queen. It took us 2.5 hours to reach this spot at a slow pace.

Retrace your steps to head back down the Beattie Trail and the Hummingbird Pass Trailhead.