Strawberry Ridge
A pleasant hike through the forest, leading to a viewpoint high above Kaslo. Enjoy the views of Kootenay Lake and the Purcell Mountains from the scenic bench at the top.
Distance, round trip: 3.4 km
Elevation: +172m
Time: 1-1.5 hours (out and back)
Season: April to November
Difficulty:
Easy Trailhead & Driving Directions
From downtown Kaslo, head south on Highway 31 for 1.3km then turn right onto Balfour Avenue (signed for the airport and refuse station). Follow Balfour Avenue for 1.1km as it turns into Kaslo West Road.
As you near the airport, take a sharp left at the gravel pit and ascend a gravel road. You can park at the gravel pit and walk from here, or continue on the gravel road for 0.9km as it rises above the airport and find a parking pullout closer to the signed trail post.
The trail post is 0.9km up the gravel road at a fork where two roads split. There isn’t much room to park here.
Up the forest
The trail rises peacefully over the forest floor, winding nicely to manage the climb. Look for orchids on the mossy floor and enjoy the call of birds from above.
The trail crosses a few old overgrown roads as it ascends, but all the junctions are signed.
Strawberry Ridge
At 1.3km, the trail leaves the forest as it ascends an old cutblock on Strawberry Ridge. View start to open up on all sides and the climb gets steeper!
Reach the top of Strawberry Ridge at 1.7km with wide views of Kootenay Lake and the Purcells. A scenic bench invites you to take a break!
Exploring Further
From the top, you can make a longer loop by continuing south along the ridge. A network of mountain bike trails and old roads offer various options. We took the Elk Spine trail down (steep!) and then continued left to loop back on the Spanish Moss trail. Use Trailforks to see the full network as there are many junctions and options.
