Syringa & Yellow Pine Trails
The trails above Syringa Provincial Park meander through an open forest of towering ponderosa pine. This is easy, pleasant walking with excellent views of Lower Arrow Lake.
Distance, round trip: 6.8km
Elevation: +220m
Time: 2-3 hours (loop)
Season: late March to mid-November
Difficulty:
EasyTrailhead & Driving Directions
Head north on Columbia Avenue in Castlegar to cross the Castlegar-Robson bridge over the Columbia River, turn left onto Broadwater Road towards Robson (signed for Syringa Provincial Park). Follow Broadwater Road for 16 km (10 mi) to reach the park. Turn left into the signed Sturgeon Point Day Use Area to park.
Up to the trail!
Starting from the Sturgeon Point Day Use Area, cross Broadwater Road and follow the Syringa Trail up into the woods. A series of gentle switchbacks will guide you up the soft forest floor. At 0.9 km (0.6 mi), a faint junction on the right will lead you to an overlook of the Syringa Creek Canyon. Continue left to stay on the main trail.
Scenic Lookouts
The trail stays level through the forest until 2.2 km (1.4 mi) where a junction leads off to the right for the scenic lookout. Take this junction to reach a bench on a bluff looking out over Lower Arrow Lake.
Retrace your steps from the lookout spur back to the main trail and continue right (west). At 2.7 km (1.7 mi), pass a junction down to the middle trailhead on Deer Park Road. You’re now on the Yellow Pine Trail, and it continues to wind through open ponderosa forest. At 3.5 km (2.2 mi), begin a gentle descent to Deer Park Road.
Looping Back
Cross Deer Park Road to follow a path through the campground and onto the beaches. You can now pick your way along the beach or stay in the campground to follow a trail in the woods. Lower Arrow Lake is dam-controlled and the water level is low in early spring, offering more options for hiking along the beach. You may even see the old highway as you near the Sturgeon Day Use Area and complete the
Psst – while you’re in the area, why not make a quick visit to Tulip Creek Falls?
[…] Yellow Pine Trail – Syringa Provincial Park, Castlegar […]
Hiked these trails on April 11. They are in great shape right now! No trees down anywhere, all good to go.
[…] Nakusp Hot Springs ranging in length from 0.5 to 5 miles. Another family-friendly outing is the Yellow Pine Nature Trail in Syringa Provincial Park near Castlegar that offers views of Arrow Lake from a terraced hillside. […]
[…] Nakusp Hot Springs ranging in size from 0.5 to five miles. One other family-friendly outing is the Yellow Pine Nature Trail in Syringa Provincial Park close to Castlegar that gives views of Arrow Lake from a terraced […]