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See UPDATES PAGE to the current edition to see new updated edition pages to have the most current info about the trails and roads. Also, if you don't have the most recent edition 3rd Edition Updated -- download the 4 page PDF to keep your book current.
See BACKROADS FORUM to get the latest in roads around the Kootenay backcountry. I post information as it becomes available throughout the summer about the condition of the Kootenay Backroads.
Logging slashed the bottom third of this trail making it hard to find. It was deleted also as it is laced with blow-downs and is uninteresting until you reach the alpine. The trail was cut out in 2011 see the Road Forum 2011 for details.
The road is terrible almost an ATV track now and there are virtually no trails to these two destinations in subalpine brush and rubble.
The Purcell Wilderness Conservancy is still in the third edition, but this section of interesting history and details didn't fit within the scale of the third edition.
Wesley Creek Trail comes and goes depending on who cuts out the brush. It leads to the north end of St. Mary's Alpine Park. The trail/route is long and usually overgrown, so it was omitted from the 3rd edition. The South and West access to the St. Mary's Park are described in the new 3rd edition.
The Mount Evans trail built in the 1930's is still in fair condition. The short 1.5 km road access cannot be driven now and the junction trail branching off the overgrown road is very hard to find. See also 2010 road updates as several dedicated citizens have now cut out the road access.
The trails to these two tiny lakes are indistinct and overgrown. Ailsa Lake never had a good trail to it and its steep bushwhack through dense alders to the subalpine lake. The "trail" to Mayo Lake is mostly indistinct through debris covered avalanche slopes.
Omitted the trail and road access to Redding Creek in the 3rd edition because I rarely drive the two hours on the Redding Creek Road to reach mediocre destinations. The Redding Creek FS Road is maintained over the Grey Creek Pass, but not much south of that junction.
The road to Hall Lake is poorly marked and is overgrown. The side road however from the Hall Lake road leads to a communications tower and that steep switchback road leads to V-V-Top, which is partially a scramble hike to the summit along a talus ridge. The College of the Rockies student association may have information on the V-V-Top hike and route.
Baker Lake is the headwaters of Redding Creek and the road and trail are in fair condition. However there is a substantial creek crossing near the trailhead that may be impassible if the log bridge is gone,as is is not maintained.
Parts of the Perry Pass are obliterated by a new logging road, but the access over Gold Run Lake is easier on the new road. This new road may continue up and over Hellroaring to Kamma Pass, but I do not know for sure. This trail is mentioned in the Richmond Gold Run Lake traverse. Following the entire 100 year old trail is impossible now as it has been abandoned, is overgrown and slashed by many logging blocks.
This link is also the hiking directions to Deep and Driftwood Lakes in the HOTR Park. I eliminated this hike as the forests throughout most of it have burned in 2003 and the area now is hectares of a black tree skeletons. It is very hot and dry there now and not really worth hiking (unless you can travel by horse.) Deep and Driftwood Lakes are also a long slog on foot and I didn't think they were very scenic compared to the other areas of HOTR such as Sylvan Pass. Limestone Lakes and Ralph lake that I kept in the 3rd edition of my hiking guide book.
The public cabin at Connor Lakes did not burn in the massive fire of 2003 that raced through the area, but all around it is fire damaged forests. Not scenic right now until the fire vegetation regenerates a bit. The trail up the Maiyuk Creek that I mentioned in this link is still suitable for hiking and the Connor Lake is a scenic and large subalpine lake.
Fisherville is a historic site that s not maintained much. It is the original Gold Rush town of the Kootenays over 100 years old. Fisherville has a few signs about the historical significance, but there is not much there anymore. A cemetery along the Wildhorse Creek Road is worth a stop though. As for the Dewdney trail remnants exist from Fort Steele to Fisherville, but it is hard to find and overgrown.
This ridgewalk is challenging and traverses a broken spine of the Rockies. There is no reliable source of water along this multi-day route except snow melt creeks and the occasional patch of late melting cornices. Those are reasons not to include it in the hiking guide book, but the route is still accessible and in remote wilderness for those who want to try it.
Pickering Hills is a great place in spring and fall for low elevation hiking. Cattle graze on the grassland slopes and wildflowers nestle between stands of fir. Aspens surround a few tiny ponds in the area.
This bike loop is very hot in June throughout summer and it traverses alongside the main road to Premier Lake Provincial park for several uphill, dusty, kilometres. Parts of the route is rough with erosion and is still worth doing if cyclist want to ride it.
Bummers Flats is a lovely area in a managed wetland with a dirt road winding along the shores of the Kootenay River. The area is managed as riparian habitat for water fowl and ungulates. It is a good spring half day hike and worth exploring. I eliminated this hike because of the wildlife considerations.
Echoes Lakes are two deep lakes in the Rocky Mountain Trench near Wasa. They are a favourite with fishers in boats and rafts. As you can almost drive to the shores of the lake and it is getting very popular I choose not to include it the 3rd edition. Bike riding around the dirt roads in the area is a nice day ride in the spring and autumn. The summer the area's roads are very dusty and hot and not fun on a bike. Worth exploring.
This is also a popular camping / fishing lake near Invermere. It is on the BC Recreation Sites and I choose not to include it in this edition as there is not much hiking around the lake and it is already well known.
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