Backpack - Elk Lakes Park

Leader permission forms (use link on activity) will include complete responses with following information:  provide examples of your recent (during last 12-24 mo) Mountaineers and private 3+day moderate to strenuous day hikes and backpacks (incl location, mileage, elev gain), comfort with leisurely/relaxed pace,  primary interest(s) (backpacking/hiking, photography or other nature arts, nature enjoyment) in this particular trip, comfort/experience with travel over minimal snow fields (if any) and a few potential easy/mod stream crossings, comfort/experience with back country travel/camping in bear (grizzly, black)/moose habitat, transportation plans (drive or need ride, carpool interest), preference for hut stay or Lower Elk Lake campground, confirm your level of commitment for this trip, and that you have current passport for border crossing.  

ASAP after leader approval, please register for this backpack and  if interested in hut space, reserve ACC hut space with leader or directly with ACC (instructions below). 

NEW:  Backpack destination may be canceled or changed to comparable scenic backpack trip (4 days, moderate length and elevation change) if adverse weather conditions multiple days, nearby wildfire(s) or unhealthy smoky air quality.  Leader will be monitoring weather forecasts, status of wildfires and smoky air quality conditions in SE BC and Elk Lakes.  

 We’ll hike in one group (or two preferred, if small photo/naturalist interest group),  support each other, be safe, and have fun while exploring the wild natural beauty of this special area.  Practice LNT and be respectful of wildlife.   

Daily itinerary:   Leisurely pace (approx 1 mph uphill and 1.5-2mph downhill) to accommodate brief stops of interest for photos, other nature arts or natural history along trails/routes.  Expect to see subalpine/alpine wildflowers and wildlife. We’ll aim to start hiking each day 8:00-8:30am, with short breaks and 20 min. lunch.

Day 1: Backpack from TH to hut and Lower Elk Lake camp.    Meet 9:30/10am at hut or Lower Elk Lake CG (if campers),  9:30am for day hike.   Lush wildflower meadows line trail with nominal gain to Lower Elk Lake (5,610 ft).  Continue on main trail to Upper Elk Lake 3.3km and scenic shoreline, follow side trail to Petain Creek  primitive campsite, returning to main trail along scenic shoreline trail and at 8.6km signed junction continue  straight for Petain Falls and viewpoint 9km (6,040 ft) for lower Petain Falls over cliffs of Mount Castelnau with its remnant glacier.   A right fork at 8.6km leads to Upper Petain Basin (we'll take this route another day).  Trail ends at moraine rim along creek, and does not reach base of falls. Up to 9mi rt, 700 ft gain/loss (including side trail).

Day 2 (or day 3):  Meet 9:30/10am at hut or Lower Elk Lake CG (if campers) day hike.  Fox Lake and Frozen Lake loops.  Steady uphill travel through forest, trail signed to Fox Lake (6,410 ft), a shallow tarn.   At West Elk Pass, follow signed trail 1.7km to Frozen Lake (7,220), a scenic deep subalpine lake below Mount Fox.   We can return on trail to West Elk Pass and continue to Elk Pass 10.6km, and return to hut/camp. Another option is to hike 4.5km south from Elk Pass to junction signed Lower Elk Lakes trail, and return to hut/camp.  Approx 9mi 1500ft gain/loss to/from Fox and Frozen Lakes, or up to 12 mi RT 1600ft gain/loss via Elk Pass.  Possible short evening light view hike.

Day 3 (or 2):  Meet 9:30/10am at hut or Lower Elk Lake CG (if campers) day hike.  Same trail/route as day  to Petain Creek  campsite, then follow increasingly steeper, rougher trail/route to Upper Petain Falls and Upper Petain Basin or as far as group is comfortable with safe travel.  Up to 10-12 mi RT, 1800ft gain/loss.  

Day 4:  Meet 9:30/10am at hut or Lower Elk Lake CG (if campers) day hike.  AM day hike to Lower and Upper Elk Lakes.   Up to 4mi RT, 200-300 ft gain/loss.  Return to camp, late AM or early afternoon.  Depart for TH, more adventures or home.

Elk Lakes Provincial Park topo map (1:35,000), metric scale covering entire park.  Waterproof and tear resistant. Available from Backroad Mapbooks and BC retailers.  Leader has topo.

Weather/smoke/wildfire:  Trip may be rescheduled or canceled if adverse weather forecast (high temps, very rainy), hazardous smoky air quality or nearby wildfires.  Leader will monitor current and forecast conditions.  

See BC Wildfires app for wildfire info, Accuweather for Elkford weather and air quality, Spotwx.com for 7-10 day pinpoint weather Elk Lake Park location TBD 

Meet 8:30am at TH, BC side.   Travel Hwy 3 east in BC Sparwood, then N on Hwy 43 to Elkford.  Follow main road past Elkford, then N on Elk River FS road for approx 66-70k (42mi, 2 hrs).  Elk River FS road  is a rough washboard gravel/dirt access road via Elk Valley  to TH, improved (per ACC) in recent years, and less rough than described in route/place, with high clearance clearance sturdy AWD vehicle (ie Subaru, Toyota Rav) highly recommended.  Note:  first road marker on Elk River FS road reads 100km.

High clearance vehicles (and at least 1 full spare tire) recommended for travel on gravel/dirt forest roads accessing trailheads in SE BC region.  

Rustic rec area camps along Elk River FS road near TH:  53km Riverside (153km marker), 61km Tobermory (161km marker) with small public use cabin nearby,  at 61.5km L fork to Upper Elk River camping.  Take R fork for Elk Lakes Park TH parking at end of road.  Front country camping available in Elkford BC at Elkford Municipal CG.

Be aware of drive time (9.5hr, 566mi) between Seattle and Elkford (SE BC), plus 2 hr drive from Elkford to TH.  Allow for a long day of travel or an overnight enroute.

Note: If unexpected BC Forest service road closure occurs, backpack will begin from Alberta Elk Pass trailhead (see route/place for details), adds 4mi backpacking to campground and 5 miles to hut, with 700ft gain and 600ft loss.