Elk River Trail (to Landslide lake)

Park: Strathcona Provincial Park, Gold River region

Map

NTS 92F/13

11.0 km one way.

Terrain: Intermediate

Elevations (in meters)
Start:	320	End:	905
Minimum:	320	Maximum:	905
Net Gain:	585	Cumulative Gain:	585

<< Previous

Next >>

Elk River Trailhead: (340 km from Saanich Hall). Take highway #1 north from Victoria to Nanaimo where it becomes BC#19, continue north to Campbell River where you turn west onto BC#28 (to Gold River). 1 km past the parking area at the Strathcona Park entrance turn west towards Gold River across the bridge at the head of Buttle Lake. The trail is about 24 km past the bridge on the left hand side of the road.

Facilities available at the trailhead include:

Campsite (2 sites)
Toilets and/or outhouses

There is a very unofficial campsite at the trailhead, on the other side of the hill (see trail description for the Elk River Trail) are some nicer (still unofficial) spots near the river, about 1/2 hour hike in.

Uses

Backcountry skiing	Moderate to strenuous.
Backpack	Easy to moderate.	2 days round trip.	Best from late May thru late October.
Dayhike	4 boot (moderate to strenuous).	11 hours round trip.	Best from mid May thru late October.
Mountain climbing	Unrated.

Description

The trail begins by ascending a 100m hill in a series of a dozen or so switchbacks, descending to the river on the other side in about 9 switchbacks and then gradually ascends to a good campsite (6km,490m) between Volcano (5.5km) and Butterwort Creeks (6.5km) (not after Butterwort Creek as indicated on the Parks map). The trail then starts gaining elevation at a greater rate although still not too steeply. After crossing several more streams, including some lovely waterfalls, you come to a second campsite on a gravel bar (9km). Continuing on the trail crosses the river and ascends the washout area (10km, approx 600m) from the 1946 landslide which gave the lake its name. Here the trail is marked with rock cairns, it follows up the washout to the base of the falls and then heads in an easterly direction, and climbs the final 300m in 1km to the lake. Some very minor hand holds are in this portion.

It is possible to get around to Foster Lake (also known as Burg or Iceberg Lake) at the base of Mt Colonel Foster, proceed down to the lake and then make you way around toward the mountain. Look for some flagging in the bushy area just up from the lake. Follow this rough, flagged route, not up to BC Parks standards, around (it goes down to the lake a few times at first and then contours about 25-30m above the shore). A few avalanche slopes are crossed, extreme caution is required in the spring. After about 30-40 minutes you come out to a stream flowing down a series of cascades at the far end of the lake, make your way up the stream bed (rock hops requried along this section of fast moving, very cold water) and then onto the scree to the snowfield which is otherwise hidden from view. The mountain now dominates the vista, rising more than 1km above Foster Lake. Note: The distance to the snowfield (about 2km one way) and the time required are not included in the distance/time estimates for this as a hike.

On the return journey the trail can be hard to follow on the road (north) side of Volcano Creek, it remains high to the west of the river. The numerous paths in this area come from people using this area as an unofficial campsite. With the opening of the Butterwort campsite hopefully this situation will improve.

When backcountry skiing this trail beware that there are several severe avalanche slopes north of Butterwort Creek.

Features

This trail features animals (Beaver, Black bear, Red squirrel, Roosevelt elk), birds (Ducks, Grouse, Hermit thrush, Swainson's Thrush, Varied thrush, White tailed ptarmigan), ferns (Bracken fern, Maidenhair fern), flowers (Blue Violet, Columbine, False Lily of the Valley, False Solomon's seal, Fireweed, Foam flower, Indian paintbrush, Pink Mountain Heather, Queenscup, Redwood Violet, Vanilla leaf and Western Bleeding Heart), forests (Arbutus, Douglas-fir, Mountain hemlock, Red alder and Western red cedar), fruits (Wild strawberry), lakes, mountains, plants (Old growth forest), rivers, shrubs (Baldhip rose, Bunchberry dogwood, Goat's Beard, Oregon grape, Red huckleberry, Salal, Salmonberry), views and waterfalls.

Hazards

Some waterways must be crossed via rock hops, these can be slippery and caution should be exercised when making such crossings

Numerous rock-hops, early in season may encounter may downed logs which must be scrambled over or around. There are often bears in this area, take appropriate precautions (see our bear information page). Beware of crossing the snow in the avalanche paths, it may be underminded by streams.

Comments

At 2,135m Mt Colonel Foster is the 4th highest peak on Vancouver Island. The climb of Mt Colonel Foster is rated as 5.6 (I think). It was first climbed in 1968.

For trail conditions check the BC Parks information page for Strathcona Park.

Campsites along the trail

Elk River Trailhead	0.0 km	315 meters	Garbage facilities Outhouse	Water is unknown.
Butterwort Creek	Approx 6.0 km	459 meters	Bear cache/wire Outhouse	Water is plentiful quality is excellent. Treat all water before use.
Elk River Gravel Bar	Approx 9.0 km	680 meters	Bear cache/wire Outhouse	Water is plentiful quality is excellent. Treat all water

Water

Plentiful from the numerous streams which intersect the trail or from the Elk River which the trail follows. Treat all water before drinking.

History

On June 23, 1946 a 7.3 magnitude earhquake caused a portion of Mt Colonel Foster to break off and slide down into the lake below. The resulting outwash scoured the shoreline and downstream area. The effect of this outwash is still visible in the soil-free section of trail after the bridge over the river.

For additional information see:

Wikipedia.

Last hiked:July 3, 2010

Trail-conditions

View trail condition reports for this trail.