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Saddle Mountain Trailhead

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Regional District of Central Kootenay, British Columbia

sitesandtrailsbc.ca/Mobile/Search/search-result.aspx?site=REC2443&type=Trail

Description

Commencing at the junction of Hwy 6 and 31 in Nakusp, follow Hwy 6 west, towards Vernon for 21.4 km. Turn right onto 'Arrow Park Road' and proceed 0.4 km to the ferry ramp. Check for ferry times, as it is usually closed in the early afternoon for a couple of hours. The first road, as you leave the ferry on the north side of the lake, has multiple signs for 'Cameron Lake', 'Catherine Lake', and 'Bear Lake'. This is the 'Saddle Mountain Road'. Turn right onto this good 2 wheel drive gravel road and follow it for 9 km. Look for the 'Saddle Mountain Trail' sign on your left. The next 8 km to the trail head are rough 2 wheel drive. At 8 km the road forks. The trail head is about 20 metres up from the junction, on the upper road. The Saddle Lookout trail begins well below tree line. The first part climbs steadily upward through a stately stand of cedar, hemlock and spruce. You will come to a heliport clearing at 1.1 km. Look around for the 'H' carved in a tree stump. At about 3.5 km you will pass an old log cabin in the sub-alpine forest. From here on be alert for wildlife. Bear diggings are seen in the open meadows, pikas call and deer frequent these trails. You now see the Lookout up above, perched on a rock cliff. The trail passes across the scree slopes underneath this cliff, on the same side of the mountain you have been hiking up. Do not go around the back. If snow is across the trail, look for cairns marking the route. On the ridge, follow a well defined path up through the rocks and along a ledge. This last bit of the trail is precipitous, but short. The view makes it all worth while. From the lookout, Upper Arrow Lake, Nakusp, Lower Arrow Lake, Mosquito Lake and Whatshan Lake lie at the bottom of a sea of mountains that seem to go on forever. Look closely at the rock slabs you are standing on. The history of Saddle Mountain Lookout is at your feet. High clearance car 2 wheel drive required.