In my opinion, this is the finest trail in the province.   The trail starts at the south end of the Glacier House National Heritage site and turns west up the hill.   The trail is well-designed, switch-backing through the cedar-hemlock old growth forest.   After 2 km, it arrives at Marion Lake, a small tarn under cliffs, surrounded by trees, a good spot for a break.   Above the lake, the trail winds through sub-alpine forest and large boulders with frequent viewpoints, the Sir Donald Range rising to the east.

The trail winds through boulders and up a rocky ridge to a high alpine meadow.   The high open views expand north to the Hermit Range and south to the Asulkan Range.   To the east, the crevassed tongue of the Illecillewaet Glacier can be seen extending down from the neve above.

The high meadow is strewn with big boulders, a perfect spot for lunch.   At the top of the meadow is the Abbott Ridge Observatory.   It is mainly used to measure snowfall and collect weather data.   Even in winter, staff will climb the trail with skins on their skis to take readings (I wonder if I can volunteer to do this)?

The final cliffs of Abbott Ridge stand above and we wonder how we can get to the top, but the trail winds gently through the steep meadow, then bears north around the ridge to the backside, then easily climbs to the top.   From the west side of the ridge the Bonney Range fills the view with Mt. Bonney and Mt. Swanzy and the glaciers on their north slopes.   From the top, we can see ragged peaks and glaciers in every direction.

The final section of Abbott Ridge is a north-south crest with a good trail for the first part up to the “End of Trail” sign.   From there a hiker can continue to scramble along the ridge for a ways, but it becomes increasingly more difficult, but doesn’t add to the view so hikers can just pick their own turn-around spot.   There is a clear view into Asulkan Pass (our hike for the next day).   At this elevation (7513 feet), the Dawson Range can be seen to the south.

Across the valley to the north stands the Hermit Range above the Hermit Trail, our hike of the previous day.  The glaciers of Mount Sifton can be seen better from this high perspective.

The trail to the top of the ridge is 5km and takes about 3 hours.   The trail itself is well-engineered and allows a good stride all the way downhill, a drop of 1040 meters.   But plan to stay on top for a while.   Bring a telephoto camera or binoculars to select spots for a higher perspective.   Sir Donald Col (a favorite hike) and the west side of Mt. McDonald can be seen to the east.   All photos by the author.    Click an image for a lightbox view and a caption.

Sir Donald Col

Mt. Charles Tupper

Pick a nice day to do this hike if you can.   We try to stay at the Illecillewaet Campground every summer for a few days.   There are 8 superb trails to the alpine within a radius of 5km so each year, we pick 3-4.   Collectively they make the best hiking in the country.   Abbott Ridge is the best of Rogers Pass, in an area that also has Balu Pass, Hermit, Asulkan Glacier, and Sir Donald Col, all in my top 15 hikes.  We will return in late summer in 2014.

“Keep close to Nature’s heart…and break clear away once in awhile, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods.   Wash your spirit clean.”  (John Muir)