The peaks in the Coquihalla Summit area offer good hiking opportunities for hikers in the summer and cross country/snowshoe activities in the winter.   Many of the peaks are steep, but once up at the treeline views are expansive.    There are only a few designated trails up these peaks, and of these, the easiest is Zoa Peak.

Take the Falls Lake Road and follow the paved road up to the parking area.   A rough gravel road runs north south just past the parking lot.   Straight ahead (north) is the trail to Falls Lake.    Start hiking NNE along the gravel road as it climbs the hillside.  Finding the trailhead is the hardest part.   We found two approaches, but to summarize its location, the trailhead is on the upper double track near the top of the ridge.   Plain as mud.  Follow the road northeast (for about 225m) and watch for a side trail to the left that cuts through the alder.   There was flagging tape at the junction when we were there.   Emerge from the alder onto the upper track which is a pipeline route and continue northeast for another 750m.   Not far short of a junction, a single track trail climbs the side hill.   There was a cairn here and some flagging tape, but it would be easy to miss it.

The single track climbs through the forest, winding up the long ridge.   The trees thin and blueberry bushes (in fall colors) and juniper is more frequent.   The trail is easy to follow and offers views when it crosses clearings.   It is a gentle climb up a broad ridge to the heather and rock slopes above.   Skirt a false summit and descend through a small valley before climbing to the true summit.   There is no single high viewpoint above the trees, so some walking around is required to see the mountains in each direction.   The view northwest  is the best with Zum Peak in the foreground and the rocky summits of Vicuna and Alpaca Peaks behind.    The Anderson Peaks and the Coast Range stretches out west and Mt. Baker can be spotted Southwest.  A number of large rocks on the north side of the summit make a fine place to have lunch and enjoy the view before returning by the same route.

This route below shows the other way to the trailhead which is to follow the gravel road and branch off the left, looping back to the trailhead:

Zoa Peak is not a dramatic hike, but we have returned here to hike in the fall when the colors change and the crowds have left. It is a quiet and pleasant ridge hike in the rugged Coquihalla Summit area.

Author’s Note – There are a number of newer articles on Zoa Peak on this website.