Flora Lake Hiking Trail, Chilliwack, BC

Time: 10 hours round trip
(6 hours return to go to the ridge: Hiking just to Flora lake ridge will take around 6 hrs and have 70% of the uphill to do as it avoids dropping down to the lake then hiking all the way back up the ridge again.)

Distance: 14km

Elevation gain: 4950 ft cumulative

Difficulty: Hard - up up and more up

Best Time To Go: Mid July to October

Description: A steep hike that first zig zags up to a saddle overlooking Chilliwack lake and after traversing some alpine, drops down into Flora lake.

This is NOT a good hike to start your hiking season with. Be prepared for a lot of climbing and sweating. The trail starts after a short walk down the Post Creek access road at the trailhead marker. The first couple of hours are spent climbing switchbacks up the mountain side through lush, green forests. There are several stream crossings and one lower elevation camp site a couple of hours in. Soon after, the trees start thinning and shrinking and are slowly replaced by alpine shrubs and rockier terain.
As the trees thin, you will get some great views of the valley below.
Eventually you will climb onto a saddle with great views of Chilliwack
lake and the surrounding peaks. This will probably be the turn around
point. The trail continues to traverse heather slopes with beautiful
views and eventually takes you up and over a ridge where you will see
Flora Lake glistening below you. The trail down to Flora lake drops
down a long ways and discourages many people from going the whole way because of the return trip back up the slope. There is an alternate
route that makes a loop by going down to the Lindeman/Greendrop trail and taking you back to the parking area. This section is, however, in rough shape and will take a little route finding and bush whacking to
make it through. The current condition of this section is not known.

Read the full Flora Lake hike description

Photos: Flora Lake Photos (slideshow)

How to get there: If you've been to Lindeman lake, you've walked past the Flora lake trail head. Drive 40.5 Km from Vedder Crossing along Chilliwack Lake Road and, just beyond Post Creek, park along the widened out area of the road. To your left there is a gate and you'll see a sign for Post Creek and the Lindeman/Greendrop Hikes. There should be some cars parked along the road (other hikers) when you get there. If you reach the Chilliwack Lake campground, you've gone too far. Once you have parked your car by the road, walk around the closed gate and follow the gravel road till you see a road/path to your right. Posted signs are visible, indicating straight for the Lindeman/Greendrop Trail, or right to take the Flora Lake Trail.

Notes:
I don't want to scare people away but be prepared for some serious exercise. Bring water - this trail does not follow a stream.

See event description on calendar page for pre-departure meeting place for when the club is doing this hike next.

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