Heather Trail, Manning Park, BC

Distance: 18Km (21 Km to the peak of First Brother)

Time: 6 Hours (7 1/2 to the peak of First Brother)

Elevation Gain: 2000’ aggregate (3000’ to the peak of First Brother)

Difficulty: Moderate (save some energy for the last 3 1/2 Km of the return trip – Buckhorn Camp to the parking lot)

Best time to go: mid-July to mid-September

Hint : Take lots of water

Description: The hike begins at the base of Blackwall Mt., elevation 1980m. Looking west, you will immediately see the Three Brothers mountains on the horizon, and, at the precise time of the year (usually mid-July) you will also be captured by boundless acres of beautiful alpine flowers. From the trailhead it appears as a well-maintained wilderness golf course.

Take your camera and capture Indian Paintbrush, Lupines, Mountain Daisy, Cinquefoil, Western Anemone, and Glacier Lilies to name a few. Please attempt to stay on the trail as much as possible as the alpine flowers take years and years to reach maturity due to the short growing season.

The first 3 1/2 Km is downhill to Buckhorn Camp, a good place for your first rest. Outhouses and a picnic table are available. From here, it’s a fairly strenuous climb through semi-arid forest for about an hour. Once on the ridge, you’re in the alpine meadows and will soon reach an important junction in the trail – east to Bonnevier Ridge or straight ahead on the Heather Trail. Another good spot for a quick rest.

Continuing straight ahead, the trail winds around snow patches, seasonal lakes (tarns) and rocky bluffs until you reach a turnoff to the First Brother Mountain. There’s a small lake closeby which usually lasts all summer and is a great place to stop for lunch.

You’ve travelled approximately 9 Km by now and one has to consider the time, condition of the crew, and decide whether or not to ascend the First Brother (1 hour return, 1000’ gain) or return to parking lot, 2 1/2 hours away.

Note : This is without a doubt the most popular hike in Manning Park and well worth the effort, especially in the prime months of summer.

How to get there: To access this beautiful sub-alpine trail, drive approximately 80 Km east from Chilliwack, taking the Highway 3 exit from Highway 1, just past the turnoff to Hope. (stay in the right-hand lane). It’s about an hour and a half from the Starbuck’s parking lot in Chilliwack.

Full facilities can be found at Manning Park Lodge before one heads across the road (north) and takes a 5 Km winding road up to the parking lot at the base of Blackwall Mt. The last half of this road is gravel, in usually good shape, but keep the speed down.

Be prepared to feed the parking meters, ever hungry for $3.00.

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

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