Strike Lake Hiking Trail, Manning Park, BC

Time: 6 hours return Strike Lake
8 hours return Thunder Lake

Distance: 18 Km Strike Lake24 Km Thunder Lake

Elevation Gain: less than 200 feet

Difficulty: Easy

Description : The Lightning Lakes are actually 4 lakes in a chain, starting from the day-use parking lot (Spruce Bay or Lone Duck). Either parking lot will put you at Lightning Lake, the largest of the chain, and then heading west, the trail leads to Flash Lake, Strike Lake (campsites at the west end) and finally Thunder lake.

The terrain changes from a forest walk along the lakeshores, to a rocky scree hike as you approach Thunder Lake. In the summertime numerous berries are available which include huckleberries, blueberries, Saskatoon berries, wild currants and more.

A few wildflowers can be viewed, although most of the more familiar types grow higher up in the alpine region of the park.

Vegetation also includes lodgepole pine, sub alpine fir, and Engelmann spruce.

A moderate hike would end at Strike Lake but another 3 Km will find you at Thunder Lake which resembles a large steep-sided rocky bowl. An alternate return can be taken along the south sides of Flash and Lightning Lakes, crossing back over at the Rainbow Bridge, or completely circumnavigating Lightning Lake back around to the chosen parking lot.

How to get there : Drive approximately 80 Km east of Chilliwack, taking the Highway 3 exit from Highway 1, just past the Hope turnoff. The drive takes about 1 1/2 hours from Chilliwack to Manning Park Lodge and is very scenic. All amenities can be found at the lodge, and then head south on the Gibson Pass Road until you reach a fork in the road. Take the right-hand fork and continue along until you reach the Lone Duck day-use area. You can park here or continue on the road until you pass the BC Parks campground and turn at the Spruce Bay parking lot. Be prepared to pay the $3 parking meters.

Hint : a very pleasant hike, 6 hours in length or more, so take lots of drinking water, especially in the hot, dry summer months.

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

Hiker Comments

Submit your comments about this hike