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- Difficulty: Medium
to Hard - Warnings: Users should expect very muddy/wet sections especially during times of high rainfall, over-grown brush and deadfall. Caution: Although bears can be encountered anywhere, this trail has an exceptionally high rate of grizzly bear sightings; hence users should travel in groups, carry bear spray and make noise. Take extra caution where the trail opens into the subalpine as this is prime grizzly bear habitat.
- Wheelchair accessible: No
- High-clearance 4×4 advised to access trailhead? Although one can access the trailhead without a 4 x 4, a high clearance vehicle is recommended as the road can have large ruts.
- Best seasons: Summer (late June-Sept)
- Distance (return meadows): 6.4 km/4 mi
Distance (return peak): Data not available - Approx. time: 3–5 hrs return (meadow)
- Elevation gain: 425 m/1400 ft (meadow)
- Steepest grade: 35% or greater in parts
- Viewpoints: Mountain views, view of waterfall, meadows and alpine lake.
- Geocache points Not known
- Closest bathroom/outhouse: Visitor Info Centre
- Cell service? Not comprehensive, but in spots.
- Gear to bring: Bring 2L water/pp and lots of mosquito spray and bear spray.
- Outside Links: 1) BC Rec Sites and Trails Map 2) Steven’s Peak Bagging (hiking blogger) 3) TrailPeak Website
Trail Description:
The payoff for this hike is big – a gorgeous meadow with a creek, lake and waterfall. Plus, if you climb up the waterfall you’ll get a view of Mt. Robson and the bottom of the valley. It’s a long drive on a logging road to get to the trailhead (~16km), and a very steep climb, but the hike up to the first lake is only ~2 hours and the scenery is spectacular. The mosquitoes are usually fierce in June and July though, and it’s pretty wet and boggy in the meadows. Grizzlies are sometimes spotted here. It is a wild and beautiful place.
The Mt. Trudeau hike is not currently maintained, so you’ll encounter overgrown trees and berry bushes, possibly some deadfall, and the flagged trail often disappears once you get into the meadows. Hiking unmaintained trails will give you a taste for the work done by the hardworking volunteers in organizations such as YORA (the Yellowhead Outdoor Recreation Association). Despite its unmaintained status, it is in very good shape as of August 2023. Good water-resistant hiking boots are recommended for the wet and boggy meadows. Watch out: Grizzly bears are often forage in the meadow during spring and summer. At one point you’ll need to cross a large log that’s over a stream.
*For those more adventurous, you can ascend beside the steep waterfall to the green-hued alpine lakes or continue on to the summit. For more information please contact Joe Nusse.
Best Parts: The payoff for this hike is big – a gorgeous meadow with a creek, lake and waterfall. Plus, if you climb up the waterfall you’ll get a view of Mt. Robson and the bottom of the valley. From the meadow you will have a view of the waterfall, the Trudeau summit and from the East peeks Mount Robson.
Worst Parts: There are some very steep sections that are hard to grip unless you’re wearing good hiking shoes. Sections of trail are muddy and slippery. The sub-alpine meadow has boggy sections all summer. Hiking poles are recommended. Watch out: Grizzly bears are sometimes spotted during spring and summer. Be sure to make lots of noise so you don’t surprise them and they have time to leave to avoid an encounter. Every hiker should carry bear spray. Most years, the mosquitoes are very bad during the summertime due to the lush environment – mosquito spray and a net shirt, are a must. In 2023, there are not many mosquitoes.
GPS Zone
Trailhead coordinates: 52.833921°, -119.385940°
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GPS Tracks (Right click, Save link as)
Download Trail GPX file
From the Visitor Info Centre, head south on Hwy 5 (towards Kamloops). Approx. 3.5 km south, take a right at the intersection and follow the logging road as per these google map directions: Click here for Google Map directions. The trailhead is well marked, though someone has cut out the “Mt. Trudeau” portion of the sign, so it just says “Trail.”
