monashee

The Monashee Mountains boasts some of the most spectacular hiking and backcountry ski areas in all of British Columbia. Walk through the Interior Rain Forests where the Cedar trees have stood for hundreds of years and the moss covers the forest floor. Follow the trails up to the Alpine meadows, jagged peaks and stunning white glaciers. If it's fishing you love, the Monashee Mountain Range has numerous pristine lakes that are full of healthy trout.

All hikers are encouraged to use extra caution when on the trails, due to frequent sightings of grizzlies and Black bears. The mountains are also home to Goats, Wolverines, Moose, Cariboo, Cougars and you never know, if your lucky enough, you might catch a glimpse of the ever so elusive Sasquatch.

Rainbow Falls

From the parking lot, a trail leads down to Rainbow Falls. This is the original trailhead to Spectrum Lake, but is now mostly used to view Rainbow Falls and the old growth cedar forests.

Spectrum Lake

From the parking lot look for the new alternate trail. Spectrum Lake is an easy one-hour hike. The first campsite you will reach at Spectrum Lake is approximately 6 km along the new alternate trail.

Little Peters Lake

12 km further along the alternate trail from Spectrum Lake you will reach Peters Lake. This is a difficult 3-and-a-half hour hike. Peters Lake makes a good base camp for many day hikes. You can continue onto other campsites at Margie, Mike and Fawn Lakes to name a few.

Kate Lake

On your way to Monashee Provincial Park, you may want to stop and hike to Kate Lake. This pristine lake is set in a mountain bowl, surrounded by forested hills.

To get there, just drive east from Lumby to Cherryville. Follow Sugar Lake Road approximately 15 kilometers, until you reach Kate Lake Forestry Service Road on your right hand side. Follow this road for approximately 2 kilometers, where you will take the right hand fork. At 2.5 km, 3.5 km, and 8.2 km keep left. At 11.2 km you will drive past the road to Sitkum Lake. Stay right at the following junction, then keep left for the next 3 junctions. Now you will cross Sugar Creek, and about 100 meters past the bridge you will turn right. This road is 4 x 4 only! It is possible that you will have to walk the 5.5 km to the trailhead, as this road is very rough. The trailhead is clearly marked on the left hand side.

From here it is a short 2.5 km hike to the lake.

Altogether this is an 8 km hike, which takes approximately 2 hours. your final altitude will be 1,500 meters, with a gain of 600 meters.

Travel & Trek with Caution:

The Monashee Mountain area represents Grizzly Bear Country