Hiking TrailsAt island lake lodge

Important Note About Heiko's Trail: 
Summer 2022, Island Lake Lodge has days where there isn't motorized road access beyond the lower parking lot. All hikers should check-in with the office at least 24 hours prior to the hike to inquire if staff are available to accommodate road access. Please call 250-423-3700. 

LAKE TRAIL  Length: 2 km / Type: Loop / Hiking Time: 45 min - 1 hr / Elevation Gain: 15 m / Rating: Easy / Access: From the trail head below the Bear Lodge, head down the trail to the lake and follow the signs. Highlights: Allows for a gentle hike around Island Lake following lunch or dinner or when your time is limited. Photo Spots: #islandlakelodge1 #islandlakelodge2  #islandlakelodge3  #islandlakelodge4

FIR TRAIL  Length: 3 km / Type: Loop / Hiking Time: 1 - 1.5 hrs / Elevation Gain: 15 m / Rating: Easy - Moderate / Access: From the trail head below the Bear Lodge, head down the trail to the lake and follow the signs. Highlights: Allows for a gentle hike around Island Lake following lunch or dinner or when your time is limited. The Fir Trail wanders through the legendary Old Growth Forest of the upper Cedar Valley. Photo Spot: #islandlakelodge5

RAIL TRAIL  Length: 3 km / Type: One Way / Hiking Time: 45 min - 1 hr / Elevation Gain: 50 m / Rating: Easy / Access: The Rail Trail starts at the base parking area, 30m past the Island Lake gate, and finishes at the Old Growth trail head. Highlights: Historical railway, lumber mill site and old growth cedar trees. Photo Spot: #islandlakelodge17

OLD GROWTH TRAIL Length: 4 km / Type: One Way / Hiking Time 1.5 hrs / Elevation Gain: 300 m / Rating: Easy / Access: The Old Growth Trail starts at the Old Growth parking lot approximately 4 kms up the Island Lake access road. The trail tours through ancient Cedar Douglas Fir and Spruce, finishing at the lodge. Photo Spot: #islandlakelodge6 

SPINEBACK TRAIL  Length: 7 km / Type: Up and Down / Hiking Time: 3-4 hrs / Elevation Gain: 430 m / Rating: Advanced / Access: Via the Lake Trail and Fir Trail toward the west end of the lake. Once you reach the marked junction, follow the Spineback signs. Highlights: Paralleling the beautiful Spineback Ridge, the trail winds up through sub-alpine meadows, reaching the crest of the ridge and its bench. Continue another 0.5 km up to a second bench nestled between the 3 Bears’ peaks. Photo Spots: #islandlakelodge7 #islandlakelodge8

GOLDILOCKS TRAIL Length: 2.5 km / Type: Loop / Hiking Time 1.5 hrs / Elevation Gain: 210 m / Rating: Advanced / Access: The trail starts at the top of the Spineback Trail (at the second bench) and follows the valley between Baby Bear and Papa Bear peaks. It wraps around the back of Baby Bear to the Upper Nonstop saddle with dramatic views of the headwall and The Valley. The trail continues around the east side of Baby Bear and follows a series of switchbacks down the valley between Baby Bear and Mama Bear peaks. It then completes the loop back at the top of the Spineback Trail. Photo Spots: #islandlakelodge13 #islandlakelodge18 * When Combined with the Spineback Trail - Length: 9.5 kms / Elevation Gain: 740 metres / Rating: Advanced  Photo Spots: #islandlakelodge13  #islandlakelodge19

MOUNT BALDY TRAIL  Length: 6.6 km / Type: Up and Down / Hiking Time: 2-3 hrs / Elevation Gain: 595 m / Rating: Moderate - Advanced Access: From the trail head below the Bear Lodge, head west following signs for the Mount Baldy Trail. From the summit, the trail traverses the Mount Baldy ridge, continuing west. Highlights: The Baldy Trail switchbacks its way to the north summit of Mount Baldy where hikers are rewarded with a panoramic view of the entire Island Lake area.

MOUNT BALDY LOOP  Length: 10.5 km / Type: Loop / Hiking Time: 4 hrs / Elevation Gain: 595 m / Rating: Moderate - Advanced / Access: Begin by completing the Mount Baldy Trail.  From the summit, continue west, following signs for the Baldy Loop.  The trail traverses the summit ridge of Mount Baldy, before beginning its descent towards Lizard Pass.  From Lizard Pass, follow the Lizard Pass Trail back to the lodge.  Photo Spots: #islandlakelodge9  #islandlakelodge16

TAMARACK TRAIL VIEWPOINT  Length: 4 km / Type: Up and Down / Hiking Time: 3 hrs / Elevation Gain: 300 m / Rating: Moderate Access: From the trailhead at the corner of the Cedar lodge, following signs for the Tamarack Trail. Highlights: The trail winds its way up the south-west slopes of Mount Fernie through beautiful stands of mature Larch, with an option partway to go to the stunning viewpoint. Photo Spot: #islandlakelodge10

TAMARACK TRAIL SUMMIT  Length: 8 km / Type: Up and Down / Hiking Time: 5 hrs / Elevation Gain 670 m / Rating: Advanced / Access: From the trailhead at the corner of the Cedar lodge, following signs for the Tamarack Trail. Highlights: The trail winds its way up the south-west slopes of Mount Fernie through beautiful stands of mature Larch, with an option part way to go to the stunning viewpoint. The trail continues up through open, grassy slopes to the dramatic rock crags of Mount Fernie. Photo Spots: #islandlakelodge14  #islandlakelodge15

THE LAZY LIZARD BIKE TRAIL Length: 7 km (one way) / Type: Up and Down / Riding Time: 1.5 hrs up / Elevation Gain: 339 m / Rating: Easy-Moderate / Access: The lower parking lot near the gate. This machine-built trail crosses multiple bridges and meanders through large Cedars, Douglas Fir and Spruce trees. Photo Spot: #islandlakelodge11

HEIKO’S TRAIL  22 km, Elevation Gain: 1,371 m,  8-12 hours / Rating: Difficult / Access: The trail starts 2 km down a cart track, 3 km north-west of Hartley Lake on the Hartley Creek Road with a rewarding finish at Island Lake Lodge. Highlights: Waterfalls, caves, snowfields, big mountain passes, and the option of making it an overnight trip. A high level of fitness and route finding skills are required. **Due to operational closures, please check-in with the office prior to your hike to inquire if motorized road access is available to the lodge 250-423-3700** 

BIG WHITE PEAK (ROUTE) Length: 12 km - Up and Down / Elevation Gain 862 m / Hiking Time: 5-7 hours  / Rating: Difficult Access: Via Spineback Trail. Just prior to reaching the crest of the Spineback, leave the trail heading west across the alpine bowl. Big White is found in the back of the second basin through a steep scree-slope leading to the widest and least steep access point. This is the only access to the Lizard Range’s ridge crest above Island Lake Lodge.  Photo Spots: #islandlakelodge12  #islandlakelodge18

LIZARD LAKE (ROUTE) Length: 6.78 km - Up and Down / Elevation Gain: 571 m / Hiking Time:  4-6 hours / Rating: Difficult / Access: The trailhead is in the Mount Fernie Provincial Park, approximately 0.5 km from the Island Lake Lodge property boundary and gate. No trail exists above and beyond the lake itself. Loose rock, snow and complicated terrain are all aspects of this route.

CABIN RIDGE (ROUTE) Length: 7.22 km - Up and Down / Elevation Gain: 827 m / Hiking Time:  4-6 hours / Rating: Difficult / Access: Drive the Island Lake access road 3 km to the Old Growth Trail head. Follow the Old Growth Trail for 1 km, then take the left fork trail to the Cabin Trail.