If you bring snowshoes, as we did, you can walk away from the water to the left and trek upwards across the snow. The Asulkan Cabin is located in Glacier National Park, British Columbia, and is situated high up the Asulkan Valley at Rogers Pass.While you could easily day hike up the valley to the cabin, it's much more enjoyable to spend a night and to enjoy some off trail exploring above the cabin if you are able to spend a couple of nights here. Day two, scout the neighborhood with a half-day climb of 9,341-foot Youngs Peak, a glaciated 1.5-mile, class 3 … Areas is frequented in the winter and early spring by cross country skiers . A bit too early in the season but the whole valley was for us alone. Well worth the work, amazing views. Asulkan Ridge panorama Asulkan Ridge is a line of lesser peaks between the Bonney and Sir Donald groups. Asulkan Valley Trail. Despite the name, Asulkan Valley trail reaches alpine levels to provide vistas of glaciated peaks. 8:30am to 5pm. From a bridge over Illecillewaet River we had view of Cheops Mountain. The trail is wide and well marked with signs at each junction. Asulkan Valley Trail is trail #13. The narrow Ridgeline is a bit tricky, both going up and coming down. Well marked. August 9, 2020. Visible … Time: 7 - 8 hours. Great hike, with non stop awesome views that only get more epic as you go. Access to the Asulkan Cabin will require a creek crossing after this time. The farther I hike, the more spectacular the views become. 16 June. The Asulkan Valley is incredibly beautiful to walk through it and we regularly look around to … You must pay down by the camp in order to get the key to get into the cabin. If you wish to use the hut, contact the ACC for reservations. However, the last 2km is very steep with a very narrow pathway. bobspirko.ca  |  Home  |  Canada Trips  |  US Trips  |  Hiking  | Snowshoeing  |  MAP  |  ABOUT, Asulkan Valley Trail Beautiful view throughout the entire hike. Until then half snow cover, half trail. If you have a bit of fitness and stamina definitely try this hike! however, the last 1.5 km are painful and a bit dangerous for beginners hiker like me. 8. DIFFICULT 3.7 mi. The trail is pretty easy until after the 2ish mile mark when you start a steep descent up a ridge for the rest of the way. Fantastic trail with great views from the moment you get in. Well worth the hike. Absolutely beautiful views that are well worth the hike. Awesome views throughout! And if you're lucky, you'll spy a porcupine feeding by the trail as I did. The first 4 km are easy/moderate, and are a good hike if you’re looking for something a little less intense but with good views. You can walk all the way up to the Asulkan Pass, but we just walk the flat area through the Asulkan Valley in Glacier National Park. Asulkan Valley Trail. After the bridge, the ascent steepens as it climbs the narrow crest of a moraine. Avalanche Mountain and Eagle Peak. Asulkan Valley. Amazing views! Atop the trail sits an Alpine Club of Canada hut. Pas vu d'ours et il y avait d'autres randonneurs ce qui augmente le sentiment de sécurité. C'est une magnifique randonnée qui vous offre de tous. Asulkan Valley Trail is a 13.4 kilometer moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Columbia-Shuswap A, British Columbia, Canada that features beautiful wild flowers and is rated as difficult. We found it to be around 7.5 km total distance and about 750 vert meters from the parking lot according to our suunto devices. Then the trail vanished completely under the snow. All bridges were in when we did this on Monday July 20. I cross a removable wooden bridge over Asulkan Brook and the trail soon takes me past the junction for the Glacier Crest Trail. The views all the way up are definitely worth the effort, though. Bladu Pass and Marriott Basin Trail [CLOSED], Terminator Peak and Terminator 2 Peak Trail, Columbia Wetlands Wildlife Management Area. Just 10 minutes from the parking lot, it's a pleasant way to finish the trip. Asulkan Valley Trail est un sentier allez-retour de 8.3 miles modérément fréquenté situé près de Columbia-Shuswap A, Colombie-Britannique en Canada. We’ll detail some bear safety at the bottom of this post. Incredible hike with spectacular scenery that keeps getting better the further you go. The route Great day trip up to the Asulkan Cabin with spectacular views over the glaciers in Glacier National Park. It was demolished in 1929. First crossing of Asulkan Brook The remain of the Glacier House, a hotel in the Rogers Pass Area in Glacier National Park Nous l'avons fait avec nos enfants de 16, 14 et 11 ans. Very steep after the (roughly) 5km mark on the ridge. Marion Lake Loop via Abbott Ridge Trail. In 1905 the cartographer and explorer Arthur O. Wheeler wrote on the Asulkan Valley: " A gem of mountain scenery. We encountered a bit a snow - mostly near the last bridge. Asulkan Valley Trail This moderate trail (6.9 km each way) takes in mountains, waterfalls and glaciers as it leads through the Asulkan Valley to the Asulkan Hut. Asulkan Valley Avalanche track Geography 477 Fall 2007 Penny Simpson, Jessica Paramio, Maciej Stetkiewicz, Ashley Dittmer. Last section was very steep and quite snowy. The trail ends surrounded by glaciers, which is an incredible view. No sighting of much talked about bears. Keep dogs secure and make sure you have bear spray and you should be good. Would not recommend for beginner hikers. Sign up to receive hiking updates, information about upcoming contests, and special offers. Like the Balu trail, where the 2003 incident occurred, the Asulkan Valley trail is heavily used by backcountry skiers. If you are doing this hike, and have a day or two to spare, then pay for the use of the cabin at the glacier. If you sleep in the Sapphire Col shelter, return to the Asulkan Hut and its approach trail by descending northeast to the foot of the icefield. Views were nice - cool little cabin at the top for a little break. Trail was dry, gorgeous and a bit challenging at the 5 km point and up. Lisa Boutry on June 10, 2020 at 19:03 said: Hi Juanita, Thanks for your interest in this hike! Length: 13.8 km roundtrip. The valley feels enchanted. 4. The Asulkan Valley Trail has been constructed adjacent to the Asulkan Brook and has steep, mountainous terrain on both sides. We were hoping to finish the hike but the last bridge is not set up yet. Do note that right now there are a large number of bear sightings in the area, most noting a grizzly and her 2 cubs. Great Glacier is an offshoot of Asulkan Valley Trail into a valley where the glacier has retreated. The trail up to Asulkan Hut is very well defined and maintained. We met a porcupine on the way down that got my dog in the face with its quills - beware! Il faisait 10 degré au sommet et il y avait du vent. 25/8. Description: Strenuous climb up to a 360 degree view of glaciers. This is great if you are looking for a variety of sights in one hike. Asulkan Valley Trail. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: Email (required) (Address never made public) Name (required) Website. Youngs Peak towers above the End of Trail sign. You can hike without map, compass or GPS, but keep your eyes open as there is much to see, from snow-cover peaks and tall waterfalls to basking marmots and scuttling ptarmigans. From the Illecillewaet trailhead, backpack in 5.1 miles, gaining 2,900 feet to the Alpine Club of Canada’s Asulkan Hut, a two-story palace of wood and glass that sleeps 12. Would recommend poles for the way down as the gravel can be quite slippery on the narrow ridge in parts. It had glaciers, waterfalls, valley, forest and panoramic mountain views. You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. The first half or so of the trail went through forests up the valley, basically followed the Asulkan Brook, crossing it a few times. Cascades d'eau des glaciers, végétation typique de la Colombie Britannique, glaciers, vue 360 sur les rocheuses, sentier sur des crête et de l'air pure. Loved the hike and the fantastic views of waterfalls, glaciers and the thousands of flowers currently in bloom up top. This trail was a great workout. We only saw one other couple the entire time. The huckleberries were still around and paintbrush flowers still in bloom. 20-10-2020: Respect all posted notices and signs; Trail details: Difficult Glacier Crest Trail: Snow covered. Easy first 3-4 km's then very step last 3kms to the hut. Distance: 14 km Elevation gain: 920 m Download GPS track On the third day of our Glacier National Park camping trip, Sandra and I decided to hike the Asulkan Valley trail to Asulkan Hut. 9. Well maintained trail but we turned back when trail started getting steep (as we had previously decided to do). Glacier Crest trail reaches the hill in the foreground. Glacier Crest Loop via Great Glacier Trail and Young's Peak Traverse. Asulkan Valley trail is well-signed and passes other trails before settling into an unbranched path. I’m 57 years old so 3.5 hours up and 2 hours down. As I break out of the forest again, the Asulkan Glacier comes into view far in the distance. Contest Year Submitted: 2017 ‹ Previous Photo Garibaldi Next Photo › Garibaldi. Sir Donald and the Asulkan glacier. As I'm sure everyone has already said, the trail starts off easy but the climb is fairly steep at the end and fully exposed. le dernier 1,5 km est plus ardu. This well maintained hut, which sleeps 10 comfortably, can be accessed by hikers, for a fee. L'inclinaison est très accentuée, les mollets risquent de vous chauffer. The Asulkan Valley Trail leads from the Illecillewaet Campground, steepening in the later sections to reach the crest of the moraine below the hut. When skiing up from Wheeler Hut, there is a section in the Asulkan Valley which is in an “avalanche alley,” expecially from the slopes of Mount Abbott and the Rampart. Some beautiful views for the top 2-3 km and the bottom 3-4 km are beautiful forests and avalanache slides. Please note that Parks Canada removes bridges over stream crossings on this trail each year on October 1st and replaces them each year near the middle of June (dependent upon conditions). EASY 3.5 mi. Asulkan Valley trail. After a few minutes you cut off right to the Abbot ridge trail where its time to put your head down and gain a fair amount of elevation to get to tree-line. il suffit de s'octroyer plus de pauses. Had to turn around ~500m from the top as the weather was turning but an overall stellar hike. 6. Specifically, the trail ends at Asulkan Hut. After it disappeared, I continued down the trail. A close look at Leda Peak, Pullox Peak and Castor Peak, Back in the valley, I came across a porcupine feeding next to the trail, On the way back, I stopped at Meeting of the Waters, the confluence of two glacial creeks, 82 N/06 Blaeberry and 82N/03 Mount Wheeler. It’s a good workout, but very manageable. Check out the tent at the trailhead before you head up... there's a board with all of the recent wildlife sightings noted, including a few grizzly sightings right at the tent! Trailhead parking fills up fast on weekends at this time of year and the trail itself was moderately busy. Elevation Gain: 869 m. Trailhead: … We did not see bears on the trail on August 27, but hikers on August 26 noted multiple grizzly bears/deployed bear mase. My Apple health app clocked about 20km up and back, which could be because of the many switchbacks. The hiking trail goes up onto the opposite side on a wooded sideslope and skiers/snowshoers should also go this way. Glacier National Park – Asulkan Valley Trail and Great Glacier — 10 Comments Juanita Mayfield on June 10, 2020 at 18:37 said: Hi Lisa, if by chance you get a cancellation, I would like to go on this hike. The treeless ridge on the right is the ascent moraine. The nearsighted animal fed on leaves and appeared unaware I was video recording five metres away. 10/10 recommend this hike. Cool Bridges too. The Abbott Ridge hike. EASY 4.4 mi. Beautiful waterfalls and flowers with great footing, just a bit steep at the end, but then there were glacier views and more flowers. 7. Looks like there is way more snow after you cross it. Glacier National Park, B.C. Though it is long with a 5.4 crux, much of it is easy class 2 “exposed sidewalk.” Combined with easy access via the Abbott and Asulkan Hut Trails, this makes it a popular route, and an enjoyable moderate day. Nice views of Mt. Didn’t see any bears. Rating: Use: Difficulty: Distance: Description: Directions: Trailhead GPS: Useful Maps: Leave a Reply Cancel reply. I made a short side trip to see Meeting of the Waters where Asulkan Brook and Illecillewaet River collide. Surrounded by beautiful waterfalls and mountains. Length 8.3 mi Elevation gain 3,169 ft Route type Out & Back We managed to reach the second bridge which was still out for the season. But while Renata and Dinah sauntered back, I zipped down. The trail finishes on a ridgetop bearing the hut. Pack for cold as the hut, as you are on the snow line and it gets windy. Length - 6.9 km (one way) Hiking time - 3-4 hours, uphill Elevation range - 1245 - 2114 m (869m) Trailhead - Illecillewaet Campground Map coordinates - 117°29'31"W 51°15'49"N *Please Note: Seasonal bridges will be removed for winter beginning October 1st. The glaciers and panoramas in every direction coupled with huge distant waterfalls were amazing. Highly recommend. Saw others crossing, but they didn't seem to mind wet feet. But Renata, Dinah and I had no plans to stay overnight; for us it was an enjoyable day hike. Arthur O. Wheeler Hut via Asulkan Valley Trail. However, the hike seemed longer than the roughly 13km advertised. Well worth every step. Today was overcast and we had to park at the highway which added another 2km onto the hike. The Asulkan Valley trail is a long, arduous climb that leads high above the valley floor to the Asulkan Hut nestled on a moraine of Asulkan Glacier. The trail travels alongside a mountain stream, passes the remains of the Glacier House, and leads to several stunning vistas and cascading waterfalls. It essentially follows the Illecillewaet river up into the Asulkan Valley. From Illecillewaet Campground, follow the main trail to Glacier House and then continue south. An incredible hike and views, not sure why it’s showing up as closed because we spoke with park staff that let us know this whole area is open. You can hike without map, compass or GPS, but keep your eyes open as there is much to see, from snow-cover peaks and tall waterfalls to basking marmots and scuttling ptarmigans. Only made it to the first bridge (about 2/3 of the way), but with it being taken out for the season couldn't cross without getting our feet wet. After the trail passed through trees, Leda, Pullox and Castor Peaks appeared ahead. Asulkan Valley trail is well-signed and passes other trails before settling into an unbranched path. Rationale Highly used trail that showed evidence of frequent high magnitude avalanches. After the river crossing, the trail lurches upward and onto a narrow ridge spine that is just wide enough for the trail, providing a stunning photo op all the way up to the cabin. Lovely hike from the get go. We awoke early the next morning, made coffee and breakfast and packed up some last minute items before starting up the Asulkan valley trail. 20-10-2020: Respect all posted notices and signs; Trail details: Difficult Hermit Trail: Snow covered. After we had lunch below the hut, it was time to leave. It should be a good one, for sure. Balu Pass Trail. Je vous la recommande. … 20-10-2020: Respect all posted notices and signs; Trail details: Difficult Mount Sir Donald Trail: Snow covered. It's a tough slog the last 1-2km. Outline Rationale Objectives Background Methodology Results Discussion Conclusion Recommendations. The first half of the trail is an easy walk through a valley bottom and the second half is a steep hike up moraines to an elevation level with the tongue of the glaciers near Asulkan Pass. Multiple waterfalls and Lush green alpine forest along the way. Illecillewaet Campground via Great Glacier Trail. The Asulkan Valley Trail is frequented by not only day hikers, but those seeking to do some glacier travel and mountaineering. Beautiful views every 10 minutes. The views from the top are spectacular! Log in to Reply. After our trip, it would be overflowing with dozens of cars parked roadside, perhaps because the campground was closed due to COVID-19. The trail is primarily used for hiking and is best used from June until October. The remains of Glacier House, a 90-room resort until service ended in 1926. The Great Glacier Trail in Glacier National Park, British Columbia, Canada is a short, easy hike of 4.8 KM (3.0 miles) one-way with an elevation gain of 330 meters (1,083 ft). Back in the lush valley, I almost missed seeing the porcupine half-hidden in the thick vegetation next to the path. The hut is only 200 m away from here. The sound echoes and amplifies in the massive rock falls. We arrived shortly after 9:00 am to find the parking lot at Illecillewaet campground nearly full. Hiked in mid October. We had a good break at the ridge and made our way over Mts Abbot and Afton. Will definitely return to finish the hike one day. The trail runs alongside Asulkan Brook before bridging it high on a slope. The cabin comes equiped with heaters and stoves. Phenomenal views of the glacier and surrounding valleys from the Asulkan hut. EASY 4.4 mi. The Asulkan Valley Trail is a moderate 8.5 mile roundtrip hike that can be turned into an overnight backpacking adventure by renting the Asulkan Cabin at the top. Le sentier vous présentera des fleurs sauvages et sa difficulté est évaluée comme difficile. The Asulkan Valley trail was one of my favorite hikes. The Asulkan Valley trail had four grizzly bear sightings in two days when we were there (and it still wasn’t closed!). Bumped into a large adorable porcupine on the way down. On this day, it is important to save strength for Saturday’s upcoming marathon mission. DIFFICULT 4.2 mi. The bottom of this Trail is moderate for sure, but the upper portion should be rated as difficult or hard. Location: Glacier National Park Photo Date: June 2017. Difficulty: Hard Distance: 17km (we used the short route up and long route down) Elevation: 1067m Type of trail: Out and back with option to make it a partial loop Time taken: 5 hours. The trail climbs the slope on our left. Asulkan Valley Trail: Snow covered. Juanita Mayfield. Map Chrismar Adventure Map Glacier NP--Rogers Pass ($13CAD; 905-852-6151; chrismar.com); NTS quad 082N05 ($16CAD for waterproof versions; 888-545-8111; fedmaps.com) Huts $36CAD/person/night; (403) 678-3200; alpineclubofcanada.ca; Askulkan … The Asulkan Valley is fairly flat and the trail is very good for hiking. The trail is primarily used for hiking and is best used from June until October. Eventually the trail climbs above the brook. The second bridge is not installed yet so we will return for the final leg of the hike. Once past the Glacier House remains, you can pretty much just keep right at every junction. DIFFICULT 9.1 mi. Asulkan Valley Trail is a 8.3 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Columbia-Shuswap A, British Columbia, Canada that features beautiful wild flowers and is rated as difficult. Amazing 360 degree views! The cabin is at the base of the glacier and is surrounded on the sides and from behind by glaciers! Amazing views through the valley! On the left side of the ridge is a lush, green valley and on the right side is a valley of glacier moraine, showing where the Asulkan glacier once lived. The last 2 km on the way up is not easy, but was well worth the effort once we got up to the Hut. Roaring, rushing, milky water is everywhere. 5.