July 06, 2012 | Tips from Travellers >
Houston, Hiking
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Wow! My family and myself love travelling and adventuring around northern BC, so this rainy summer has been putting a bit of a cramp in our style. So when we finally got our first day of sunshine - YAY!- I grabbed my mom, sister and friend and we piled into a car and headed out to hike China Knows Mountain. The road in to the trailhead is in quite good condition- but be wary of logging trucks that use the road, and proceed with caution.
If you are looking for an easier hike to the top, then continue past the first signs marking the trail and head another 3 kms down the road. Trust me, we went up the advanced route, and it truly is for advanced hikers only! However, once we reached the top we were greeted with stunning panoramic views of the surrounding area. Crawling closely to the edge you are able to see dozens of mountain goats scaling the cliff's edges (but if that kind of thing doesn't float your boat, you can also see them on the hike up- a safe distance away from the edge). There was also many signs of bears around - tracks, etc; but we didn't see any ourselves. On the way back from the top we took the "moderate" path down, and although it was a little bit longer, it made the trip much easier on our tired legs! It is definitely something to think about before you begin.
All in all, if you're looking for an enjoyable hike, with striking views and wildlife viewing opportunities, China Knows is a great afternoon adventure to tackle. It is a memory I will always remember, and you'll be left with the urge to return again soon.
~as a side note, the mountain goes by either China Knows or China Nose...it just depends on who you ask