Hiking and mountain biking are incredibly popular pursuits in the Pemberton Valley.
So much so that the Pemberton Valley Trail Association has divided the region into five core areas to accommodate both pursuits: Pemberton Valley, One Mile Lake, Mackenzie, Mosquito South and Mosquito North.
These core areas offer trails for every ability level but because several hiking trails are shared with bikers and horses, many hikers head for the provincial parks, especially Joffre Lake Provincial Park and Nairn Falls Provincial Park where even short hikes can be immensely rewarding.
Located 24km/15mi north of Mt Currie, above Lillooet Lake, it's a short 250m/273yd walk from the parking lot to first of the three Joffre lakes; a stiff 4km/2.5mi hike to Middle Joffre Lake and a challenging ascent for another 1.5km/.9mi to Upper Joffre.
Hike the whole caboodle for a climb of 366m/1,200ft and a stunning reward: towering ice falls of Matier Glacier, Mt Matier and Mt Joffre tumbling into turquoise waters. Bring a warm jacket; the winds off the glacier can get chilly.
Nairn Falls (easy)
A delightful 1.5km/.9mi family walk weaves through the forest to the rock sculpted 60m/197ft waterfall. Walk in the opposite direction to One Mile Lake.
Pemberton Area Hikes
One Mile Lake (easy)
The One Mile Lake trail network (and ultimately Nairn Falls Provincial Park) may be accessed via Pemberton Creek Dyke. One Mile Lake itself is surrounded by a boardwalk trail just 1km/.6mi south of Pemberton off Highway 99. Allow about 20 minutes to complete.
Pemberton Valley Loop (easy)
The core of the Pemberton Valley Trail Association is the Valley Loop. This 8km/5mi loop takes in the eastern edge of the Village, the Lillooet riverside and the Pemberton Creek dyke. There are several places along the Valley Loop which branch off to other parts of the trail network. The Valley Loop is bisected by the Hwy 99 trail which is a good alternative if time is short to complete the whole loop.
The Shadow Lake Interpretive Forest (easy-moderate)
Offering over 6km/3.7mi of connecting trails in 125ha/309ac in the Soo Valley, the highlight of the forest is Shawo Lake, which is fed by a number of small creeks from the south and west, and a northerly outflow channel takes the lake water into the Soo River. Trails range in length from 400m/437yd to 2.1km/1.3mi.
Blowdown Creek Trail (moderate)
Located off Hwy 99, the logging road access starts off as a 2-wheel-drive but turns to a 4WD near the end so be prepared. It's a 56km/35mi drive and a 7.5km/4.6mi hike up to fields of heather and alpine flowers, a lake and the abandoned Silver Queen mine site. The Blowdown Creek turn is just north of the yellow and black avalanche control gate. Allow five hours of hiking time.
Tenquille Lake (moderate-advanced)
One of the oldest hiking routes in the Valley leads 12km/7.5mi from the trailhead off the Hurley River Road to Tenquille Lake and an alpine trail network beyond. During the first half of the 20th Century, miners used pack-horse routes to reach this subalpine region. Coupled with trails around nearby Birkenhead and Blackwater Lakes, a revitalization program makes this region one of the best destinations for experienced hikers.
Wedgemount Lake (advanced)
This challenging 14km/8.7mi hike climbs to an elevation of 1,160m/3,800ft and the beautiful alpine lake with Wedge Glacier dipping into its southeast corner. Turn off Hwy 99 just 23km/14mi south of Pemberton, turn west to follow a narrow road for 2km/1.2mi over the railway tracks and across a small bridge to the trailhead. Allow eight hours.
Practical Points
- The best months for hiking and backpacking are mid-May to mid-October; be aware that snow often lingers in the high country into July.
- Anyone exploring Pemberton's backcountry should be an experienced hiker with knowledge of first aid.
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