Lasca Creek Trail

 This hasn't been the best summer for outdoor activity. Extreme temperatures, smoke and fires.

By the end of July I was desperate to get out. The Monday on the August Long weekend started with smoke you could taste, but by late morning it was reasonable.

Asking as many people I could about the Lasca Creek Trail got me old information. People had hiked years ago, mountain biked on the road that is decomissioned. Nothing newer than a decade ago. There is no information on the BC Parks site, or on location. So the only way to find out was to start walking.

So on August 2 2021, at 11:40 AM I parked the truck at the park boundary, and started walking along the road heading west. About 25 minutes walk you get to a Trail head. 

The road forks, to the right gets you to Camp Lourdes which is the beach across the lake from Kokanee Park. To the left leads you to the decomissioned road that you can see from the highway on the other side of the lake. 

The trail is grown over, with some dead falls, and sections which are almost overgrown with trees and brush. But it is passable on foot. The grade is pretty easy. It is easy to follow; if you get going the wrong way you are either climbing a very steep bank or trying not to fall and roll down to the railway tracks below.

About an hour in the trail swings south and onto a flat area on top of the hill. It is quite beautiful; large pine trees, large deciduous. 

Another half hour or so you come to a second trail head. The trail looked used and maintained. I didn't go very far; the smoke was getting thicker, wafting down the valley, and I was running out of time.

From the truck to the trailhead was close to two hours. Not strenuous, a steady climb on a road bed. 

It was very dry the day I went, crunchy dry. In normal conditions water wouldn't be an issue. There obviously had been lots of water, I crossed swampy areas that were dry, and small creek beds. 

Higher up there were lots of indication of wildlife. I smelled what probably was an elk, there were very fresh tracks, as well as bear droppings. 

A couple of photos from the day.

I set out to find the trail, and determine whether it was passable. Success on both counts. 

After enjoying some lunch, back to the truck by 5:25 PM. 7 km one way from the gate to the trail head. The altitude at the gate is 452m, the trail head 977m

Definitely going to get back, with more time to explore. Another 1.5 km further and I would have been in the burnt area from the 2003 fire. 12 km from the trail head to Mount Lasca.