Best of 103 Hikes (5th Edition)

Earlier, I published a hit list of my top 10 "recommended ensemble" hikes.  In other words, a 10 pack of accessible great payoff hikes to give someone the greatest variety if they were going to do 10 and only 10 hikes near Vancouver (from 103 Hikes).

This list is probably is more what people who already hike here want to know: what were the 10 best hikes, full stop.  Ie. which were the best experiences and most worthwhile, painful logistics aside, as stand-alone hikes.

A theme for BC hikes I've found is that the best ones require getting further from the city and suffering a 4x4 road, some bushwacking, killer elevation or distance, or at least backpacking to stay overnight.  If the payoff can offset that,.. then it makes my top 10 list.

Here goes, in no particular order, these hikes stick out as the most satisfying for some reason:

1 - MAMQUAM

This one is a bit of a cheater.  Technically, Elfin Lake's trail (also a 103  hike book destination) is the first, and last, quarter of this trip and many people think that is a good enough destination.  Because of the cabin, that can make this multi-day more enjoyable,.. or even doable as you could probably get up here after work,
Mamquam is 44km round trip but has an easy access road in the months you would do this but what makes it great is that it is just non-stop scenery (and the gradient is never high). It starts with the red heather meadows on the way to Elfin,.. then Elfin itself (scenic lakes, good camping or the cabin),.. then you hike to Opal Cone,.. glaciers and walking around an old caldera! THEN you keep going through a number of science fiction fantasy landscapes that remind me of Hawaii... then there is the lake for camping. It is just packed, and why I rank it up there.  PHOTOS

2 - ATHELNEY PASS (SALAL CREEK)
Access to this place sucks.  The road is sandy and needs a 4x4 and a good driver,. it is also very far from Vancouver,  Navigation for the first 10-15km is hard and the terrain challenging including a few stream crossings that you need to plan for. However, that is all erased as soon as you see where you arrive.. huge skies, massive glaciers and the feeling that all hiking youv'e done before was viewed through a port hole.  My eyes felt as if someone switched them from cropped frame camera to full frame (it almost blew my brain).  The scenery is awesome but you have to work to get to it. PHOTOS

3 - RUSSET LAKE
This one actually is very convenient to access, a ready made trip that is a nice loop but does require camping.  PHOTOS
See my post HERE.

4 - WEDGEMOUNT LAKE
This one can be done in a day there and back (but why?). The trail isn't that exciting and is in fact grueling at times but the visual payoff,.. wow.  PHOTOS

5 - MOUNT MACFARLANE

This one is a long haul but there are choices regarding how to tackle it.  We camped at lower Pearce Lake and only took day packs to the top and back in the morning.  It is quite high and gives you a great 360 view of the Chilliwack area.  It is just something about the asthetic that makes this one worth checking out. PHOTOS



6 - LEADING PEAK
Most people call this hike "Anvil Island".  Is the trail great? No. Is the view amazing? Not bad (but it is unique). Is it worth all the begging for permission and extortion of the bible camp, plus the cost of the water taxi? Not really.
What sticks out for me is that every time I drive the Sea to Sky highways, I don't have to look at it anymore and wonder what it would be like to get tot he top.  Like the Lions, Anvil Island is such an icon of this area, it can drive someone like me insane not to hike it.  I enjoyed this adventure just due to the boat ride and the peak was satisfying, as was the approaching ridge.  The logistics? Not so much,  PHOTOS 

7 - MT. RODERICK

This one was an adventure and I doubt people would be able to repeat.  In fact, you aren't supposed to go through the pulp mill anymore or you'd be trespassing.
Knowing I had to bag the book we decided to deal with the lack of free ferry (that existed when the book was written) by kayaking in the calm evening. We were met with a security team telling us to turn back but it was too dangerous and we cut a deal.  That night we hiked, in the dark, to the cabin.
In the morning we woke to a scenic place we'd spend at least 1 more night.  We hiked toward Sedgewick in the alpine and returned in time to sit under cover on the porch and watch the reddest apocalyptic sky peppered with a lightning storm to end all storms, The next day, hiked out and paddled back to Squamish. It sticks out to me as an adventure to remember.  PHOTOS

8 - TRICOUNI MEADOWS
Not unlike Mamquam,.. this one is a 3 stage rocket,.. what might be the ONLY payoff on other hikes is just one of many phases that aim to satisfy here.  We did it as a day hike, but camping at the meadows looks very appealing.  The problem with this one is the need for a 4x4, and a reputation for being muddy year round (for the first hour or so,.. not in the middle).  Great views, great alpine terrain. Do it.  PHOTOS

9 - HAYLMORE-MELVIN DIVIDE
This was in my recommended ensemble list  HERE
Easy to get to by 2WD, all around satisfying overnighter.  No particular adventure story for me on this one, just a good solid destination,

10 - MOUNT OUTRAM
I wrote about this one too HERE

This one is all about the view, it is just that much higher up that the ranges in the area. Being the highest in the book made it particularly satisfying to discover it was wasn't as much a killer chore as it was an amazing destination.  I had dreaded it, conquered it, and even enjoyed it.  PHOTOS




Also of note:
Mt. Steele - (a series of cabins on Sunshine Coast)
Helm Lake - (the only way to do Garibaldi)
Pinecone Lake - (a sleeper with amazing views)
Mt. Harvey - (the best of the HSCT)
Needle Peak - (get your Coquihalla fix)