This old pack trail was built to access mining claims scattered along Silver Cup Ridge in the Badshot Range of the Selkirk Mountains. It offers a superb opportunity to enjoy an extended ridge walk through alpine and subalpine terrain. If the entire ridge is walked, it is 25 km from the trailhead on American Creek Road to the trailhead on Dirt Road. There is not a continuous trail along the ridge, it is a combination of a clearly defined trail, an abandoned mining road and a cairned route. Good footgear, map reading and navigation skills are required. Travelling the ridge in poor weather is not recommended.
It is one of the most panoramic trails in the Kootenays, especially with the 24.5km-long, turquoise Trout Lake forming the view to the south. Once on top, you stay up, cruising near tree line. There are many campsites and tarns and trickles are frequent, so water is plentiful. Meadows are extensive. Wildflowers are profuse in late July.
Unfortunately, the mining activity has left unsightly scars and you will share the trail with ATVs and horses. Bring a topographical map and a compass or GPS. The trail is maintained by the Kaslo Riding Society.
Difficulty: E3
Elevation gain: 1156m (3792′)
Key elevations: NW trailhead 1230m (4035′); Triune Mountain 2629m (8625′); Fay’s Peak 2828m (9242′), SE trailhead 2120m (6955′)
Distance: 26km
Time: 4-5 days
Season: early July to late September
Assess: difficult
Map: 82K/11 Trout Lake
Drive: Reaching the trailhead at either end can require the use of a 4WD depending on conditions. Most prefer to start at the north end of Dirt Road FSR. A 4WD is more likely needed on the south end of the American or Horsefly Creek access road.
Access Points: Shuttle vehicle required. Will require driving the road 4 times to get the shuttle vehicle there.
Ferry (junction of Hwy 23 and 31: Drive east on Hwy 31 for 28.2kms to signed John Street in the village of Trout Lake. Zero odometer.
From Lardeau. Drive NW on Hwy 31 for 82.5km to Gerrard at the SW end of Trout Lake where a bridge crosses the Lardeau River. Zero odometer.
Northwest TH access: Dirt Road logging road (unsigned): 8.3km SE from Trout Lake / 19km from Gerrard. It is 1km NW of Rue du Beau and just beyond a creek culvert.
Steep for 2.2km. Most vehicles should make it that far 1130m (3705′).
3.4km to TH marked by brown 4×4 post with white letters at 1230m (4035′) and may be hidden by alders. It doesn’t climb high and should be negotiable by a strong 2WD. High clearance is helpful, 4WD is probably unnecessary. Overgrown so likely will scratch your paint. Starting here has a much longer foot climb.
Southeast TH access: American Creek Road up Horsefly Creek (or Trout Lake East FSR): 27.1km from Trout Lake / .5km from the bridge over the Lardeau River at Gerrard – long, steep, mandatory 4WD and driving skills to drive this sort of road.
0.0 Start of Horsefly Ck Rd 1230m (4035′). At 4.2km, stay straight on an older, brushier road that is eroding in places.
8.5km, the road gets much steeper, narrower and rougher and 4×4 is required. Or you can shoulder your pack and walk up the road.
11.9km Park where boulders block the road to all vehicular traffic. There is a parking area for about 3 vehicles, with room to turn around.
From the boulder barricade to the ridge, the trail follows the road through subalpine and alpine terrain. Panoramic views into the Lardeau Range and Goat Range and an abundance of wildflowers enhance the walk up to the ridge. Upon cresting the ridge, there is an intriguing view into Healy Creek and across to Mt. Aldridge and Razors Edge.
Access via Rue du Beau (Copper Queen Road): 9.3km from Trout Lake / 18km from Gerrard. Broad and graded. Zero odometer. High clearance is helpful, 4WD is preferable. The Forest Service calls this road Copper Queen Rd.
0.0 Switchback through clearcuts.
6.2km Turn right onto an older, narrower but decent road.
8.1km Fork left near the top.
8.6km Timberline. Park here if driving a 2WD. The remaining .7km requires 4WD.
9.3km Ridge. Park. 2070m (6790′).
Although it is possible to drive almost the entire length of Silvercup Ridge on this mining road, please, refrain from leaving the road as the alpine and subalpine meadows are very fragile. The original old trail can be accessed by foot from many places along the mining road. One of the best places is just where the Copper Queen Road meets the road along the ridge. From here the trail is just above the mining road. Turn left or right to explore either end of the ridge.
Trail: From the parking area on Dirt Road, walk through cut blocks for a kilometre, steadily climbing and crossing a few creeks. Reach small clearings with views through the trees. Reach a lovely pond on the ridge. After 2 hours at 6100 feet, the path levels after a 2065-foot climb. After 20 minutes reach the first viable campsite in heather meadows. Progressive views of mountains appear.
6.4 km 3 hours 2040m (6500′) Great viewpoint 4345 feet above Trout Lake. The trail descends off the ridge into a small ravine and intersects an old mining road. Walk on the road for 3.6 km. / Triune Mountain (2629m 8625′) is on the ridge to the north.
7 km. Access trail that goes through nice alpine. The scenery is fantastic and camping is available in many places. Small alpine tarns and small mountains are on the ridge.
7.7 km Junction Rue du Beau.
10.1 km Lakelet just below the road has sheltered camping, but few views. The mining road ends soon. A tarn in a broad meadowy pass (2256m 7400′) is one of the best campsites. Best scenery so far.
18.5 km. Lovely long tarn at 2238m (7340′). One of the best campsites. Rady Creek Mining Road. Route uses road and trail. Great panoramas persist. The route through long sections of meadow is marked by cairns. At the next shoulder, a grand view opens at the Ottawa Creek viewpoint. East is 2828m (9242′) Fay’s Peak with a glacier on its north face. Descend into the pass between Ottawa Creek and Stobart Creek and ascend the south outlier of Fay’s. There is no specific trail here, so follow cairns and flagging.
Round the 8200-foot bump on the crest and just southeast of it at 7750 feet, encounter an old mining road that continues with ups and downs around each watershed all the way to the trailhead. Pass old mine diggings and buildings. Reach a ridge crest and the route descends into Horsefly Creek and Silvercup’s southeast trailhead at 27kilometres (2120m 6955′). Hopefully, your shuttle vehicle will be waiting at the mine site.