A short hike to a small grove of big Western Red Cedar trees. Each is at least 2.5m in circumference and some trees are 600 years old. They are close to Nelson and Kokanee Glacier PP.
Difficulty: easy A1
Elevation gain: 122m (400′) loss and gain
Key elevations: TH 1174m (3850′), low point of trail 1052m (3450′)
Distance: 2km circuit
Time: 1.5 to 2 hours
Season: May through September
Access: easy
Map: BCFS Old Growth Trail brochure
Drive: From Nelson: Start at the middle of the Orange Bridge, drive east on Hwy 3A 20kms. Zero odometer.
From Balfour: Starting at the ferry, drive west on Hwy 3A – 11.8km. Zero odometer.
0.0 Turn north on Kokanee Glacier PP road. At 2.2km bear right; at 2.4km bear left; at 7.3km go straight
11.5km Park. 1174m (3850′)
Trail: Take an interpretive brochure. The trail descends 15 minutes to Kokanee Creek 30 minutes to pass several large cedars and the low point of the trail 1052m (3450′).
TRIPS FOR CHILDREN – OLD GROWTH TRAIL
The Kokanee old-growth trail along Kokanee Creek south of Kokanee Glacier Park is one that we can recommend even for families with small children. The trail begins about 11.5 km. up the Gibson Lake road and meanders downhill through an old growth stand of cedar, hemlock and some Engelmann spruce until it re-emerges just over a kilometre down the road. It was laid out by Fred Thiessen and Steve Flett and constructed in the fall of 1989 as part of the inmate program.
I would guess the trail is about 1.5 km. long; our party of two adults and four children aged two to four travelled the distance in about 1 3/4 hours. The upper entrance to the trail is signposted with a BCFS sign, but you will have to look carefully to find the lower access. Have fun and watch for the passage between two giant rocks.
Kim Kratky