TOAD MT 2209m 7247′
RED MT 2183m 7159′
COPPER MT 2190m 7200′
These 3 minor mountains share a four-kilometre long, NE to SW trending ridge. The summit of Toad Mountain is 10 kilometres SSW of downtown Nelson. Red Mt and Toad Mt are close neighbours and often summitted on the same trip. Climbing has some route-finding and bushwhacking.
Copper Mountain and its hut are part of the Bonnington Traverse.
Difficulty: B2 moderate
Distance: Red Mt 4.6 km one way. Toad Mt 3.4 km one way.
Elevation: Red Mt +491m. Toad Mt +370 m
Season: early July to late September
Map: 82F/6 Nelson
Drive. Giveout Creek FSR is the same road access as Toad Mountain. From Nelson, drive south on Hwy 6, and turn right on GCR, just before Cottonwood Regional Park/Lake.
0.0 Turn up Giveout Creek FSR.
1.6 km. Ignore the switchback leading left
4.8 km. Cross a bridge over Giveout Creek.
9.0 km. Pass the upper kiosk for the Morning Mountain Bike Trails.
10.0 km. A major junction – go left up the west branch of Giveout Creek FSR. Continue on switchbacks on the main road up the bowl below Toad Mountain.
16.7km. Park at the forked junction near the top of the ridge
Trail.
Red Mountain. Hike a loop using a bushwhack shortcut up the ridge, and come back on the Upper Powerslave mountain bike trail.
Walk up the logging road to the left angling up towards Toad Mountain. As the road fizzles out in a clearcut, follow the flagged shortcut route to the ridge.
0.7km. The trail fizzles out. Continue southwest along the forest edge looking for flagging tape and an arrow-marked log to enter the forest.
1.0 km. Cross 2 rockslides.
1.2 km. A short steep slope full of alder.
1.5 km. Reach the top of the ridge where the shortcut route meets the official Upper Powerslave Trail that is used to access Toad Mountain. Turn left south for 400m of easy, flat trail walking.
1.9km. Look for more flagging tape and another rough route on the right, the turn-off to Red Mountain and the red rock of the summit.
Return left on the mountain bike trail and hike down Toad’s northern ridge for a more gradual descent. Exit the Upper Powerslave Trail at 8km on another logging road, and turn right through the clearcuts and your vehicle.
From Red Mt to Toad Mt ~1.5km, Descend 650′ to the col (6500′) and ascend 750′ to the summit of Toad.
From Red Mt to Copper Mt ~3.5kms, 3 bumps on a ridge
Copper Mountain 2190m (7200′)
Drive. From Nelson drive west on Hwy 3A. Turn left before the Hwy 3A bridge onto Blewett Road
1. At Blewett, turn left (south) on May and Jenny Road (Copper Mt FSR) up 49 Creek. 25 km on a bumpy road. The road ascends towards Red Mountain.
2. Rover Creek FSR:
10 km Go straight. Right goes up Snowwater Creek
14 km Park (5400’) on Snowwater Ck.
Route: Climb to the NE ridge of Mt Connor, then over the cirque below the north face. From ridge ski north into headwaters of Eric Ck. Climb through trees to the east ridge of Copper Mt.
Mt.Connor 3kms (as the crow flies) WWN of Copper Mt. Bypassed to south.
Rover Ck Rd – Snowwater Ck – 14.5 to Snowwater Creek 5400′.