DEER PARK MOUNTAIN 3850’
This is a lovely short climb with great views down to Arrow Lakes and the communities along the lake – Renata, Deer Park, and Brooklyn. The east face of this mountain is a dramatic vertical cliff.
The hike is on south facing slopes on the edge of a large lake that will moderate the climate significantly. This will clear of snow very early with a good wildflower season early in the year.
The trail is well designed and except for a short area at the bottom is easy to follow up the obvious south ridge of the mountain.
Location: Deer Park is 35 km west of Castlegar on the north shore of Arrow Lake.
Difficulty: C1
Elevation Gain: 2400’
Key Elevations: Deer Park on Arrow Lake 1450’, Summit 3850’
Distance: 3km one way
Time: 3-4 hours
Season: March to November.
Access: Pavement and good gravel road. 2WD low clearance.
Map: Deer Park 82E/8
Drive:
From Nelson. Drive Hwy 3A west to Castlegar and just before the bridge across the Kootenay River, take the exit right towards Robson and Syringa Creek Provincial Park. After 3.3km, turn right onto Broadwater Rd and proceed toward Robson. Left goes to the major bridge across the Columbia. Zero odometer.
From Castlegar. Go through downtown Castlegar and cross the Columbia River and turn left onto Broadwater Road in Robson. Zero odometer.
0.0km Broadwater Road, Robson
11.8km. Pass Hugh Keenleyside Dam (completed 1968)
20.3km. Just before the yellow gates of Syringa Creek Provincial Park, turn right onto the gravel Deer Park Forest Service Road. Follow this narrow, good 2-wheel drive gravel road for approximately 15kms to the community of Deer Park. There are one-lane-only sections with traffic possibly coming the other way. Logging trucks also use the road and must be given lots of room and the right-of-way.
35km. Deer Park. Turn right to drive through the tiny community. There is a small “Renata” Sign pointing the way. Within half a kilometre, the road forks. Take the upper fork to the right.
37km. Park in a large gravel area on the right.
Trail. The trailhead is obvious as it traverses the cutbank at the east side of the parking area. It the contours west to access the south ridge of the mountain. The trail is not so obvious in a few sections near the bottom, but is otherwise good to the top of the mountain.
DEER PARK
Deer Park is located 38 km (24 miles) north-west of Castlegar. Drive first on Broadwater Road to Syringa Park and then on the gravel Deer Park FSR.
History. The 1889 geological survey of the Lower Arrow Lake noted the attractiveness and park-like setting of Deer Park. The Deer Park Post Office opened on June 1, 1897 (and closed in 1967). The CPR had steamer service for transportation of goods and people along Lower Arrow Lake mainly using the SS Minto. Land in the area is believed to have been given to soldiers returning from WWI. The CPR Steamer service discontinued in 1954.
With the creation of the Arrow Reservoir, much of the community including the cemetery is now beneath the waters of Lower Arrow Lake.
Today Deer Park is a quiet place with very little going on except perhaps a generator or chain saw running in the background. There is very little here except some vacation homes along the lakeshore with only a few full-time residents, with most people enjoying their privacy. The community is not on the electrical grid but is included within the Central Kootenay Regional District in Area J but has little or no services.
There is a swimming hole on the Deer Park FSR at Cayuse Creek.