EMERALD LAKE 2067m 6789′
Visit this pretty alpine lake below Mount Jardine. on an out-and-back trail.
Rating: ♦♦♦◊◊
Location: South slopes of Mt Jardine
Difficulty: B2 moderate
Elevation Gain: +449m
Distance: 4.4 km one way
Time: 6-7 hours
Season: July to October
Access: 4WD high clearance to cross 26 water bars.
Map: 82K/3
Drive: From Kalso, drive 11 km west on Highway 31A towards New Denver to the Blue Ridge FSR that is signed Buchanan Lookout.
0.0 km. Blue Ridge FSR
0.4km. Junction – right is the Wagon Road to Buchanan Lookout. Stay left on Blue Ridge FSR passing the second Wagon Road intersection.
4.3 km. Fork left.
11 km. Fork left through new cut blocks.
11.3 km. Stay left on the main road.
11.7 km. Fork left.
12.9 km. Fork right and ascend.
13.3 km. Either park or drive the switchback on the narrow old road.
13.5 km. Park at the end of a switchback on a small pullout with room for 2-3 vehicles.
Route/Trail. The TH is at the back of the switchback. Walk up an old mining road for 1 km. Pass old mine tailings.
1.8 km. Cross a creek, pass a mining cabin and take the trail behind the cabin along a creek bed towards the ridge above.
3km. Reach the saddle in the ridge below Mt Jardine. Either go right .4 km gaining 100 m to the high point on the ridge or follow the trail down to Emerald Lake through a boulder field.
The ridges make a circuit around the lake and lead to the summit of Mount Jardine. The main trail to Mountain Jardine ascends from the old Beaver Mine.
4.4km. Reach the small, but beautiful Emerald Lake.
Return. The same way.
What to Do:
1. Turn right and climb about .4km and 100m elevation gain up to the ridge. Good views of Mount Jardine and the surrounding panorama.
2. Use the ridges to do a circuit around the lake
3. Follow the ridges to Mount Jardine’s summit. This is possibly an easier route than the old Beaver Mine trail to the summit.
References: https://westkootenayhiking.ca/emerald-lake/