CURTIS LAKE TRAIL

This subalpine lake is popular with fishermen.

Difficulty: easy A1
Elevation gain: 220m (720′)
Distance: 1km
Time: 30 minutes one-way
Season: mid-June through October
Access:
Map: Arrow and Kootenay Lake Forest District Recreation Map.

Drive: From the junction of Highway 3B and 3/6 in Salmo, drive 7.2 km south on Highway 6 towards Creston. Turn left onto “Airport Road” opposite the Kootenay Stone Centre. Go 2.3km north, crossing over the Sheep Creek bridge. Turn right onto the north side of the Sheep Creek road. Paved for .5km then turns into a good 2 WD gravel road. Zero odometer.
0.0 Stay on the branch next to the river on the north side.
2.7km Go right (left goes to HB Mine).
10.8km Pass an abandoned BCFS Recreation Site. Because of funding cuts, all backcountry access roads are problematic. Enquire locally. Need high clearance, four-wheel drive, low range vehicles after 14kms.
14.2km Turn right up Curtis Lake. Straight continues to Panther Lake in 1.5km. High clearance is needed for the last 4.5km. Ignore all the many spur roads.
18.7km. Trailhead.

Trail: From the TH, the trail climbs steadily up the valley on an old road, through a logged area. After a stream, follow orange blazes, climb steeply and cross a meadow. The lake at 1829m (6000′) is beautifully shaped and coloured, and is surrounded by peaks to 7,289′. This lake is popular with fishermen. There is no camping or facilities and has a boggy shoreline.