HELEN DEANE LAKES

Two alpine lakes are near the base of Kokanee Glacier and the Slocan Chief Cabin
This description assumes you have arrived at the heart of Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park via the Kokanee Glacier Trail and are either staying in the cabin or campground.

Rating: ♦♦◊◊◊
Difficulty: A1 easy
Distance: 4.5 km round trip: 4.6km
Elevation: +178m
Season: mid-July to late September

Trail. Start at the junction 0.3km from the Kokanee Glacier Cabin or 0.5km from the Kaslo Lake Campground. The sign also points to Tanal Lake 1.8 km back.
Follow the 1.2 km trail to the Slocan Chief Cabin (now a museum with great photos and history), then climb over the end of Smuggler’s Ridge and descend through alpine meadows and pools. On the glacier, spot the Battleship to the left and the Pyramid to the right. Sawtooth Ridge is east. The cabin is.
A junction goes right to Smugglers Ridge or left to the lakes. Descend to the trail between the two lakes – 50 minutes.

The trail continues to the Keen Creek Trailhead accessing the north/central part of Kokanee Glacier PP, now rarely used as the Keen Creek Road is impassable.