GILPIN GRASSLANDS

The landscape changes dramatically between Christina Lake and Grand Forks from forest to grassy slopes, pines and boulders. Larry’s Trail is an out-and-back trail.

Difficulty: A1 easy
Distance: 4 km one way
Elevation: +100m
Season: March to November

Drive. From Christina Lake drive west on Highway 3 towards Grand Forks and the junction of Highway 395. It is exactly 10 km from the turn-off onto Gilpin FSR.
Cross a cattle gate and drive 0.7km up Gilpin FSR and park. Outhouse.  

Trail. Walk up Gilpin FSR for 300 m, and turn right onto the signed “Larry’s Trail” (also labelled the Bundschu Trail on some maps). The trail dips down and follows an old fence with many birdhouses, then begins to contour along the hillside through lovely open country with grass, songbirds, flowers in the spring and big-horned sheep.
1 km. Cross Gilpin Creek and look down to the historic settlement of Gilpin, some of the older houses crumbling into the Kettle River below. Temporarily merge with an old road
Larry’s Trail ends at 5.2 km but the last kilometre of trail has few views so many turn back at 4 km.