The Elder Trail is a Kootenay Columbia Trail Society trail that includes a wagon road to what once was the Elder family property above Wilmes Lane in West Trail, a fairly steep, but well built, trail on one side of the property leading up the mountain to a meadow overlooking the valley, and another trail going back down the mountain on the other side of the property.
If you were in a hurry, you could hike this in an hour. But the views of the Columbia River valley from Rivervale to Glenmerry are worth taking the time to extend the hike and the big rock viewpoint at the edge of the meadow is a great place to sit and relax and enjoy the view while having a bite to eat.
Difficulty: A1 easy
Trailhead: Palyga Drive, Trail
Distance: 2.7 km round trip
Elevation: +180m
Season: early April to early November
Drive: The trailhead is tucked away on Palyga Drive in West Trail in a maze of zig-zagging residential streets! Use the map pin to navigate to the trailhead where you’ll find plenty of parking spaces on this narrow road.
Trail. Start on an old, overgrown road to the marked trailhead. The first 0.5 km of trail follows the old road to the start of the loop. Views down to Trail open up. Walk counter-clockwise using old roads, and a steeper trail, to reach the viewpoint at 1.5 km.
Complete the loop after hiking 2.2 km to rejoin the original old road to the trailhead.