BUGABOOS

Bugaboo Provincial Park.
Turn north along Highway 95 towards Golden, and turn west past Brisco to drive the good gravel road 58km to Bugaboo Provincial Park, one of the premier alpine climbing areas in the world. There are also marvellous day hikes. The area is characterized by soaring granite spires set in glaciers. The easiest day hike is up the trail to the Conrad Kain Hut. However there is another day hike, which I believe is the best hike in Canada (or maybe the world!), but involves crossing a small glacier and then off-trail hiking, but the route is obvious, with a restricted choice. It can be walked in about eight hours or easily converted to a 2-4 day backpack. A topographical map is highly recommended.
Park at the regular parking lot (a lot of chickenwire is available to protect your brake lines from being chewed by porcupines who roam the lot) or near the CMH Bugaboo Lodge and take the signed Cobalt Lake Trail. Once on the ridge above the lake, leave the meandering trail, and descend taking the easiest route heading for the waterfall below the lake. If staying overnight, consider climbing North Post Spire to the NW of the lake. This is a wonderful place to camp and you will most likely be alone. Continue along the south side of the lake scrambling over the boulders, and climb up to the west of the small glacier SW and above the lake. The glacier can be mostly avoided on the west. You end up on the Brenta Spire (a rock climb)/Cobalt Lake Spire col. Look east and slightly south to map out the route which turns south (right) up a rocky valley. The valley climbs up to the neve above the main group of spires including Bugaboo Spire and Snowpatch. Descent slightly to reach Appleby campsite, a great second camp if backpacking. Continue down a trail past Bugaboo Spire and Snowpatch to the Conrad Kain Hut, full of smelly climbers from all over the world. One could camp here in the good campsites for a third night. Descend the wonderful trail down ladders and constructed steps through the cliffs and back down to the parking lot, or the lodge and your car.