Manning Park Lodge to Cascade Lookout, Alpine Meadows, and Bighorn Camp (10 km hike)
near Manning Park, British Columbia (Canada)
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Trail photos
Itinerary description
The initial track segment follows road access from the Manning Park Resort to the Cascade Lookout, 8.6 km to the north along a narrow two-lane paved switchback road. The second road segment continues on a gravel road for a further 4.5 miles (park road signs still on imperial system) to the parking lot at Alpine Meadows. This has some washboard sections and raises dust.
Starting at Alpine Meadows parking, the 9.7 km hiking segment starts south along the Paintbrush Trail through sub-alpine flower meadow, passing a large communications installation, and curving around to the west towards Blackwall Peak. The hike continues along the Heather Trail to Buckhorn Camp, the first designated camping site to the north of the parking lot, then backtracks directly to the parking lot (End Station). Be aware the hiking segment is steady (gentle) downhill to Buckhorn Camp, so steady uphill returning to Parking.
Air Quality index (AQI) was high on the day due to forest fires, and together with heat haze, the distant mountains were shrouded and hard to photograph cleary.
Waypoints
Manning Park Lodge
Starting waypoint. Store and coffee shop with trail foods, restaurant, public washrooms, mountain water tap, accomodation, recycling bins. Ground squirrels are abundant on the resort grounds.
Cascade Lookout
Parking at the top of the paved access road, approx. 8.6 km from Manning Park Resort. Spectacular mountain views. A steep gravel road continues 4.5 km further from here to the Alpine Meadows parking areas and the start of this hike. It is occasionally washboard and raises dust.
Alpine Meadows Parking Lot
Air Quality Index (AQI) somewhat elevated on the day due to forest fire activity. Toilet facilities. Summer wildflowers are abundant around this area.
Communications infrastructure, landscape painters
On the day a group of amatuer oil painters was set up along the Paintbrush Trail. A large communications facility occupies the peak in this area.
Mountain views, sub-alpine flower meadows
Distant mountains are shrouded due to heat haze and forest fire smoke.
Lower parking
Track passses a small additional parking area along the gravel access road. The Paintbrush Trail ends here and the Heather Trail begins.
Buckhorn wilderness campsite
Two tent platforms were seen, and adjacent stream with clear running water.
Mountain view
Just south of the trail junction, there is a steep climb with staircases.
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