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Hike to Jumbo Pass

East Kootenay F, British Columbia

Details

Distance

6 miles

Elevation Gain

2200 ft

Route Type

Out-and-Back

Description

Added by Stephen Matera

A very moderate hike to a stunningly beautiful pass in the West Kootenay Mountains of British Columbia. This can be done as a dayhike or overnight backpack trip with an option to stay in a B.C. Forest Service Hut at the Pass. Bring your camera as larch trees change to golden yellow in autumn.

From Invermere, British Columbia, head West towards Panorama Ski Area on Toby Creek Forest Service Road. At the turnoff for the bridge that heads towards Panorama, set your trip odometer to 0. At a fork in the road at about 12 miles, stay right on Jumbo Creek Road. In another mile, stay left. At about 15 miles, stay left and cross the bridge to cross over Jumbo creek and then right after the bridge. Continue another 6 miles to the a road forks left near the marker 16km. Park on the side of the road.

Begin hiking up the left fork road for about 1/3 of a mile. The trail begins here at a left fork. Follow the trail from here.

As you ascend, you will break out of the forest and hike below the impressive ramparts of Bastille Mountain to the south. Continue on towards the pass and you'll soon forget all about Bastille Mountain once you get to Jumbo Pass and stare over at Jumbo and Karnak Mountains to the east, and the massive Horseshoe Glacier draping off the side of Cauldron Mountain to the southwest.

At the pass, drop your pack and take it all in. Setup camp and check out the hut if you aren't lucky enough to stay there. Continue on to the north past the hut to get a 360 degree panoramic view of the Purcell Mountains near Jumbo Pass.

This is prime grizzly bear habitat. If you're lucky, you'll get to see one...from a distance. But plan and pack accordingly.

Total hike distance is 6 miles roundtrip with 2,000' of elevation gain. A small price to pay for such a big reward.

A side note about this area. For the past 25 years, a developer has been trying to build one of the largest ski resorts in North America. As of the writing of this adventure, the environmental permit had expired and the resort development is on hold.

To reserve the Jumbo Pass Hut, call in advance to the Invermere Forest District at 250.342.5005.

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Features

Camping
Photography
Backpacking
Hiking
Forest
Scenic
Wildflowers

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