CANADA: Bugaboo PP: Columbia Mountain
50 images Created 12 Jan 2012
Bugaboo Provincial Park lies in the Purcell Mountain Range south of Golden, British Columbia. In late September, Bugaboo Park is lightly visited and has the best fall colors for the forest of tamarack larch with deciduous yellow needles. Most tourists are attracted by nearby Canadian Rockies parks along fast paved highways and skip gravel logging roads, thereby leaving the spectacular "Bugaboos" as a quiet retreat for hikers, climbers, and luxury CMH helicopter guests. Hike to Conrad Kain Hut 2400 feet vertically in 3 miles for breathtaking views of nearby Bugaboo Glacier, soaring granite spires, and sedimentary Rocky Mountains across the valley. Day hike or stay overnight with convenient shelter in Kain Hut, which for a fee provides propane stoves and space for a sleeping bag. Directions: From Spillimacheen or Brisco (44 km north of Invermere on Hwy 95), follow signs to Bugaboo Provincial Park and CMH Lodge on a gravel logging road. After 47 kms (1.5 hours drive), turn right on a rougher road to reach Cobalt Lake trail head and Kain Hut trail head, or continue straight along Bugaboo Forest Service Road. Before you reach the gate of luxury CMH Bugaboo Lodge, a left turn crosses Bugaboo Creek bridge: then a left reaches Bugaboo Septet Recreation Site (4 primitive campsites in a free, user-maintained campground reachable by 2WD vehicles) or straight up takes 4WD vehicles and hikers to Chalice Creek trailhead.