Mount Laughington

A rough trail leading through sub-alpine meadows and second growth forest to the summit of Mount Laughtington.

Statistics

Directions

Follow Highway #1 (Trans-Canada Highway) to Chilliwack, taking Exit #119 South. Follow Vedder Road until a three-way stop just before a bridge over the Vedder River. Zero your odometer here and turn left at the stop sign onto Chilliwack Lake Road. At the 28 km mark and immediately after one of the Chilliwack River bridge crossings, turn left onto Foley Creek Forest Service Road. Zero your odometer again here.

Follow the forest service road for 2.0 km to a T-junction, located immediately after a bridge over Foley Creek. Turn right here on to Foley Creek Forest Service Road. Drive north-east another 2.4 km past the T-junction and turn left on to Airplane Creek Forest Service Road, the start of which is a gated bridge. The gate is occasionally locked - if necessary, phone Chilliwack Forestry Service (604-702-5702) to borrow a key.

Reset your odometer at the start of Airplane Creek Road and follow it north, ignoring a branch road on the right a few hundred meters later. At 2.1 km, continue following the road straight and don't take the branch road that curves sharply uphill to the left. After a total distance of 4.6 km from the gate another junction is reached, with the main road continuing straight to a dead end and a partially overgrown road leading uphill to the right. Park here, on the side of the road near the junction.

Details

Starting from the junction at 4.6 km on Airplane Creek Road, hike up the side road to the right. Although it's possible for a rugged vehicle to drive this section, the road is beginning to become overgrown and may cause paint damage. As the road makes a sharp turn to the right 250 meters later, turn left on what remains of an ancient, extremely overgrown road. The junction is easy to miss. If you're heading down a narrow "tunnel" of slide alder growing over an old roadway, you're on the right track. Thankfully, the nasty mess growing over the road only lasts for less than one kilometer before conditions improve, opening up as the road gains in elevation and allowing for unrestricted travel.

Depending on conditions, it takes approximately 30 - 50 minutes to reach the end of the overgrown road - a total distance of 2.6 km from the junction. The Mount Laughington Trail starts at the end of the road, marked with a wide variety of colored flagging tape. Initially, the trail leads through immature second growth forest and meanders haphazardly uphill. The trail is not maintained, allowing the forest to grow over the trail. Follow the confusing sequence of flagging tape uphill for 10 minutes before the rudimentary trail reaches the crest of a small ridge.

Turn left and follow the rough trail as it makes its way around the south side of a small, rocky knoll. After making your way around the knoll, watch for a faint trail to the right. It can be followed to the top, offering a nice spot to relax and great views of the Cheam Range. A small lake, locally known as "Laughington Lake", is located directly below to the north.

Below the knoll, the main trail leads is well defined as it continues through alternating sections of heather meadows and forest. It's a relatively easy hike along a bumpy ridge to the summit of Mount Laughington, marked with a cairn.

Photographs

GPS Waypoints

Junction with side road (parking)	N49.13118 W121.61972	10U 600690 5442956
Start of extremely overgrown road	N49.12949 W121.62159	10U 600557 5442765
Trailhead (end of overgrown road)	N49.13244 W121.63236	10U 599766 5443079
Knoll	N49.13286 W121.63520	10U 599558 5443122
Viewpoint	N49.13017 W121.63849	10U 599323 5442819
Rock archway	N49.13483 W121.64975	10U 598493 5443322
Summit	N49.14042 W121.65922	10U 597791 5443931