Galene Lakes

A series of sub-alpine lakes high above Ross Lake and Skagit Valley.

Statistics

Directions

From Highway #1 (Trans-Canada Highway) near Hope, take Exit #168. Follow Flood Hope Road East to a flashing amber light at Silver-Skagit Road and zero your odometer. Turn right on Silver-Skagit Road and follow it for 58.7 km to a large suspension bridge that leads over the Skagit River on the right-hand side of the road. Park in the parking lot just past the bridge on the left.

Alternatively, if you are willing to trade a shorter hiking distance with a bit of bushwacking and creek wading, park at the Nepopekum Day Use area, 52.5 km from the start of the road.

Details

The Galene Lakes are a series of three lakes in Skagit Valley Provincial Park, located in sub-alpine terrain high above Ross Lake. It is a long and strenuous hike to reach the lakes and is recommended as an overnight trip for all but very fit, fast, and experienced hikers. Alpine ridges and peaks above the lakes offer some great exploration potential.

The official trailhead for Galene Lakes begins in Chittenden Meadow, near Ross Lake. Follow the Chittenden Meadow trail across the suspension bridge and into the meadow. As you pass through the meadows, watch for a metal sign on your right marking the start of the Galene Lakes trail. Turn right onto the trail, heading north into the forest.

Although detailed information is not available for the first 6 km of the trail, a youth group cleared and restored the entire trail during the summers of 2006 and 2007. Two sets of rock stairs were added and all of the blowdown was removed. Previous to the trail work, it had been reported that the first section of the trail used to have significant blowdown and swampy sections.

An alternate, shorter route to the Galene Lakes trail is to park at the Nepopekum Day Use area. Follow the trail from the day use area 1 km to the bank of Skagit River. Provided the water level is low enough (generally in mid to late-summer), it should be possible to wade across the frigid waters to the opposite side.

Once on the opposite side of the river, look for some flagging tape. From here, a rough route has been cut out and flagged through the forest. It can be difficult to follow with no real trail bed, but was fully brushed and removed of deadfall during the summer of 2007. About 600 meters from the riverbank, the shortcut route connects perpenticular to the Galene Lakes trail - turning left would lead to the official trailhead at Chittenden Meadow, turning right leads upwards to the lakes.

A short distance later a grove of old growth forest is reached with large trees towering high above. The trail turns left as it passes through the trees and follows alongside Galene Creek. Soon after the trail reaches a log that has been converted into a walkway, complete with an arrow carved into it marking the direction of the trail. Follow up along the log to a flat area alongside the creek. It's not always clearly evident where the trail continues at this point - descend to the creek on the opposite side of the flat area and climb up the opposite side. From here, the trail can be seen climbing steeply up the side of a steep embankment with about 40m of gain from the creek. Once out of Galene Creek's gully, the trail turns right and heads through the forest.

The trail abruptly turns a sharp right onto an old logging road a short distance later. Unlike most ancient logging roads in the area, this one is not filled with an abundance of slide alder. Although some small trees are growing on the old road, it's still relatively easy to follow. The road has one turn at approximately the midpoint of following it and starts leading back towards Galene Creek. The road abruptly ends a short distance later in a large grove of rhododenderons. Continue through the rhododenderons to easily pick up the trail on the other side.

The trail past the road is easy to follow and isn't significantly overgrown. Only some minor deadfall may block your path before you finally reach a small, typically overgrown, creek gully. Lush, thick plants and trees typically grow over the trail alongside the water source. Make your way through the greenery if it is covering the trail and follow it as far as the foot-track is visible under the plants. Eventually you will need to climb down a short, steep embankment into the creek gulley with a small stone waterfall to your right. Cross the creek by whatever means is easiest and climb up the opposite side, marked with an abundance of flagging tape to show the way.

Climb up the slope of the gulley before reaching a barrier of massive old-growth trees that have blown down over the trail. It's next to impossible to climb over them or make your way around them - luckily enough there is a small opening under the 10 foot high logs to climb through. The trail is in fairly good shape for the next 80 meters, until it passes just below a talus slope and reaches Galene Creek once again. The visible trail ends at a steep embankment leading down to the creek - climb down and cross the creek to the other side. The opposite side of the creek has a large patch of devil's club growing along the trail. This section is relatively short and you are soon back on the open footpath.

The trail past the creek crossing is in great shape - relatively minor amounts of deadfall and very long, straight sections of trail with moderate elevation gain. There are approximately two or three switchbacks that are so long they barely can be classified as such!

After gaining some elevation, the trail eventually climbs out of the darker forest and into an open, lighter section of forest. The trees are widely spaced here and the extra sunlight has allowed a bit more undergrowth throughout the area. The area is fairly interesting and it's not long before the forest starts to thin out with the occasional patch of heather underfoot. Some low shrubs and plants typically grow over the top of the trail, but it's never bad enough that it could be classified as overgrown.

It's not long before trail opens up to a sub-alpine forested ridge with patches of beautiful meadows. One of the first sights is a great view of Ross Lake from a beautiful flower covered meadow. The trail continues upwards, skirting around to the left of a small summit and then following along the middle of the ridge. There are incredible views of Ross Lake, Skagit Valley, Galene Creek and lush green meadows rolling off into the distance.

From here, the trail is in it's best condition - a perfectly kept well trodden path through the ridge's heather meadows. As the trail heads South along the ridge, a marshy pond is seen to the right. A short distance later, if you look through the trees just right, you can see slight glimpses of the lower Galene Lake in a bowl valley beneath the trail.

Although the trail is called the "Galene Lakes Trail" (plural emphasized), there does not appear to be any direct route to the lower or upper lakes. The route turns to the right and climbs a short distance to the middle lake, where the remains of a few cabin foundations can be seen. The area has enough room for quite a few tents on flat, grassy ground as well as a fairly well kept fire ring. The upper lake can be reached by climbing up the meadows off-trail past the campsite area.

Note: Many guidebooks incorrectly state the trail's length as 32km return from the Chittenden Meadow Suspension Bridge to the middle lake campsite. This is incorrect - the distance is closer to 25.5km return.

Photographs

GPS Waypoints

Trailhead and Suspension Bridge	N49.01920 W121.06031	10U 641816 5431403
Boardwalk	N49.01938 W121.06744	10U 641294 5431409
Galene Lakes Trail Junction	N49.01834 W121.06982	10U 641123 5431289
Nekopekum Shortcut Route Junction	N49.04315 W121.10004	10U 638844 5433991
Lower Galene Creek Crossing	N49.04271 W121.10511	10U 638475 5433933
Trail Begins Following Old Road	N49.04267 W121.10677	10U 638354 5433926
Rhododenderons and End of Old Road	N49.04391 W121.10822	10U 638244 5434061
Overgrown Creek Crossing	N49.04005 W121.11347	10U 637871 5433622
Upper Galene Creek Crossing	N49.03572 W121.11561	10U 637727 5433137
Forest Begins to Thin Out	N49.02597 W121.10718	10U 638370 5432069
Meadows / Ross Lake Viewpoint	N49.01185 W121.12263	10U 637280 5430471
Campsite at Middle Galene Lake	N49.00870 W121.13750	10U 636201 5430094