Elsay Lake

Rough route from Mt Seymour Trail junction to Elsay Lake

Statistics

Directions

From Highway #1 (Trans-Canada Highway), head north over the Ironworkers Memorial (Second-Narrows) Bridge in the middle lane. Take the third exit after the bridge (#22a), signed as Mount Seymour Parkway. Turn right onto Mount Seymour Parkway almost immediately and follow it 4.4 km before turning left onto Mount Seymour Road.

Follow Mount Seymour Road as it winds it's way up the mountain. Drive to the end of the large parking lot at the end of the road. Start at the Mount Seymour Trail kiosk, to the left of the Mystery Peak chairlift. Mount Seymour Provincial Park requires parking passes for vehicles during the summer months.

Details

Only experienced and well-equipped backcountry travellers should hike this trail. Hikers are encouraged to plan their hike early and not underestimate travel time. Trail starts on the main Mount Seymour Trail and follows it until the trail divides just before First Pump Peak.

Elsay Lake - Located at north end of park. This is the largest lake in the park and is only accessible by trail. This trail is closed in the winter due to extreme avalanche hazards.

* Largest lake in the park

* Emergency shelter at lake

You begin by climbing 325m up to the trail junction, then dropping over 300m down Wes's Staircase to the valley to the east. Along the way you'll pass through a truly unique wilderness, wild and untamed, to coin a phrase.The east faces of Seymour, Runner Peak, Mt Elsay, Gopher Lake, and boulder fields are among the things you'll see. Wildlife sightings are frequent too.

** Keep in mind that the cumulative elevation gain on this route is almost three times the net gain, allow a full day and choose a good weather window**

***This trail is considered dangerous in winter due to avalanche concerns, and can be subject to rapid weather changes and/or rolling fog at any time. Descending or ascending Wes's Staircase requires traversing some dangerously exposed slopes and runouts in snow conditions, crampons and ice axe recommended strongly ***

Photographs

GPS Waypoints

Mount Seymour trailhead kiosk	N49.36774 W122.94889	10U 503711 5468338
Dog Mountain Trail Junction	N49.36856 W122.94918	10U 503690 5468429
Dinky Peak Trail Junction	N49.37233 W122.94948	10U 503668 5468849
First Lake Trail Junction	N49.37311 W122.94987	10U 503639 5468935
Trail Joins Ski Run Service Road	N49.37633 W122.94590	10U 503927 5469293
Trail Leaves Ski Run Service Road	N49.37792 W122.94370	10U 504087 5469470
Brockton Point	N49.38165 W122.94189	10U 504218 5469885
Elsay Lake Trailhead	N49.38615 W122.93615	10U 504634 5470386