Zoa Peak

A gentle, rolling summit in the Coquihalla Recreation Area with green meadows and impressive views of it's more rocky neighbouring peaks.

Statistics

Directions

Drive north from Hope on Highway 5 (Coquihalla Highway) to the Falls Lake exit. After exiting the highway, turn left to go under the highway and left again as though you are merging back onto the highway. A paved road leads to the right before the onramp; turn on to this road. Follow the road to the paved parking lot at the trailheads for Falls Lake and Zoa Peak.

Details

Although it is officially called a peak, Zoa is a partially forested ridge that runs along the north side of Falls Lake, just South of the Coquihalla Toll Booth. The route is extremely popular for back-country skiing and showshoeing in the winter months of the year. The rolling, green sub-alpine meadows of Zoa are not visited as often during the summer months, making it perfect for a quiet escape into the Coquihalla wilderness.

From the Falls Lake parking lot, follow the pipeline maintenance road across Fallslake Creek and past a small radio tower platform. A short distance later, turn left onto a rough path leading steeply uphill to a pipeline right-of-way. Turn right and follow the pipeline North for approximately 800 meters. Just before the crest of the ridge, a cairn with flagging tape on the left marks the start of the actual trail.

After a quick scramble up from the pipeline, the well defined trail begins leading uphill through the forest. It's not too long before the forest opens up somewhat to sections of lush, green sub-alpine meadows. The trail leads upwards through the gradually thinning forest over a relatively gentle grade, occasionally leading over some small sections of rock outcroppings that the meadows were unable to claim.

As the trail slowly gains in elevation it leads towards the North side of the Zoa ridge, offering views down to the Coldwater River valley and a series of large marshes. It's a lovely meander through the meadow before you reach Zoa's minor, completely forested sub-peak. From here the trail can be followed down a steep, short distance into a small valley between the the sub-peak and Zoa's true summit. The rocky valley can optionally be followed a short distance to an interesting lookout.

It's a short climb up the other side of the valley to Zoa's true summit; a wide, forested area with a small pond. Short exploration of the summit area will yield some interesting viewpoints of the sharp, rugged peaks of the nearby area.

Photographs

GPS Waypoints

Parking Lot / Trailhead	N49.61241 W121.06470	10U 639805 5497337
Upper Trailhead	N49.62101 W121.06254	10U 639936 5498297
Valley Lookout	N49.62594 W121.08539	10U 638272 5498803
Summit Area	N49.62730 W121.09103	10U 637861 5498944