Mount Cheam North Face Trail

An extremely obscure, overgrown and ancient trail that crosses below the north face of Mount Cheam to reach the north-east ridge.

Statistics

Directions

Follow the Trans-Canada Highway (Highway #1) Eastbound from Bridal Falls. 1.8 km after the Popkum Road exit is a short gravel road with a stop sign on the right. Turn onto the road, but be warned that there is no off-ramp and only minimal shoulder available to make the turn.

The road is what remains of the eastern-most portion of Julseth Road before the construction of the freeway cut it in half. It's only purpose now is to provide access to a variety of rough roads used to service the high-voltage power lines in the area. The road is extremely rough and may not be drivable more than 50 meters.

Park not far off the highway.

Details

Note: This trail describes an extremely overgrown trail that was used by climbers in the 1970's to climb the front of Mount Cheam from the Bridal Falls area. Most hikers climb Mount Cheam using the trail through Spoon Valley - not this one.

Hike the powerline road east for 1km to gain the creek that drains Cheam's north face, crossing the creek coming down from the NW face about halfway. Once across the N Face creek, look for aluminum trail markers dating from the 1970s and the odd spot of flagging tape. This neglected trail climbs to 1280m on the lower northeast ridge of Cheam just above the col with Four Brothers Mountain. The trail ends where it joins old 1960's era logging roads which come up from Wahleach (Jones) Lake. There are two small lakes to the east of the trail end which may make a pleasant destination. However, the main value in this trail is the climbers' access to the north face and northeast ridge routes. For hikers, the view of Cheam's north and east faces from the trail end will impress.

GPS Waypoints

Start of Dirt Road at Freeway

N49.20849 W121.70832

10U 594081 5451436