Landstrom Ridge

The Landstrom Ridge trail provides relatively easy access to a series of rock bluff lookouts above Hope and the Fraser River.

Statistics

Directions

From it's junction with the Trans-Canada Highway (#1), follow the Hope-Haig Highway (#7) less than one kilometer to a truck weigh scale. The trail begins on the west side of the scale, near what used to be a parking lot. What remains of the parking area has been filed in with large piles of highway construction debris. Much of the area near the scale and along the highway does not allow parking; you may need to park further east down the highway and walk to the trailhead.

Details

A small 280 meter high mountain across the Fraser River from the town of Hope, Landstrom Ridge is a popular hiking destination for locals. The trail was originally maintained by the Hope Trails Committee. Fishing alongside the base of the mountain at Landstrom Bar has become extremely popular in recent years, causing serious problems for nearby landowners.

After much lobbying by the aggravated landowners along Landstrom Road, the fisheries department and the town of Hope closed off all of the nearby parking access. The closures have indirectly resulted in inadequate parking for hikers and as a result the trail is being slowly reclaimed by the forest.

At the west end of the scale is a partially closed off area filled with large mounds of dirt and other debris from highway construction. Climb over the debris, locating the trail as it leads down an embankment and across a minor creek. The trail is generally bushy and overgrown through this section but can be easily followed. During certain times of the year the creek may be too swollen to cross - if this is the case, locate the rudimentary bypass route on your left. The trail can be regained on the opposite side of the nearby railway tracks, next to a concrete barricade where the creek passes under the railroad. Look carefully - the point where the trail leaves the railroad is not well marked and is typically overgrown and hard to see.

Follow the trail for about 50 meters as it makes its way through the overgrowth and eventually opens up inside the forest. Almost immediately after entering the forest the trail forks, with the left fork heading uphill and the right fork continuing onward to the west. This fork is hard to see, and the leftwards trending trail is much more obvious than the right fork. Turn left here, taking the uphill fork - originally referred to as the "shady trail". The trail makes its way up the hillside in a relatively direct and steep manner. Expect some deadfall and overgrowth - the trail sees only occasional maintenance and has been forgotten by many people.

Following the left fork uphill, the trail climbs steeply uphill over a horizontal distance of 700 meters and finally crests the top of the ridge. The trail is slightly bushy near the top - look for a short trail leading towards the left at the point where the trail levels out. The short trail leads a few meters to the first lookout - a view of the Fraser Canyon and the Highway #1 & #7 junction.

From the Fraser Canyon (north-east) lookout, follow the trail straight as it heads towards the south. Ignore the "shady trail" on the right that you came up on and do not take the difficult to see and extremely overgrown trail that leads steeply down to the left. If you start heading downhill on a overgrown and very steep trail you'll know you're going the wrong way - if you were to follow it, it would switchback down an extremely steep side of the mountain and eventually end at the side of private property on Landstrom Road.

Continue following the top of the ridge on the loop trail, heading south. Look for the occasional metal orange tree marker to verify you're on the right track. About 200 meters later the trail forks - the left fork leads to the second rock bluff lookout with views of Silver Creek and Skagit Valley.

The right fork continues the loop and sometimes referred to as the "sunny trail". There is another fork in the trail a short distance after turning onto the "sunny trail" - the left fork leads a very short distance to the third rock bluff lookout with incredible views east down the Fraser Valley. It's a great spot to relax and watch the occasional raven or eagle while you soak in the sun and the beautiful surroundings.

Once past the viewpoint the trail is easier to follow and switchbacks downhill, alternating between traveling through forest and over rock bluffs. The trail eventually reaches the base of the mountain, curving to the right and heading back to point where you originally left the railroad. Follow the short trail back across the creek and up to the highway scales to complete the hike.

Photographs

GPS Waypoints

Trailhead	N49.38479 W121.47353	10U 610785 5471353
Lower Loop Trail Junction	N49.38463 W121.47300	10U 610824 5471336
North-East Lookout	N49.38343 W121.46585	10U 611346 5471213
South Lookout	N49.38089 W121.46579	10U 611356 5470931
South-West Lookout	N49.38149 W121.46699	10U 611267 5470996
Grassy Bluff	N49.38192 W121.47257	10U 610861 5471035
Shack Ruins	N49.38310 W121.47357	10U 610786 5471165