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- Difficulty: Medium
to Hard - Warnings: Muddy/wet sections, over-grown brush and deadfall, grizzly bear sightings: users should travel in groups, carry bear spray and make noise. The subalpine is prime grizzly bear habitat.
- Wheelchair accessible: No
- High-clearance 4×4 advised to access trailhead? Although one can access the trailhead without a 4 x 4, a high clearance vehicle is recommended as the road can have large ruts.
- Best seasons: Summer (late June-Sept)
- Distance (return meadows): 6.4 km/4 mi
Distance (return peak): Data not available - Approx. time: 3–5 hrs return (meadow)
- Elevation gain: 425 m/1400 ft (meadow)
- Steepest grade: 35% or greater in parts
- Viewpoints: Mountain views, view of waterfall, meadows and alpine lake.
- Geocache points Not known
- Closest bathroom/outhouse: Visitor Info Centre
- Cell service? Not comprehensive, but in spots.
- Gear to bring: Bring 2L water/pp and lots of mosquito spray and bear spray.
Trail Description:
The payoff for this hike is big – a gorgeous meadow with a creek, lake and waterfall. Plus, if you climb up the waterfall you’ll get a view of Mt. Robson and the bottom of the valley. It’s a long drive on a logging road to get to the trailhead (~16km), and a very steep climb, but the hike up to the first lake is only ~2 hours and the scenery is spectacular. The mosquitoes are usually fierce in June and July though, and it’s pretty wet and boggy in the meadows. Watch out: Grizzly bears are often forage in the meadow during spring and summer. At one point you’ll need to cross a large log that’s over a stream. It is a wild and beautiful place.
The Mt. Trudeau hike is not currently maintained, so you’ll encounter overgrown trees and berry bushes, possibly some deadfall, and the flagged trail often disappears once you get into the meadows. Hiking unmaintained trails will give you a taste for the work done by the hardworking volunteers in organizations such as YORA (the Yellowhead Outdoor Recreation Association). Despite its unmaintained status, it is in very good shape as of summer 2024. Good water-resistant hiking boots are recommended for the wet and boggy meadows.
Best Parts: Gorgeous meadow with a creek, lake and waterfall. If you climb up the waterfall you’ll get a view of Mt. Robson and the bottom of the valley.
Worst Parts: Steep sections that are slippery when wet (wear good hiking shoes). Hiking poles are recommended. The sub-alpine meadow is boggy. Grizzly bears are sometimes spotted in the meadow. Be sure to make lots of noise so you don’t surprise them and they have time to leave. Every hiker should carry bear spray. Most years, the mosquitoes are bad due to the lush environment – mosquito spray and/or a net shirt, are a must.
GPS Zone
Trailhead coordinates: 52.833921°, -119.385940°
Insert the above into Google Maps search bar or Click here for Google Map directions
GPS Tracks (Right click, Save link as)
Download Trail GPX file
From the Visitor Info Centre, head south on Hwy 5 (towards Kamloops). Approx. 3.5 km south, take a right at the intersection and follow the logging road as per these google map directions: Click here for Google Map directions. The trailhead is well marked, though someone has cut out the “Mt. Trudeau” portion of the sign, so it just says “Trail.”
