Mount Saint Benedict
Mission
Hiking Key: M~2~ST~V~DF~H
Length: 15 Km’s
Elevation: 1028 meters
Pit Toilet: No
Dogs: Yes
Directions:
Travel east on the Lougheed Highway for about six and a half km past Mission. Turn left onto Sylvester Road (watch for the sign to Cascade Falls.) Follow Sylvester Road northwards until it ends. Do not turn right to Cascade Falls Regional Park. After about 15 km, Sylvester Road turns into Lost Creek FSR (a well-graded gravel road that is fine for 2WD vehicles). Follow Lost Creek FSR for about two or three km, watching for Davis Lake through the trees on your left. Ignore the right turn onto Murdo FSR. Once you reach Davis Lake, stop and park as soon as you reach the bridge over Murdo Creek (opposite the lake). The Trailhead is on the right-hand side, a few paces south of the bridge and is clearly marked with red tape. It heads uphill in an easterly direction away from the Lost Creek FSR. Courtesy of Club Tred. You can travel up the FSR before the bridge almost to the TH but you'll need a 4x4 with good clearance. The above directions are for those who will need to hike up the rocky FSR...
The amazing thing about this hike is you can go to Mackay Lake or carry onto Mt. St. Benedict for stunning views. Make a point of stopping on your way at Cascade Falls, where there’s a suspension bridge. It’s well worth the side trip.
Just before the bridge on the right is the trail. It's up, up, up right from the get go...switch backing and snaking to a logging road. Once there, go left! Keep this spot in your mind as you will have to go back down this section. It’s easy to miss.
There's a couple of branches, stay left. Follow the steep rocky road up for a good km and there's a trail with red flagging tape to the right. Don't take it. Instead keep going up the logging road which gets a little flatter and skinnier. The logging road starts to get grassy as you look ahead another trail on your right with pink & orange flagging tape. There's a sets of 3 sticks, one with a pot on it. Take this trail to the right.
A quick walk up a creek bed then a snaky somewhat hilly trail and into another creek bed. A few creek crossings and back on a rocky & rooty trail.
Soon the trail gets a little muddy and weaves along as you hear a rushing Murdo creek on your left and see a debris chute high above on your right.
Keep going and not too much longer McKay Lake emerges in front of you go down the trail and a rushing creek is to your left. Several logs are at the mouth of Murdo creek. Cross them. This can be your destination. The rushing creek and logs far in the water make a nice spot for lunch. You might even have the area to yourself.
If you feel up for the challenge (totally worth it) after you cross the logs you'll see a traditional orange square trail marker and a wooden stump, follow this to Mt St. Benedict. It weaves it's way to a crossing and up some roots. Soon you'll see MacKay Lake far below and at this point the trail gets steeper and steeper with a lot more ground to cover. After some big steps and a very steep section you’ll come a much easier grade and forest walk. Soon another lake appears and you’ll look up to a beautiful cliff, your final destination. Don’t let it intimidate you as the hard work is over.
Follow the path along and start your last leg of the trail. After a few minutes walking on the rocky part the trail is nice with one rooty part to climb up. Then the views pop out and it’s stunning. You’ve reached your summit with 360* views. Once finished soaking in the views head back the way you came carefully navigating the steep sections down. Watch for the trail junction on the logging road that takes you back to your car. Happy & safe trails.
Mission
Hiking Key: M~2~ST~V~DF~H
Length: 15 Km’s
Elevation: 1028 meters
Pit Toilet: No
Dogs: Yes
Directions:
Travel east on the Lougheed Highway for about six and a half km past Mission. Turn left onto Sylvester Road (watch for the sign to Cascade Falls.) Follow Sylvester Road northwards until it ends. Do not turn right to Cascade Falls Regional Park. After about 15 km, Sylvester Road turns into Lost Creek FSR (a well-graded gravel road that is fine for 2WD vehicles). Follow Lost Creek FSR for about two or three km, watching for Davis Lake through the trees on your left. Ignore the right turn onto Murdo FSR. Once you reach Davis Lake, stop and park as soon as you reach the bridge over Murdo Creek (opposite the lake). The Trailhead is on the right-hand side, a few paces south of the bridge and is clearly marked with red tape. It heads uphill in an easterly direction away from the Lost Creek FSR. Courtesy of Club Tred. You can travel up the FSR before the bridge almost to the TH but you'll need a 4x4 with good clearance. The above directions are for those who will need to hike up the rocky FSR...
The amazing thing about this hike is you can go to Mackay Lake or carry onto Mt. St. Benedict for stunning views. Make a point of stopping on your way at Cascade Falls, where there’s a suspension bridge. It’s well worth the side trip.
Just before the bridge on the right is the trail. It's up, up, up right from the get go...switch backing and snaking to a logging road. Once there, go left! Keep this spot in your mind as you will have to go back down this section. It’s easy to miss.
There's a couple of branches, stay left. Follow the steep rocky road up for a good km and there's a trail with red flagging tape to the right. Don't take it. Instead keep going up the logging road which gets a little flatter and skinnier. The logging road starts to get grassy as you look ahead another trail on your right with pink & orange flagging tape. There's a sets of 3 sticks, one with a pot on it. Take this trail to the right.
A quick walk up a creek bed then a snaky somewhat hilly trail and into another creek bed. A few creek crossings and back on a rocky & rooty trail.
Soon the trail gets a little muddy and weaves along as you hear a rushing Murdo creek on your left and see a debris chute high above on your right.
Keep going and not too much longer McKay Lake emerges in front of you go down the trail and a rushing creek is to your left. Several logs are at the mouth of Murdo creek. Cross them. This can be your destination. The rushing creek and logs far in the water make a nice spot for lunch. You might even have the area to yourself.
If you feel up for the challenge (totally worth it) after you cross the logs you'll see a traditional orange square trail marker and a wooden stump, follow this to Mt St. Benedict. It weaves it's way to a crossing and up some roots. Soon you'll see MacKay Lake far below and at this point the trail gets steeper and steeper with a lot more ground to cover. After some big steps and a very steep section you’ll come a much easier grade and forest walk. Soon another lake appears and you’ll look up to a beautiful cliff, your final destination. Don’t let it intimidate you as the hard work is over.
Follow the path along and start your last leg of the trail. After a few minutes walking on the rocky part the trail is nice with one rooty part to climb up. Then the views pop out and it’s stunning. You’ve reached your summit with 360* views. Once finished soaking in the views head back the way you came carefully navigating the steep sections down. Watch for the trail junction on the logging road that takes you back to your car. Happy & safe trails.
