Upper Elk Lake Trail

Dogs Leashed

Features Lake · Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife

Upper Elk Lake Trail picks up where Elk Pass Trail ends. This is at a major trail junction on the Alberta/British Columbia border. There is a large trail sign with a map, and also a post pointing the way to the several trails converging at this trail junction. Look at the map and follow the arrows for Upper Elk Lake on the trail post, to hike Upper Elk Lake Trail.

Upper Elk Lake Trail is primarily a forest trail. However there are openings in the forest that provide great views of surrounding mountains, Upper Elk Lake, and the Elk River Valley. Leaving the trail junction, the trail starts of in the forest and is flat for the first 1.1 miles. Fox Lake is reached after a half mile. Fox Lake with its grassy shores, and up against the lower slopes of Mount Fox, is easily seen as the trail follows it shoreline for a little over a tenth mile.

Leaving Fox Lake behind, the trail begins a serious descent after about another half mile. It is now traversing slopes that face towards the Elk Lakes and Elk River Valley. These slopes are steep enough to provide views through the trees. A small grassy spot reveals the rugged, glaciated mountains and turquoise Upper Elk Lake, through the trees. Further on a large, grassy avalanche chute is crossed. Here there are great views of Upper Elk Lake, nearby Mt. Aosta, distant mountains, and the Elk River Valley.

Descending further, the trail soon makes a sharp U-turn to the left. There is also a lightly used path that continues straight in the brush. Following the U-turn puts one on Interlakes Trail that goes to Lower Elk Lake, other trails, and the lakeside campground. Staying straight, one heads into the brush towards the endpoint of this Upper Elk Lake Trail, and Upper Elk Lake.

Conifer forest with dense undergrowth. Open areas are grassy with summer wildflowers.