Distance From Vancouver:
183.5 km. First, drive 140 km on Highway 1 East to Exit 168,
then take Silver Skagit Road for 43.5 km.
Liked:
Fairly easy trail, river views, blooming
rhododendrons, meeting a deer.
Of note:
Remote
wilderness area with no cell phone signal. Tough hill and descent
shortly after camp paths split. Hiking poles and boots are recommended.
Vancouver, Coast & Mountains Backroad Mapbook (2010 edition)
Coordinates
for the Trailhead: Page 6 (Skagit
Valley) C5.
103 Hikes in Southwestern British
Columbia (2008 edition): hike #77.
Skagit River Trail is located in Skagit Valley
Provincial Park near Hope BC. This trail lacks monumental mountain
views, but has such a great natural variety,
that you would hardly miss the magnificent peaks seen from
Skyline II
Trail, for example. The elevation change is minimal, meaning that this
trail is likely snow-free for most of the year. The only real challenge
comes after the main path splits, with the left one leading to Harlequin Flats
Camp located very close to the split, while the right path continues the
hike all the way to Highway 3 (making it possible to do this as a
one-way trip) via Delacy Camp 7.5 kilometers further, which was our
final destination today.
The rhododendrons were in bloom during our hike. And meeting a curious deer made this an even
more memorable adventure.
Here is our July of
2024 video of driving on Silver Skagit Road to the 55 km mark.
We arrive to Skagit
River Trail trailhead at 01:04:55.
0. Here are Google Maps directions of driving on Silver
Skagit Road to Skagit River Trail trailhead.
1. To get to Skagit River Trailhead, you need
to take Silver Skagit Road, described in
Trip #44. Shortly after
crossing this bridge (seen below) located right after the 26 Mile Day Use Area, you would
arrive to Skagit River trailhead at 43.5 km of Silver Skagit Road.
Silver Skagit Road British Columbia Canada
2. A few hundred meters later is the parking area and the trailhead on
the left side of the road.
Silver Skagit Road at Skagit River Trailhead Province of BC Canada
3. We would make it to Delacy Camp today - 10.5 km from the start of the
hike. Sumallo Grove is at Highway 3 in Manning Provincial Park.
Distances from Skagit River Trailhead - Hiking in Hope BC Area
4. Skagit River Trail is easy, for the most
part.
Hope Hiking - Skagit River Trail BC Canada
5. And look who we met - a curious deer. It was partially hidden by the
trees at first, but then made a few steps forward to see who was aiming
a camera in its direction. The distance was about 30 meters. Then, the
deer ran away. It was jumping like a kangaroo - quite hilarious.
Deer on Skagit River Trail British Columbia Canada
7. And then there was this grove of rhododendrons, which apparently bloom
only in mid-June, as per
"103 Hikes in Southwestern British Columbia" by
Jack Bryceland and Mary and David Macaree.
Rhododendrons on Skagit River Trail - Hiking in British Columbia Canada
8. Nice flowers.
Rhododendron Flower British Columbia Canada
9. About an hour after the start of the hike, we reached
a split, where the left path very shortly leads to
Harlequin Flats camp. And the right path continues all the way to Sumallo Grove via Delacy
Camp. This is where hiking boots and poles would come handy, as
you are facing the biggest challenge of the trip - a steep stony hill,
followed by an equally steep downhill. This photo does not do justice to
how steep it actually is out there.
Skagit River Trail - BC Hiking in Hope Area
10. At least you get to enjoy a good view while huffing and puffing
along the trail.
View from Skagit River Trail
11. After the hill, the path starts running next to Skagit River
for the first time.
Picture of Skagit River Trail - hiking in British Columbia Canada
12. The views are quite decent too.
Skagit River British Columbia Canada - Hope Area Hiking
13. The trail continues along the river for a while.
Skagit River Hiking Trail BC Canada
14. Almost looks like a jungle, eh?
Hope Hiking - View from Silver Skagit Trail - British Columbia Canada
15. Another good view of the river.
Skagit River Seen from Hiking Trail
16. Three hours into the hike comes a fairly dangerous stretch, where
you need to stay away from the left edge to avoid falling down the stony
hill.
Skagit River Trail Province of British Columbia Canada
17. It does not last long, though, and, soon, the path
enters a
rather neat-looking forest.
Hiking in Hope BC Area - Skagit River Trail
18. Three and a half hours into the hike comes a
water crossing, where having a hiking pole for support would come very handy.
19. While hiking Skagit River Trail, you would
also be going across three fast-flowing creeks on sturdy bridges. Here is the last bridge before Delacy
Camp.
Skagit River Trail near Hope BC Canada
20. Delacy Camp itself. Nothing but flat ground. There is one table with
benches, two bear-proof containers, and a toilet in the middle of the
forest (no cabin). This was our final destination before we went back.
Delacy Camp Skagit River Trail BC Canada
Skagit River trail is a good all-season hike, which does not
feature any spectacular views, but does not bore you either.
Recommended.