Trip 090 - July 10, 2015 (Friday)Butler Ridge Hiking TrailButler Ridge Provincial Park Near Hudson's Hope BC |
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Liked: Easy access to the trailhead, shade in the forest, several rock views, (potentially) good views of Williston Lake. Of note: (Almost) no signs to the trail, remote wilderness area, no cell phone signal, mosquitoes, several long steep stretches, the trail is getting overgrown, no tree cover in the alpine area (sun protection required), hiking boots and poles are recommended. Northern BC Backroad Mapbook (3rd edition) Coordinates: Page 65 (Hudson's Hope) E5. Related Website: Butler Ridge Provincial Park - BC Parks Official Site. Other trips in Hudson's Hope area: Battleship Mountain Trail Hike, Bullhead Mountain Trail Hike, W.A.C. Bennett Dam Visit. Follow @ihikebc Tweet ![]() Butler Ridge Trail starts near the Williston Lake boat launch, and offers great views of Williston Lake. Except today haze made those views much less appealing. However, it was still a memorable hike, as the ridge offers several fine rock views and, if nothing else, a good exercise. ATV access is permitted all the way up to the alpine area, if you don't feel like sweating through a featureless forest for the first two and a half hours of the hike. 1. We are Southbound on Highway 29 in Hudson's Hope, following the arrow to W.A.C. Bennett Dam. On the far left is Fas Gas (the last chance to fuel up). Turning left before the gas station and continuing South on Highway 29 would, eventually, lead to Chetwynd, but we need to drive straight onto Canyon Drive to get to Butler Ridge Provincial Park.
2. About 15 kilometers later, there is a split. Coordinates: N 56⁰01.743' W 122⁰07.991'. Going straight would lead to the dam in a few kilometers. Turning right onto Twelve Mile Road would lead to Butler Ridge Provincial Park.
3. Twelve Mile Road just after the turn.
4. In about three kilometers, the asphalt ends, and gravel begins. This has to be the smoothest gravel road we have ever driven, with no potholes or uneven surface. Beware, though, as gravel is slippery even when dry, and skidding is a real possibility, if you go too fast, especially in corners.
5. A decent view of Williston Lake (which was formed when W.A.C. Bennett Dam was built on Peace River) appears on the left as you drive towards Butler Ridge Provincial Park.
6. Closer to the park, there is a split. Turn right.
7. Just over 22 kilometers after we turned onto Twelve Mile Road, we are at another split. Going left here would very shortly lead to Williston Lake boat launch and parking. And going right (Dunlevy Road, which the GPS navigator insisted on calling Strain Road) would take you around some part of the lake towards residential properties and numerous vacant lots awaiting their buyers. Also, Butler Ridge trailhead is immediately after you turn right onto Dunlevy Road.
8. We will return to our hike coverage shortly, but, for now, here is a photo of Williston Lake Boat Launch area.
9. In case you ever need it, the emergency numbers are posted nearby.
10. So, if you would turn right onto Dunlevy Road at a split seen in photo #8, Butler Ridge trailhead would be right there. Coordinates for the trailhead: N 56⁰08.646' W 122⁰21.270'. Elevation: 733 meters. There is but one small sign there, which consists of a figure of a hiker. You can see the leaning metal post hosting that sign on the left side of the trail just before the forest entrance. ATVs are permitted on Butler Ridge Trail up to the alpine area.
11. At first, the trail is easy enough, and actually loses altitude, as the path descends towards a small creek. It was possible to do stone-hopping to cross it. However, during the spring runoff the volume of water might require getting your feet wet.
12. And, then, the most difficult part of the hike begins - a very long steep stretch which makes you gain over two hundred meters of altitude prior to somewhat levelling off at coordinates N 56⁰08.488' W 122⁰19.641', elevation 950 meters.
13. Fifty minutes into the hike, we arrived to a three-way split. Turn left.
14. Butler Ridge Trail is quite overgrown in some places.
15. Two and a half hours into the hike, we have reached the alpine area at the elevation of approximately 1,400 meters. Coordinates: N 56⁰09.229' W 122⁰16.240'. A sign prohibits further motorized vehicles access.
16. Very soon, you get to see the beginning of the actual Butler Ridge part of the hike...
17. ...and a very hazy (today, anyway) Williston Lake. Darkened the image quite a lot to be able to see even this much.
18. At first, the path is easy to see, and leads through a pleasant area of short trees.
19. After that, the path disappears and reappears all the time, as this trail is probably rarely used. However, the ridge is very obvious, and all you do is keep walking towards what looks like the end of the ridge.
20. There are a few good rock views here and there, though this (sub-)alpine area is definitely far from spectacular.
21. No tree cover in the alpine, so have sun protection ready.
22. The ridge kept going and going with no end in sight.
23. Williston Lake is always to your left, and would be quite a treat to look at without all this haze.
24. Eventually, we have had enough of Butler Ridge, reached this cairn, and went back. The ridge, as you can see, can be hiked much further. Coordinates of the cairn: N 56⁰10.726' W 122⁰16.935'. Distance from the "No motorized vehicles beyond this point" sign seen in photo #15: 2.9 kilometers as the crow flies.
Here is our video of Butler Ridge and Williston Lake from this point:
More ihikebc videos are on our YouTube Channel. Provided there is no haze over the lake, this could be a worthwhile hike for sure.
Other Trips in Hudson's Hope BC Area: Follow @ihikebc Tweet ![]() ihikebc.com Trip 090 - Butler Ridge Trail Hike (near Hudson's Hope BC) |