Skyline II West Trail Hike

103 Hikes in Southwestern British Columbia (2008 edition): hike #78.

Related Websites: Skagit Valley Provincial Park - BC Parks official site, Manning Provincial Park - BC Parks official site.

Related Trip: 045 - Skyline II (West) Trail Hike (partial).

Skyline II West Trail starts at the 55 km mark of Silver Skagit Road (which begins off Flood-Hope Road near Hope, BC by Highway 1 Exit 168), about 5 km before Silver Skagit Road ends at International Point Day Use Area and the United States border. This moderately difficult trail takes a long time to get to anything worth looking at, but then rewards you with fine views of double-peaked Hozomeen Mountain and Ross Lake, as well as a bunch of remote mountains.

We already hiked Skyline II West Trail in June of 2011, but hit a lot of snow around the 9 km mark and stopped there. This time, we were able to get to Hozameen (sic) Ridge Junction at about the 12 km mark. From there, it is possible to hike the above-mentioned ridge, or continue for another 13 km or so to the East trailhead located off BC Highway 3. There is, thus, an option to make it a one way hike via a car shuttle. Though, considering the driving distance between the trailheads, it would be rather hard to make it a one day trip. Mowich wilderness camp located about 1 km past the Hozameen Ridge Junction might be of use to those wishing to make it an overnight adventure.

Silver Skagit Road was closed from November of 2021 (when an atmospheric river did some serious road damage) until Spring of 2024, so (just about?) no one hiked Skyline II West Trail for about 2.5 years. Thus, quite a bit of the trail has encroaching vegetation, and we would have been substantially scratched were it not for rain pants, which were also quite helpful to frustrate some mosquitoes at the beginning of the hike. Also, Silver Skagit Road was in rather rough shape with numerous potholes (2WD regular clearance vehicles - ok), but two days later it was graded, and is in much better shape now (but it can certainly deteriorate again over time).

Be careful when driving on Silver Skagit Road - watch for wildlife and incoming vehicles, especially logging trucks and other industrial equipment.

*All trail distances are based on a GPS odometer and are approximate.

1. Here are Google Maps directions from Flood-Hope Road near Hope, BC to Skyline II West Trailhead.

2. We are at the beginning of Silver Skagit Road. Flood-Hope Road is just behind us. It is 55 km from here to Skyline II Trail. For more information on Silver Skagit Road, check out our 2011 trip report.

3. Now at the 18.4 km mark of Silver Skagit Road. Watch for incoming traffic, especially logging trucks.

4. At 21.3 km. Also be on a lookout for wildlife. We saw several deer, a hare, a marmot and a bear.

5. At the 55.0 km mark of Silver Skagit Road we are arriving to Skyline II Trail on the left side.

6. There are no signs of any kind leading to the trailhead, and the only sign is at the trailhead around the corner on the left side. So, watch your odometer (55.0 km from the start of Silver Skagit Road) and also look for this parking space by the trailhead.

7. The parking space and the trailhead.

8. Skyline II West Trail start. Coordinates: N 49⁰02.490' W 121⁰04.135'. Elevation: 490 meters. The sign states 13 km to Mowich camp, and 25 km to Strawberry Flats (eastern end of the trail).

9. Skyline II Trail begins. At 55 meters.

10-11. At 610 meters, there is a Centennial Trail junction. Centennial Trail runs parallel to Silver Skagit Road.

12. Skyline II Trail at 2.20 km. There are a bunch of switchbacks, and nothing too steep, though this trail does gain substantial altitude.

13. There are many parts of the trail with encroaching vegetation, like here at the 2.70 km mark.

14-15. At 3.75 km, Skyline II Trail enters Manning Provincial Park.

15. A small bridge at 4.07 km.

16. Now at 6.60 km of Skyline II West Trail. Not much to see for a long time.

17-18. Finally, a decent view of Hozomeen Mountain appears at the 9.07km mark (plain and zoomed).

18. At 9.48 km, we are out of the woods, and there is limited tree cover.

19. And the views are getting better and better. At 9.60 km.

20. At 9.72 km of Skyline II West Trail in Manning Provincial Park.

21. Hozomeen Mountain (now with both peaks visible) at 10.21 km of Skyline II Trail.

22. At 10.80 km, the best view of the hike is almost there.

23-24. The best, most panoramic view of Skyline II West Trail is at the 10.93 km mark. Coordinates: N 49⁰02.500' W 120⁰59.641'. Elevation: 1,780 meters. Left to right.

25. Zooming in for a better view of Ross Lake. The USA is to the left, and Canada is to the right.

26. A zoomed view of Hozomeen Mountain.

27-29. With more zoom, let's check out the peaks above Ross Lake.

More ihikebc videos are on our YouTube Channel.

30. Now the view from 11.02 km of the trail.

31. At 11.84 km, we have reached Hozameen (sic) Ridge Junction. Coordinates: N 49⁰02.119' W 120⁰59.326'. Elevation: 1,785 meters (1,295 meters elevation gain from the trailhead for an average grade of 11%).  The ridge begins on the right side, and straight ahead is the continuation of Skyline II Trail, with Mowich camp being about 1 km further, and the eastern end of the trail by Highway 3 about 13 km away.

32. In this picture we are looking from the other side. We came from the right, and the ridge is straight ahead.

Skyline II West Trail has several impressive views, but it takes a long drive and a rather long hike to see them. Recommended.

    

Follow @ihikebc Tweet 

ihikebc.com Trip 313 - Skyline II West Trail Hike (From Silver Skagit Road to Hozameen Ridge Junction) near Hope, BC