Trip 067 - August 25, 2014 (Monday)

Elk-Thurston Trail Hike

Near Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada

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Distance From Vancouver (Grandview Hwy Entrance to Hwy 1 East): About 110 km: 93.5 km from Grandview Hwy entrance to Hwy 1 East to Exit 123 (Prest Road) - turn right (South), then 5 km on Prest Rd and turn left on Bailey Rd, then 700 meters later at a split stay right on Elk View Road. Continue on Elk View Road until it ends 9.5 kilometers later, and Chilliwack Bench Forest Service Road begins. One kilometer after that you are at the parking area for the Elk-Thurston trailhead.

Liked: Numerous pleasant forest scenes, mountain views, and well-maintained trail.

Of note: Elk View Road is winding and narrow. The trail is popular. Remote highway noise for much of the trail. Remote gunfire for much of the trail. The trail is moderately difficult with several fairly steep sections. Hiking boots are recommended. Hiking poles are highly recommended.

Vancouver, Coast & Mountains Backroad Mapbook (2010 edition) Coordinates: Page 4 (Chilliwack) F5-G5.

103 Hikes in Southwestern British Columbia (2008 edition): hike #64.

Other Trips in Chilliwack Area: Flora Lake Trail, Williams Ridge Trail, Mount Thom Lookout Loop Trail, Vedder Rotary Loop Trail, Teapot Hill Trail Hike, Chilliwack Dyke Trail, Greendrop Lake Trail, Mount Cheam Peak Trail, Ling Lake Trail Hike (off Chilliwack Foley FSR), Chilliwack Foley FSR, Chilliwack Bench FSR, Slesse Memorial Trail, Downtown Chilliwack BC Visit, Chilliwack Lake FSR, Radium Lake Trail, Chilliwack Lake Provincial Park, Minter Gardens, Town of Agassiz BC, Bridal Veil Falls Provincial Park.

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Elk-Thurston Trail leads to Elk Mountain followed by Thurston Mountain. In the process, you reach a good Fraser Valley observation point. It's a medium-difficulty trail, popular with the locals due to close proximity to Chilliwack. If the sun is out, try to start hiking as early in the day as possible, as by noon the sun is already shining in your eyes, making the mountain views look rather hazy.

1. To get to Elk-Thurston Trail from Vancouver, there are several options, and this one is the most straightforward: take Highway 1 East to Exit 123 (Prest Road). Here we are on Highway 1 East between Abbotsford and Chilliwack.

TransCanada Highway 1 East Between Chilliwack and Abbotsford

2. Take Exit 123 (Prest Road) and then turn right (South).

TransCanada Highway 1 British Columbia Exit 123 Prest Road

3. Drive on Prest Road for five kilometers until Bailey Road.

Prest Road Chilliwack BC Canada

4. After turning left onto Bailey Road, 700 meters later you would come to a split seen in the photo below, with Elk View Road on the right side. Stay right.

Elk View Road Start Chilliwack British Columbia Canada

5. After steadily gaining elevation for 9.5 kilometers on Elk View Road, you would come to its end where it meets Lookout Road. Continue straight (as seen on the very right side of the photo below) onto Chilliwack Bench Forest Service Road.

Elk View Road at Lookout Road Chilliwack BC Canada

6. At the beginning of Chilliwack Bench FSR, there is a map showing where in Chilliwack you can fire your gun, and also a sign asking to report all poachers and polluters by calling 1-877-952-7277.

Chilliwack Bench FSR BC Canada

7. Chilliwack Bench is a fairly smooth FSR, with a speed limit of 40 km/h. It eventually connects with Chilliwack Lake Road via Chilliwack Foley FSR, so taking Chilliwack Lake Road and then Chilliwack Foley FSR is the second way of reaching Elk-Thurston trailhead.

Chilliwack Bench Forest Service Road BC Canada

8. At about the one kilometer mark of Chilliwack Bench FSR, we are at the parking area for Elk-Thurston Trail. Elevation - 624 meters. This place is likely quite busy on weekends.

Parking for Elk-Thurston Hiking Trail at Chilliwack Bench FSR BC Canada

9. Chilliwack Bench FSR continues (the rest of it is covered in the next trip report), but we start hiking the trail seen on the left side.

Chilliwack Bench FSR BC Canada at Elk-Thurston Trailhead

10. The first half of the trail is the steepest, but pleasant forest scenes make up for the sweat.

Chilliwack Hiking - Elk-Thurston Trail BC Canada

11. In about forty minutes, you would reach this wide forest service road with an empty bulletin board. On the Backroads Map this road is shown as a convoluted dashed line, so, likely, it's not possible to drive up to this point, otherwise there probably would have been some vehicles parked here. The continuation of the trail is seen on the left side.