Trip 148 - August 23, 2018 (Thursday)
Whiskey Creek Trail Hike
Seven Sisters Provincial Park
Near Terrace, British Columbia, Canada.
Trailhead
Location: In Seven Sisters Provincial Park,
by BC Highway 16, approximately 70 kilometers East of Terrace.
Liked: Several fine forest scenes, no bugs, gentle elevation gain.
Of Note: Remote wilderness area, trail can be hard to follow (especially closer to the end), hiking poles and boots are highly recommended, long pants are recommended.
Northern BC Backroad Mapbook (3rd edition) Coordinates: Page 34 (Kitwanga) D2-E2.
Related Websites: Seven Sisters Provincial Park - BC Parks Official Website.
Another Hike in Seven Sisters Provincial Park: Watson Lake Trail Hike.
Whiskey Creek Trail is located in Seven Sisters Provincial Park, relatively close to the town of Terrace (East of it on Highway 16). BC Parks website promised "spectacular views," so it was a disappointment not to find anything even close to spectacular. Moreover, the trail has no apparent end. Once we were at the 7.2 km mark from the start of the trail (based on the GPS distance tracker), there was nothing but a forest around us. Yet, the sign at the trailhead stated that the trail length was 7.2 km. On top of that, the trail ribbon in our Garmin GPS with Backroad Mapbook software also ended in the middle of the woods. We saw what looked like a lake on the GPS map several hundred meters from our location, and headed towards it. Turned out it was a mostly dry bed of Whiskey Creek, with several mountains about half a kilometer away. So, we did some stone hopping, and got a few half-decent mountain views. Perhaps, with the sun shining in the right direction, the views would have been better, but even then it would be a stretch to call them spectacular. That said, there was some sporadic flagging tape around the apparent end of the trail, leading further into Seven Sisters Provincial Park. So, if you are willing to keep going and see where it leads you, the views just might get as spectacular as promised.
1. We are Westbound on BC Highway 16, between Smithers and Highway 37 turnoff.
BC Highway 16 West of Smithers British Columbia Canada
2. Zero your odometer at the Petro-Canada gas station by Highway 37 turnoff. Whiskey Creek trailhead would be on the left side 16.2 km later.
Petro-Canada gas station on BC Highway 16 near BC Highway 37 Turnoff
3. Our first adventure involved finding the trailhead. BC Parks website says the trailhead is 16 km past the Petro-Canada station. So, when we saw a large pullout (pictured below) 15.8 km after the gas station, we figured this is it, park here and find the trailhead. Not only that, our GPS with Backroad Mapbook software also showed Whiskey Creek trailhead to be in this very place. Alas, the wall of rock on the left side left no illusion that there was no trailhead at that place.
BC Highway 16 by Seven Sisters Provincial Park
4. We started driving further West towards another trail, and, four hundred meters past the pullout, there was the Whiskey Creek trailhead. There is enough space for a few vehicles here, but that large pullout could accommodate dozens more.
Whiskey Creek Trailhead Seven Sisters Provincial Park near Terrace BC
Canada
5. Here is the trailhead. Coordinates: N 55⁰02.019' W 128⁰16.969'. Elevation: 213 meters. A note warned of no bridge across Whiskey Creek, so we ended up carrying a pair of flip-flops.
Start of Whiskey Creek Trail in Seven Sisters Provincial Park British
Columbia Canada
6. The first 3+ kilometers is a hike in a neat, wide-open forest. A highlight of the trip, more or less.
Hiking near Terrace BC - Whiskey Creek Trail - Seven Sisters Provincial
Park
7. It's nothing major, but just a pleasant or an interesting scene here and there.
Foot bridge on Whiskey Creek Trail in Seven Sisters Provincial Park near
Terrace British Columbia Canada
8. Lots of shade too, quiet, peaceful, no bugs.
Seven Sisters Provincial Park - Whiskey Creek Trail - by Terrace BC
Canada
9. A tree mayhem.
Whiskey Creek Trail in Seven Sisters Provincial Park British Columbia
Canada
10. Remember the "no bridge across Whiskey Creek" note? Guess what...
Seven Sisters Provincial Park near Terrace British Columbia Canada
11. Here is a fine and sturdy log bridge. There was an exact same note 100 meters prior to the bridge, and you could tell that the creek crossing used to be right there. So, the bridge has been placed (kudos to whoever did it), but the notes remained. It's 3.4 km from the trailhead to the bridge, as per the GPS odometer. After crossing the bridge, turn right. There is also an unknown trail on the left side there.
Log Bridge across Whiskey Creek in Seven Sisters Provincial Park BC
Canada
12. As far as the views, there was this half-decent mountain scene on the right side 2.5 hours after the start of the trail.
Mountain View from Whiskey Creek Trail in Seven Sisters Provincial Park
by Terrace BC Canada
13. Until this mountain view, it was fairly easy to follow the trail thanks to the GPS, flagging tape, and an obvious trail on the ground. Shortly thereafter, the flagging tape became more and more sporadic, the trail under our feet all but disappeared, and the trail ribbon on the GPS ended in the middle of the forest, with no obvious viewpoint or anything else to indicate why this particular spot would be the end of the trail. Also, we were way past the 7.2 km mark on the GPS odometer, and 7.2 km was the indicated trail length on the note by the trailhead. Finally, we lost sight of any flagging tape to lead us forward. So, we checked the GPS map, saw what initially looked like a lake nearby, and headed towards it. We had to go through lots of bushes and got our legs scratched. After a few minutes, we ended up on a mostly dry bed of Whiskey Creek. Coordinates: N 55⁰00.878' W 128⁰12.300'. Elevation: 773 meters (560 meters elevation gain from the start of the trail). Distance travelled as per GPS: 8.6 km. Time: 3 hours 10 minutes.
Dry Bed of Whiskey Creek in Seven Sisters Provincial Park
14. Looking in the opposite direction, we saw what is likely Artemis Peak (if we read the map correctly), so we started stone-hopping towards it.
Mountain in Seven Sisters Provincial Park BC Canada
15. Soon, some peaks appeared on the right side.
Seven Sisters Provincial Park near Terrace British Columbia Canada
16. Zooming in.
Seven Sisters Provincial Park British Columbia Canada
17. Looking left now. Perhaps, it would have looked better with the sun behind us.
Mountain in Seven Sisters Provincial Park - hiking near Terrace BC
Canada
18. Looking back, there was this decent view.
Seven Sisters Provincial Park
19. Same mountain with lots of zoom.
Here is our video of the views from near the end of the hike:
20. Eventually, we started heading back, and, suddenly, found more flagging tape going forward. So, we followed it for 10-15 minutes, realized there wouldn't be any good views in the foreseeable future, and stopped at this spot. Coordinates: N 55⁰00.684' W 128⁰12.038'. Elevation: 809 meters.
As far as where that flagging tape would eventually lead whoever follows it, it's hard to tell, but, likely, this is the way to the heart of Seven Sisters Provincial Park. Unless this is where you are going, or you know of better views in this area, Whiskey Creek Trail is sure way too much hiking for the views you eventually get to see.
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Other Trips:
ihikebc.com Trip 148 - Whiskey Creek Trail Hike (near Terrace BC)