Trip 322 - September 16, 2024 (Monday)

Green Mountain Trail Hike

Near Gold Bridge, BC

Page 3 of 4

Trailhead Location: About 11 km from Gold Bridge, BC via Hurley River FSR and Green Mountain Trail access road.

Liked: Excellent views of mountains, valleys, and lakes. A former fire lookout shack. Shade in the forest. Meeting a marmot. Very few bugs.

Of Note: Hurley River FSR towards the trail is like a washboard. Remote wilderness area. High altitude trail. No shade in the sub-alpine and alpine. A GPS with this trail is recommended. Moderately difficult trail to the fire lookout shack - hiking poles and boots are highly recommended. Moderate-to-difficult trail past the shack - hiking poles and boots are essential.

Vancouver, Coast & Mountains Backroad Mapbook (2019 edition) Coordinates : Page 50 (Downton Lake) G5.

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Green Mountain Trail is located in the remote southwest part of British Columbia near Gold Bridge. It's takes a 103 km drive via a scenic BC Highway 40 from Lillooet to get to Gold Bridge, and then a drive for over 8 km on washboard-like Hurley River Forest Service Road (2WD regular clearance vehicles - ok, but ensure to have good tires and a spare). After that, there is an access road of about 2.8 km to the trailhead, then just over 3 km to an old and well-preserved fire lookout shack, and then further hiking of about 3 km to the end of the trail.

If you have a high-clearance short-wheelbase 4x4, you might be able to make it all the way to the shack. Otherwise, park by Hurley River FSR and start hiking. It's not a very difficult trail all the way to the shack (gets tougher after that), but there are absolutely no signs (save for one by the forest service road), and several splits where you either need to know where you are going, or have a GPS unit with this trail.

The views of mountains, valleys, and lakes are absolutely great, and the shack is in good enough shape to accommodate an overnight stay - it has 4 bunk beds and a stove. There is also an open air pit toilet (with a view!) near the shack. We first hiked this trail in May of 2021, but stopped about halfway to the shack due to deep snow. Unless otherwise noted, all photographs in this trip report are from the trip we took in September of 2024.

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

63. At 2.99 km of Green Mountain Trail we are almost at the fire lookout shack.

Green Mountain Trail

64. Looking back where we came from.

British Columbia Hiking - Green Mountain Trail near Gold Bridge BC Canada

65-67. And here it is, at 3.02 km, Green Mountain fire lookout. Coordinates: N 50⁰47.366' W 122⁰55.242'. Elevation: 2,030 meters (510 meters elevation gain from the trailhead for an average grade of 17%). Inactive for many years like the rest of them in British Columbia. But a very neat backcountry shelter and historical artefact. An open air pit toilet with a fine view is located next to a shed on the other side of the shack. All vehicles should not proceed further, as there is a very steep loose-surface descent coming soon. And, in any case, hiking-only trail begins 500 meters ahead.

Green Mountain Fire Lookout Shack (not in operation) near Gold Bridge BC Canada

British Columbia Fire Lookout Shack (Not in Operation)

Old Fire Lookout Shack British Columbia

68-69. Inside the shack there are bunks for 4 people, a stove, a sink, a lantern, and numerous small items. Visitors have left their names and dates of visit all over the walls.

Inside Old Fire Lookout Shack British Columbia Canada

Inside Green Mountain Fire Lookout Shack (not operational) in British Columbia Canada

70. A fine view from inside the Green Mountain fire lookout shack.

View from Old Fire Lookout Shack on Green Mountain near Gold Bridge BC Canada

71-73. There is a also neat panoramic view outside the shack. Left to right.

View from Green Mountain in British Columbia Canada

74. A zoomed view of Gun Lake and a small Lajoie Lake in front of it.

Gun Lake and Lajoie Lake view from Green Mountain near Gold Bridge British Columbia Canada

75. There are several memorial plaques here as well. Commemorating Peter Richley (1921-2000), Ella Richley (1921-2017), and Dale Harwood (1938-2018).

Green Mountain Memorial Plaque

Here is our video of the views inside and outside the Green Mountain fire lookout shack.

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76. From the fire lookout shack, it is about 3 kilometers until the end of the trail. Things get more complicated, and hiking poles and boots are essential going forward. Here we are 35 meters from the shack.

Green Mountain Trail Past Fire Lookout Shack

77. At 120 meters, we see our next challenge ahead.

Hiking in British Columbia

78. At 170 meters, here is that steep loose-surface descent. It is even steeper than it looks. Perhaps, with a diff lock it might be possible to climb up, but it likely would not be easy.