Rating: 5 stars.
Use: Hiking.
Difficulty: Difficult.
Distance: 14 km return to the summit.
Description: Other than hiring a helicopter to land you on the summit, this is the best option for getting to the top of Mount Macpherson. A newly reconstructed bridge over English Creek and a recently brushed access road to the power lines (thanks to BC Hydro) puts this hike back on the books! The access trail is old and overgrown (rumoured to have been put in by the Vernon Outdoors Club 25 years ago) but will save you a bushwhack. From the end of the trail and up to the Macpherson west col it is easy walking in any direction. Whether it is to the summit of Mount Macpherson, the summit of Mount Tilley or just a couple of days camping at Tilley Lakes this is a fantastic route. An alpine traverse over to Mount Begbie and down the Begbie Trail would also make for an excellent few days. See the corresponding section of this website for the various options.
Directions: Drive west of Revelstoke on Highway 1. Just before the 3 Valley Gap ‘Resort’ hang a left onto the Three Valley – Victor FSR. Drive for 2.6 km on this road until you come to a Y. Take the left hand road (100 Road) that leads into the English Creek drainage. Here you will cross the recently rebuilt English Bridge and head up the even more recently brushed access road. Once under the power lines look for the parking spot marked by a small rock cairn and proceed through the old cut block to the trailhead. The trail is pretty much non-existent through the cut block so make your way through it wherever it seems easiest. Once at the edge of the timber edge locate the trailhead. Follow the overgrown trail that leads up the drainage to the small lake (where the trail ends) and onto the boulder gully that leads to the col. From the col scramble up the talus slope to the almost flat 4 km long plateau that leads to the summit of Macpherson. Very easy hiking with a spectacular views of the Monashees the whole way. Hard to believe this is so close to town.
Trailhead GPS:
- Three Valley – Victor FSR: N50 56.202 W118 25.939
- Branch 100 Road: N50 56.496 W118 24.344
- English Bridge: N50 56.693 W118 23.191
- Macpherson west approach trail parking: N50 56.566 W118 20.752
- Macpherson west approach trailhead: N50 56.409 W118 20.672
- Small lake marking the end of trail: N50 55.892 W118 20.503
- Macpherson west col: N50 55.496 W118 20.204
Useful Maps:
Mount Macpherson Summit via Macpherson West Approach Trail Overview Map PDF
Mount Macpherson Summit via Macpherson West Approach Trail Detail Map PDF
Mount Macpherson Summit via Macpherson West Approach Trail KML file on Dropbox
An excellent hike. The road is just possible with a low clearance 2wd – but I would definitely recommend a bit more clearance!
Amazing hike, and so close to home! Would class it “moderate-most difficult” just because of the last scramble up the ‘Talus slope’. We ended up leaving a couple members of our party to explore the meadow because they weren’t up it. Also if you hike with your dog you might want to think twice, my ridgeback cross made it all the way, but the shorter-legged labs had to stay in the meadow. Added bonus: full cell coverage at the summit, allowing you to call and brag to friends at 8000ft. Definitely recommend this hike.
Thanks for the comments. You might be right on the difficulty level. Moderate might be a bit of a sandbag. I’ll change it.
As of Sept 11/14 the trail is flagged from the cairn. Thank you to who ever did that. Might be worth adding to the access info that the road drops down slightly and fords a creek –that is where the cairn is located
Thanks for the comments Jane. Yes, good description to trailhead for those without a GPS :). Where did you guys end up? Summit, Tilley, English Lake?
Parking for this route is at exactly 12 km up the forestry road from Hwy 1.
How many hours does it take to get up?
A member of the Shuswap Outdoors emailed me the other day to let me know that he was planning to organize a work party on the Macpherson West Approach Trail. He is proposing a re-routing of the trail through a few of the steep and wet sections. No dates have been set but if you are interested in helping out please email me and I will pass on his contact info. It would be great if we could get a few people from Revelstoke to help out on this worthy project!
An August 2017 update: the trail through the cutblock and up the drainage has been cleared and is pretty easy to follow. The route up and around the right of the ‘talus slope’ is well flagged’. We found the trip across the plateau to have more ups and down than expected from the description. All-in-all, a great day out. Total time was over 9 hours at a leisurely pace. Also, I’d say the a 4wd high clearance vehicle is needed for access.
Somebody can tell me how is the conditions on the early june?
Thanks!
Following as we plan to go this coming week….anyone been to the summit recently? Thanks
Bring waterproof shoes. The trail is super easy to follow. You hit snow right away and walk in it 2/3 of the time. Bring something to slide down the gully (tray), still so much snow.
We did this hike yesterday (Sept7) we tried to follow the directions on here but here are better direction : go up Victor FSR then take .100 road, then you go all the way up this logging road to KM 8/9, there is a VTT trail on your right, if you have a 4X4 you can make it up there, otherwise park just at the bottom of this trail. Then up the VTT trail, look for the parking spot with a cairn. Just on your right there is a post with flagging tape!! The trail is mint! The trail goes all the way to the top pretty much but you can maie your own if you prefer. Just follow the flagging tape mark. I am going to upload a picture of the trailhead.