THE BUGABOO, B.C., 🇨🇦
THE BUGABOO
EVENT TYPE: Day hiking, backpacking, hut stays, rock climbing.
DISTANCE: About 10.5 miles RT to Cobalt Lake. Conrad Kain Hut about 6.2 miles RT, but it takes most of a day, and is very scenic.
ELEVATION: Cobalt Lake, 2297’. Conrad Kain Hut, 2640’
DIFFICULTY: Moderately Difficult and complicated to the hut
MAPS: Howser Creek. 82K/10 topo
GPS: Conrad Kain Hut 50°44’15” N 116°45’458” W
DISTANCE: About 10.5 miles RT to Cobalt Lake. Conrad Kain Hut about 6.2 miles RT, but it takes most of a day, and is very scenic.
ELEVATION: Cobalt Lake, 2297’. Conrad Kain Hut, 2640’
DIFFICULTY: Moderately Difficult and complicated to the hut
MAPS: Howser Creek. 82K/10 topo
GPS: Conrad Kain Hut 50°44’15” N 116°45’458” W
DESCRIPTION:
T he Conrad Kain Hut sits on a shelf below the Snowpatch Spire.
To the Conrad Kain Hut...This trail starts in the parking lot, that follows the northern lateral moraine of Bugabboo Glacier. The trail is very steep and strenuous , with exposure to steep drop offs as it climbs through granite bluffs. But it’s only 3.1 miles, so take your time and enjoy.
Extreme caution should be use along this route.
Strong reliable footwear is essential.
After a short distance, you will become enamored with this trail. As stated above this trail has some exposure. You will edge along the side of a cliff, protected by chains to use as hand holds. At one point the trail comes to a very sturdy metal ladder drilled into the cliff face. The ladder is so stout, you could put a hiker on each rung, and it would not distort.
Further up this trail the views become spectacular. Each creek crossing has some sort of a bridge to make crossings safer.
Once you get up towards the hut, you will wonder thru beautiful meadows, filled with small streams and an abundance of wildflowers.
Just below the hut, you get your first view of the hut, which sets on the edge of a cliff. Up behind the hut is the Snowpatch Spire.
To the Conrad Kain Hut...This trail starts in the parking lot, that follows the northern lateral moraine of Bugabboo Glacier. The trail is very steep and strenuous , with exposure to steep drop offs as it climbs through granite bluffs. But it’s only 3.1 miles, so take your time and enjoy.
Extreme caution should be use along this route.
Strong reliable footwear is essential.
After a short distance, you will become enamored with this trail. As stated above this trail has some exposure. You will edge along the side of a cliff, protected by chains to use as hand holds. At one point the trail comes to a very sturdy metal ladder drilled into the cliff face. The ladder is so stout, you could put a hiker on each rung, and it would not distort.
Further up this trail the views become spectacular. Each creek crossing has some sort of a bridge to make crossings safer.
Once you get up towards the hut, you will wonder thru beautiful meadows, filled with small streams and an abundance of wildflowers.
Just below the hut, you get your first view of the hut, which sets on the edge of a cliff. Up behind the hut is the Snowpatch Spire.
OPTION #1:
While staying at the Conrad Kan Hut, I asked the hut manager about hiking within the park. He suggested that we hike the area up to the Eastport Spire, where there is a campsite and one of the most beautiful outhouses you will see in the mountains.
OPTION #2:
Another hike we did, was to hike west towards the glacier next to and below the Snowpatch Spire. After dropping down as far as we could, we turn up hill and walked along the stream coming out of the glacier. The photography was incredible. The stream falls rapidly down the scoured rock to the valley below. The stream bounces and splashes on its path, and creates water features you can only see in nature.
We walked up along side the stream as it tumbled past us, all the way to the Snowpatch Spire, enjoying lunch along the way. Once at the spire, we hiked a climbers trail back down to the hut.
If you go to hike in the Bugs, don’t miss the glacier stream hike.
We walked up along side the stream as it tumbled past us, all the way to the Snowpatch Spire, enjoying lunch along the way. Once at the spire, we hiked a climbers trail back down to the hut.
If you go to hike in the Bugs, don’t miss the glacier stream hike.
OPTION #3:
Another hike you should do while at the Bugs, is the Cobalt Lake Hike.
The trial to Cobalt Lake starts across the road from the Canadian Mountain Holiday’s Lodge.
The trail will enter an Alpine Larch forest that holds many switchbacks, until it wonders thru an open high meadows. After many more switchbacks, the Bugaboo Spires come into view. You are now on the Cobalt Ridge, about 2 miles from the lake.
We stopped here for lunch with a view. The next day we were hiking into the Conrad Kain Hut, and one of our hiking partners was pregnant.
Even if you only go to the Cobalt Ridge for the views, the hike is well worth the effort.
The trial to Cobalt Lake starts across the road from the Canadian Mountain Holiday’s Lodge.
The trail will enter an Alpine Larch forest that holds many switchbacks, until it wonders thru an open high meadows. After many more switchbacks, the Bugaboo Spires come into view. You are now on the Cobalt Ridge, about 2 miles from the lake.
We stopped here for lunch with a view. The next day we were hiking into the Conrad Kain Hut, and one of our hiking partners was pregnant.
Even if you only go to the Cobalt Ridge for the views, the hike is well worth the effort.
DIRECTIONS:
From Radium Hot Springs, drive 17 miles north on Hwy 95 to Brisco. From Brisco, drive .3 miles on the Brisco Road, and turn right at the Brisco Wood Preserver for .2 of a mile where the road turns left, still on Brisco Road. Stay on Brisco Road for 1.4 miles and turn right to Brisco Mountain Road, where you will come to a T where you turn right again, staying on Brisco Road to the Westside Road, where you turn left onto Westside Road.
Drive about almost 2 miles to a right hairpin turn, where you turn onto Bugaboo Creek Road. Drive until you come to the Leadqueen Francis Road, where you stay on Bugaboo Creeek Road to the right. Follow the Bugaboo Creek Road to the trailhead. After about 30 miles from Brisco, look for the Bugaboo Creek Forest Road, where you will find the Bagaboo-Septet Recreational Site, and campground just down this road a ways. The trailhead is back on Bugaboo Creek Road about 2.5 miles from camp.
Drive about almost 2 miles to a right hairpin turn, where you turn onto Bugaboo Creek Road. Drive until you come to the Leadqueen Francis Road, where you stay on Bugaboo Creeek Road to the right. Follow the Bugaboo Creek Road to the trailhead. After about 30 miles from Brisco, look for the Bugaboo Creek Forest Road, where you will find the Bagaboo-Septet Recreational Site, and campground just down this road a ways. The trailhead is back on Bugaboo Creek Road about 2.5 miles from camp.
HAZARDS:
THE ROAD TO THE BUGS PARKING AREA IS THE CRUZ OF THIS OUTING. PLEASE USE CAUTION. High clearance vehicles are recommended.
DRIVE SLOW AND CAREFULLY.
Be aware that this short 3.5 mile trail is steep, rugged and incredible beautiful. Please pay close attention when you are hiking this trail.
DRIVE SLOW AND CAREFULLY.
Be aware that this short 3.5 mile trail is steep, rugged and incredible beautiful. Please pay close attention when you are hiking this trail.
COOL THINGS CLOSE BY:
Yoho N.P., Kootenay N.P., Radium Hot Springs, Golden B.C., Lake Louise, Banff, Glacier N.P. Of Canada, and Mt. Assiniboine.
R & P:
NA
PLAN YOUR TRIP:
Click for Current NOAA Weather Conditions
PHOTO GALLERY
SNOWPATCH SPIRE FROM SEPTET CAMPGROUNDS
SHEA, TIA & CHRIS HIKING TOWARDS COBALT LAKE
THE TRAIL TO THE VIEW OF THE BUGABOO
COBALT LAKE WITH THE BUGS IN THE BACKGROUND
THE BUGABOO FROM THE TRAIL TO COBALT LAKE
FROM HERE ON IS THE HIKE TO THE CONRAD KAIN HUT
THE BUGS FROM THE SEPTET CAMPGROUND. BE SURE TO PLACE THE PROVIDED WIRE MESH AROUND YOUR CAR, SO THE RODENTS DON’T EAT YOUR WIRING.
CHRIS CLIMBING THE LADDER WHERE THERE IS NO OTHER OPTION
THE CONRAD KAIN HUT
WALKING UP TO THE SNOWPATCH SPIRE
