DIRECTIONS: Source: "Where Locals Hike in West Kootneys" by Kathy and Craig Copeland
1. Starting point is Nelson, driving East on HWY 3A
2. At Orange Bridge, zero your odometer
3. At 18.5km, look for sign of Kokanee Glacier Park, take a left.
4. Stay on main logging road for 16.0km
5. Arrive at parking lot, cover care in chicken wire to prevent it from becoming dinner for Porcupines.
6. Follow trail to Kaslo Lake.
7. Continue Past Kaslo Lake to ACC cabin, look for sign indicating trailhead.create
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Sapphire Lakes (from Kaslo Lake)
Aug 1, 2011
During my first night at Kokanee Glacier Park, I had the privilege of meeting Les, the custodian of the ACC lodge in the park. He was very helpful and had a lot of knowledge about the park to share. We spent a while talking scrambles detailed in Matt Gunn's Book, and places to visit in the Kootneys. He stated that the hike to Sapphire Lakes was a classic one done by many visitors. It was a great choice. Thanks Les.
From the Kaslo Lake campground follow the trail as it leads to ACC lodge. Once at the lodge, there is a sign indicating the trailhead, to the right of the lodge. The trail itself is a little indistinct at times, but nothing to worry about. It is hard to get lost. The hike is through an expansive and wondrous basin. If you can imagine hiking to Panorama Ridge in Garibaldi Park, in Summer, without anyone around, that's what you're presented in this area.
I searched to conjure up profound thoughts and descriptions of what I saw, so that I could relay the message to others, but I again I was in a state of dumbfounded awe. I hope my pictures provide the description that I can't; proceeding is my attempt in words.
The lakes and tarns scattered throughout the basin have a common characteristic of purity and serenity. The mountainscape, the water, the snow, and the meadows, they all serve to create the idyllic landscape shots found in the pages of Beautiful BC magazines. I had brought my ice axe along so that I could bag a few peaks, but as I am starting to realize more and more, things don't always go according to plan. There was some fun scrambling among a boulder field located to the right of the lakes. I scrambled a up ridge to a get a better vantage. This a great solitudinous hike. I for sure will be heading back to this BC park.
Here are some videos I uploaded to Youtube:
1. Glory Basin Vista
2. Sapphire Lakes Vista