A hike on a well built trail to a beautiful alpine lake.  The Dogtooth Forest Service Road leading to Gorman Lake trailhead and the hiking trail itself may be snowbound and inaccessible until July.

GORA trail crew report, June 29, 2018:
Road access beyond the bridge crossing Gorman Creek is very rough.  Recommend high clearance vehicle.

Trailhead
The trail begins at the wooden bridge. There is a map kiosk immediately past the bridge and an outhouse is available just up the trail on your right.
NOTE: Grizzley bears frequent the Gorman Lake area. There is no bear-proof food storage or bear-hang options for campers or day users.

Trail
Cross the footbridge and continue up an old skid road for 1 km through the final cutblock.  As you leave the cutblock there are a series of boardwalks that will take you through a boggy section.

Follow the obvious trail until it emerges from the forest and reaches a boulder field. There is a well constructed trail that climbs and crosses the rocks. Look for the worn path and follow the cairns.

Follow the trail as it climbs and crosses the rock slope. You will be focusing on the trail, but it is worthwhile to stop occasionally and check out the incredible rock formations on the ridge to the south. Once clear of the boulder field, follow the trail for the final kilometre to the lake. There are picnic tables and tent pads at the lake and a Green Throne (just east of the tent pads) was placed in 2014. It replaces the old outhouse demolished by an avalanche several years ago. [read more]

Options
Around the lake: There are trails on both sides of the lake to reach the far end. The trail on the south side was rebuilt a few years ago and is now easier, although it has more exposure to falling rock. It is about 800 metres to the far end.

Gorman-Holt col and Holt Lakes: From the back of the lake, head up the creek towards the back of the bowl. Before you get reach the last large rock cliff sticking out of the talus, turn left and grind your way up the steep talus slope. This is a difficult hike. At the top, you will find the slope lessens, and you can work your way to the col.

Gorman-Lang col: From the back of the lake, head up the creek until you are behind the rocky ridge on the right (which has some fantastic rock columns on it.) When the slope turns to grass and flowers, you can grind your way up, skirting the small trees about two thirds of the way up, and then moving left or right and hiking over the shattered rock to the col. It is a great deal of work to get to the col.

From the lights in Golden, drive north on Highway 95 (10th Ave), cross the Kicking Horse River, and drive three blocks to 7th St. North.  Turn left and follow the signs indicating Kicking Horse Mountain Resort and the Golden Golf and Country Club (you’re eventually heading towards the Golf Club, not KH Mtn Resort). [read more]

7th St North become Kicking Horse Trail and crosses over the Columbia River on a single lane bridge.  Drive 400m past the bridge and turn right on Golf Course Drive.  Follow this for 2 km.  Just past the first bridge turn left onto the gravel Dogtooth FSR.  Set your odometer to “0” here. (If you reach the golf course parking lot, you’ve missed the turn).

For the first 1.5 km, you need to watch for golfers crossing the road in three spots. The entrances are hidden by bushes, so be careful. Once you start climbing the hill, watch for heavy machinery and trucks at the gravel operation.

3.5 km stay left at the Y. Traffic uses both roads, so pay attention and don’t miss this turn. Some new turnoffs have been added recently in the next stretch.
4.5 km go straight, not left.
5.0 km stay straight, not right.
5.2 km stay straight, not right.
5.8 km stay straight, not left. (The 6k marker is just around the corner, but your odometer is correct, and the sign is misplaced.)
6.6 km stay straight, not left.
7.3 km stay straight, not right.
7.6 km there is a three way junction. Take the middle fork. Ignore all minor side roads
9.2 km stay straight, not right.
9.7km at the 4 way intersection go straight ahead for Gorman Lake. The road gets a bit rougher after this.
11.6 km stay straight, not right.
12.3 km curve left not straight. The next stretch of road has switchbacks and some very rough sections.
12.8 straight over bridge.
17.2 kilometres park here at a wooden foot bridge.
**Note: if you are staying overnight it is wise to bring wire fencing to place around your vehicle.  Porcupines in the area have a tendency to chew wires, etc on the underside of your vehicle.  However, there is less of a chance of this in the daytime if there are lots of people coming and going, but still not a bad idea.