This well-built trail ascends through cedar-hemlock forest to the alpine with great views at the ridge.

Trailhead
At the end of the parking area, walk past three orange metal posts blocking access to a gravel road. Head up the road for 40 metres until it intersects with another gravel road. (This is the old railway bed.) Cross this road and move about 5 metres to the right, and you’ll find the trailhead for Avalanche Crest.

Trail
The trail switchbacks through the interior cedar-hemlock rainforest until it emerges in the alpine bowl below Avalanche Peak. Once in the bowl, the trail braids a bit but basically climbs through the boulders on the left until you get over the next lip. Then it heads up the steep hill on your left to gain the ridge. [read more]

The official trail ends at the cairn on the ridge. It is possible to continue along the ridge to the north. Unless your name is Reinhold Messner, you will eventually reach the edge of your comfort level and really wish you had a rope. To continue past this point, see the alpine climbing guide Selkirks South by David Jones.

Wherever you decide to stop, it makes a great place to sit and soak in the view. To the north is the Swiss Glacier; across the highway is Cheops, bracketed by Ursus Major on the left and Ursus Minor on the right. South of the highway, you can study the Abbott-Afton-Ramparts-Dome-Jupiter Ridge, and behind them the Bonney massif. Above Asulkan Pass is Mt. Dawson, and further left is the Illecillewaet Neve and Mt. Macoun looming above. Still further left, of course, is the famous northwest ridge of Sir Donald.

If you have gone further up the ridge, watch for the cairn to pick up the trail down.

Cautions

• Watch for bears.
• Keep an eye on the weather. It can change very quickly.
• If you see something that looks like an artillery shell, it is. Don’t touch it, but report it to the wardens. The shells are used to bring down avalanches that threaten the highway. Some fail to explode on impact.
• It’s up to you to decide when you’ve gone far enough along the ridge.

From the junction of Highway 95 and Highway 1 in Golden, drive west on the Trans Canada Highway for 81 kilometres to the summit of Rogers Pass. Drive past the Rogers Pass centre and head down the steep hill on the west side of the pass. When the highway becomes twinned in a 50 kilometre zone, get ready to turn left into the Illecillewaet campground at 83.4 km. Drive past the campground and park in the paved parking area.