A long, steep hike that leads to great views of the Illecillewaet Glacier and Neve.

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 a trailhead. Go another 20 metres, and the Perley Rock trail breaks off to the right.

Trail
For the first kilometer and a bit, the trail is flat and parallels the Illecillewaet River. Then it turns and starts climbing through an old avalanche path. At 2.6 km, you cross Vaux Creek on an aluminum bridge, and then cross another branch shortly after. After the second bridge, the trail starts switchbacking up the hill through a small forest, with the west wall of Sir Donald looming above you. [read more]

At 3.2 km, you reach a junction in the trail. The right fork goes to Perley Rock.

The entire rest of this trail, nearly 3 kilometres of it, is switchbacks. For the first part you are in forest, then you cross a scree slope, and then the trail climbs relentlessly up a steep heather covered slope. Beware that in July, this slope will have lingering snow patches and can be treacherous. Later in the season, you will need to be aware of hikers above you, and any loose rocks they might kick off.

The view improves with every ten steps, and you’ll want to stop about that often anyway, just to catch your breath. Behind you, the valley is spread out, while ahead you see more and more of the glacier.

Finally, above the heather, you enter a rocky area right at the base of a considerable rock wall. Almost there. Follow the cairns to, at last, a level area between two rock mounds. The rock mound on your right is Perley Rock, and it takes about two minutes to get to the top of it.

But the real treasure is about 400 metres ahead, down a gentle rocky slope. Here, you can get close enough to the toe of the glacier to touch it. (Be aware that the glacier can calf at any time. Make sure you won’t be hit by falling ice.)

The last fifty metres before the ice, the ground consists of fine glacial flour. In dry times, it is like walking on concrete, although a powder will get all over anything you put down. I’m guessing that when wet, it probably shares characteristics with quicksand.

With the retreat of the glacier, it is possible to climb up the ridge to the east of the glacier’s snout for a even better view out over the neve. However, there is considerable objective hazard in the form of loose rocks precariously balanced on the ledges. If you are trying this with a partner, be very aware of their fall line.

If you are doing this hike on a hot day, I’d suggest you get an early start to beat the heat, and then dawdle up top. It is a beautful spot, and the wind off the icefield always cools things off a bit.

Carry lots of water for the climb. Once by the glacier, there are spring fed streams on the rocky hillside to your left that should be okay for refilling your water bottle.

Cautions

• Watch for bears in the lower reaches of the trail.
• This hike is a serious grunt. Make sure you are ready for that.
• Be careful around the toe of the glacier. Falling ice is a hazard, and climbing out of those glacial pools would be extremely difficult.

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.