Mt. Vicars

Mt. Vicars is a minor mountain on the edge of the Campbell Range. It stands above the north shore of Sciutto Lake. It is not a classic hike, but is a relatively short, steepish climb to a good viewpoint.

We found a better track up, avoiding some of the forest and rock bands by going around the east side on an ATV track and then uphill, off-trail for about 500m to the top.

To get to Sciutto Lake, follow Barnhartvale Road, then turn onto the Robbins Range Road. Go up the hill on the Campbell Range Road, then turn right on the Sciutto Lake Forest Service Road. Follow this good road for 10km to Sciutto Lake. Park at one of the many pullout areas on the north side of the lake and walk the road to a back bay in the northeast corner. The ATV track is obvious there. Continue up the track between two hills. Bypass the first left turn (the lower one shown above) and continue to the second left. Follow it as high as it takes you and then go straight up.

The views from the rocky top extend to Campbell and Sciutto Lake below, to Wild Horse and Sciutto Peak to the south, the upper Monte Hills to the east, and to the hills of the Campbell Range. From this point, Roche Lake is only 8km south. Sciutto Lake below has a large treed island in the middle and lots of open shoreline.

When the water levels on the lake were raised, a number of shoreline trees became bleached stumps over time.

The hike up and down Mt. Vicars is short, leaving time to explore the shoreline of the lake. A rough sideroad can also be taken over to Sciutto Falls, but it will only be a trickle in the fall. Or, bring your boat and go for a paddle in the lake, a duathlon day.