One of the best hiking routes of our area can be found on Estekwalan Mountain, but the trail also has its challenges:

• the road up from Falkland is rough and steep (but 4WD is not required)
• don't go if it is wet (both the road and trail will be slippery)
• the trail to the top is quite steep
• there are some "airy" spots at the tops of cliffs along the trail
• the loop route has a steep descent on a loose surface
• the bottom part of the trail down is hard to follow; you may have to bushwack for about 150m
• a few other sections also require a bit of route-finding

Directions to the trailhead can be found in the 2011 article (link below).   So why go to Estekwalan?

• Estekwalan is an impressive mountain with steep cliffs and numerous barren ridges
• the trail follows an interesting, challenging (and fun) route with great views
• there will be no one around
• we found many microzones on the route, offering a diversity of plants, especially wildflowers
• when you tell people you did Estekwalan, they will have no clue where it is so you can make up whatever story you want

We were surprised by the diversity of wildflowers along the trail.

But in the end, it is the impressive bluffs and rock features that bring us to the top of the mountain.

And, there are larch trees on the south slope, fixed ropes on the downtrail, rock fissures along the trail, and wild thimbleberries, raspberries, and huckeleberries along the way.   Enough said.

• Estekwalan Loop (2012 article)
• Estekwalan Mountain (2011 article)