Mt. Baldy Lookout
Mt. Baldy is really just an outlier hill overlooking Sorrento and Shuswap Lake. It is a good trail, designed and maintained by the Shuswap Trails Alliance. The trailhead is at the end of Elison Road where there is a good parking area and signage. The trail is well-marked all the way to the top. Most of the route goes through wet cedar-balsam-poplar forest with some aspen groves in more open areas. The trail to the viewpoint is about 3 km.
A trailhead sign shows the loop from the lookout. We can see the open hilltop above, one kilometer away and 230m (755 ft) higher in elevation.
A curved boardwalk has been built through a wet area in a creek gully.
Just below the viewpoint the trail goes through a mature aspen forest.
The viewpoint provides good views east to Scotch Creek, Copper Island and the main arm of Shuswap Lake.
From the viewpoint a signed loop trail winds through the aspen grove then back into the cedar-hemlock forest to rejoin the main trail.
An ornate gate made of bike parts has been installed at the start of the boardwalk, an unexpected delight.
The trail to Mt. Baldy is a pleasant, moderate hike. We chose to do it on a warm spring day and enjoyed the wildflowers along the way and lunch on top. We will return to snowshoe the route in winter.
More Information:
- Mt. Baldy Wildflowers (video)
- Mt. Baldy Lookout (Shuswap Trails)