The hike to the top of Zoa Peak and back is a straight-forward 8.5 km return hike.    The trail is generally moderate and forgiving as compared to all the other peaks in the Coquihalla Summit area.   We have done this hike a number of times and we chose a day in October to enjoy the fall colors.

The trailhead is the same as for Falls Lake, but we continued up the pipeline road, then turned left through an area of alder to the upper track.   The Zoa Trail starts 1 km along the upper track.

We climbed from wet ground to the snow and by the time we reached the alpine zone, there was about 4″ of fresh snow. At times the trail was hard to find, but we knew the route from previous hikes so we found our way to the end of the trail at the top of Zoa.

As the clouds cleared, we got views of Coquihalla Summit Peaks, many of which we have hiked.   Alpaca Peak was clearly visible to the west.

The north side of Yak Peak has a forbidding look.     The 4 peaks of Thar, Nak, Yak, and Zopkios stand in a line to the southwest.

To the northwest, Vicuna and Guanaco Peaks invite us for a return hike to those summits.

A fresh mantle of snow on Coquihalla Mountain to the south reminds us to return to Illal Meadows next summer.

A solitary ptarmigan was foraging for food at the summit of Zoa.   We have also encountered ptarmigans on other peaks in the area.

Coming down below the snow level the long steep ridge of Thar Peak rises above Falls Lake.

We return to the Coquihalla Summit every year to do some of the hikes.   We have done Needle Peak, Iago Peak, Guanaco Peak, Zupjok, Flatiron, July Mountain, Zum Peak, Falls Lake, Little Douglas Lake, and Yak Peak, but we still hope to do Markhor, Thar, Nak, Zopkios, Illal, Jim Kelly Peak, and Coquihalla Mountain.

More information on Zoa:

• Zoa Peak Hike (2014)
• Zoa Peak (2012)