Skoatl Point is a dark, barren volcanic core rising above the Bonaparte Plateau.   It is in a remote forested area surrounded by many lakes frequented by anglers and hunters.   It is the only maintained trail in Bonaparte Provincial Park.   Access is via the Jamieson Creek Road (for 25.5 km), then west on the Windy Lake Road.   The trailhead is 1.5 km past the Windy Lake Rec Site.   We hike to Skoatl Point most years.   At 5000 feet, it is snowy in late spring, muddy and wet after that, buggy and wet in June-July, then the trail dries out and the mosquitoes lessen in late August.   We plan our hike for any time from the third week in August through the end of September.

 

The first 1.6 km of the trail is through the forest to Adler Lake.   There is a faint side trail at the SW corner of the lake that provides the first view of Skoatl Point, which rises above the forest 2 km to the north.

 

The second part of the trail follows the west shore of the lake.   Anglers had left a couple of boats for public use on the shoreline.

 

From the end of Adler Lake the trail climbed through a grove of burned trees, working up to the south slopes of Skoatl Point.

 

The last section of the trail contours arcoss talus slopes over the right shoulder of the hill.   The route to the top is a scramble on ledges, climbing the east ridge.

 

From the top of Skoatl Point, many lakes on the plateau can be seen.   Dagger Lake lies directly north.

 

Estelle Lake lies to the northwest.

 

Lloyd Lake lies to the west.

 

Tuwut and Willowgrouse Lakes lie to the southwest.

To the north a rain shower moved across Bonaparte Lake.  A rainbow appeared for a few moments.

We climbed back down the rock and returned on the Skoatl Trail back to the trailhead.

The return hike is 8.6 km, taking about 3 hours.   We will be back again next year at the end of summer or early fall.