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northward.NORTHERN BRITISH COLUMBIA
Walks · Valemount & Mount Robson · Valemount / Mount Robson

Cranberry Marsh Loop

Wetland circuit with viewing towers.

Sources reviewed . This is a research date, not a trail inspection.

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Distance
5.5 kmLoop
Elevation gain
Not establishedMinimal; numeric cumulative gain is not published
Walking time
About 2 hoursfor the full loop when passable
Difficulty
EasyLoop
Cranberry Marsh in the Starratt Wildlife Management Area at Valemount
Cranberry Marsh in the Starratt Wildlife Management Area at Valemount, 19 September 2018.Cranberry Marsh, British Columbia.jpg (opens original source) · Darren Kirby · CC BY-SA 2.0 (opens original source) · 2018-09-19 19:40:13. Provider resized the original for this download; no local edits. Display may crop the view. Adaptations retain the image licence.

Map & elevation

Opening the map…

Partial elevation profile

Mapped portion · walking direction unconfirmed · 0.94 km

This chart covers only part of the route. It does not establish the full hike or a return journey.

Elevation along one mapped source section; direction is not an established walking itinerary750 m800 m850 m0 km0.2 km0.5 km0.7 km0.9 km
Explore the elevation with the chart or slider.
Coverage and elevation sources

0.94 km along source section 1 of 1, in its mapped direction. Approximate 90 m terrain model along this mapped section. Separate sections are not joined. This chart does not measure total trail ascent or establish current access; use the guide’s published outing measurements.

Copernicus GLO-90 terrain elevations via Open-Meteo (CC BY4.0); linework: Open Database License (ODbL) 1.0 · checked 2026-10-18 · CC BY4.0 elevation data; Open Database License (ODbL) 1.0 linework. Copernicus DEM 2021 GLO-90 via Open-Meteo. Linework source: https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/442931490. Sampled and rounded for display.

More maps & trail files

AllTrails map

Cranberry Marsh circuit on AllTrails

An approximately 5.8 km circuit in Starratt Wildlife Management Area. Older AllTrails descriptions do not override the local steward’s dated flooding and incomplete-loop notices.

Open on AllTrails
Route comparison checked 2026-10-18. AllTrails maintains this separate map.

https://www.alltrails.com/trail/canada/british-columbia/cranberry-marsh-loop

Mapped named trail. Only the named Boardwalk Trail section is mapped. The rest of the full marsh loop is not established by this line. Line source (opens original source).

Getting there & parking

Three signed approaches serve the marsh. From Highway 5, use the same turnoff as the Best Western and find the trailhead at the far end of the parking area beside the highway, respecting private parking restrictions. From town, Ash Street ends at a cul-de-sac with a trail sign. A third approach is reached by turning from Ash Street onto 13th Avenue, then left onto McKirdy Road to a sandy parking area with a picnic table. Choose the access that serves the open section you intend to visit.

Full loop was reported unavailable due to flooding on 2026-04-19, without a verified reopening. Existing drive goes to an entrance, not a currently available full loop.

Map position: 52.81913, -119.25831 · trailhead. source-published; not field-verified

On the trail

Walk the dykes and wetland paths through the Starratt Wildlife Management Area, using the viewing towers for a wider view of nesting islands and marsh habitat. The published complete loop is about 5.5 km, but the local guide’s April 19, 2026 update reports flooding that prevents completion of the loop. A temporary boardwalk installed on the south side in 2025 does not guarantee passage when water is high. Until the steward confirms the connection is open, make an out-and-back on the accessible section instead of trying to force a circuit through flooded ground. The wide, level dyke near the highway-side access may suit some visitors with limited mobility, while the whole loop has different surface conditions.

Accessibility

The broad, flat dyke near the hotel is a limited-mobility option; this does not establish accessibility of the entire 5.5 km circuit.

Conditions & seasons

Spring is particularly useful for wetland wildlife viewing, while mosquitoes and bears may be encountered through the warmer months. Flooding can cut the route after wet weather. Winter skiing and snowshoeing are described locally, but the trail listing does not verify the safety of travelling onto frozen marsh water.

These are dated research notes. Open the trip planner for current available weather and advisory feeds; no alert found does not establish that a trail or road is open.

Check weather & available updates →

Camping & overnight plans

This is a wildlife-viewing day-use trail. No designated camping or overnight permission was verified on the marsh route.

Photos of Cranberry Marsh Loop

Cranberry Marsh in the Starratt Wildlife Management Area at Valemount
Cranberry Marsh in the Starratt Wildlife Management Area at Valemount, 19 September 2018.Cranberry Marsh, British Columbia.jpg (opens original source) · Darren Kirby · CC BY-SA 2.0 (opens original source) · 2018-09-19 19:40:13. Provider resized the original for this download; no local edits. Display may crop the view. Adaptations retain the image licence.

Original photo galleries

These galleries stay on their photographers’ original websites.

Take this guide with you

Choose a trip pack or an available individual sheet for your map case.

Full trip packDirections, planning notes & available mapsTopographic mapSource lines and published locationsPartial elevation sheetMapped portion only; not a complete outingSave offline guideDownload a copy to your device
Sources, dates & research notes

Descriptions are written for this guide from the linked evidence. Source review dates, published reports and field observations can differ. Photographs and route lines retain their own attribution and reuse terms.

  1. https://hikevalemount.com/cranberry-marsh/ (opens original source)
  2. https://routing.openstreetmap.de/about.html (opens original source)
  3. https://www.alltrails.com/trail/canada/british-columbia/cranberry-marsh-loop (opens original source)
OpenStreetMap line references (1)

These contributor-mapped features support the map geometry. They are separate from the written access and route sources.

  1. https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/442931490 (opens original source)

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