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

McKirdy ridge

Meadow junction continues toward ridge.

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

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Distance
20 kmRound trip
Elevation gain
700 mPublished route measurement
Walking time
4–5 hours return, as published; assess pace carefully for 20 km
Difficulty
HardOut and back with optional meadow loops

Map & elevation

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Elevation profile

A full-route elevation profile is not available yet. The mapped paths have not been verified as one continuous outing.

Choose a specific route where available. Individual map fragments are not shown as separate hike stages.

Mapped named trail sections. Named meadow and upper mountain sections are retained. Any gaps between source sections remain gaps; the export does not add connectors. Line source (opens original source).

Getting there & parking

Use the small trail parking area near the upper end of 5-Mile Road above Valemount. The local guide says the road is usually passable by ordinary vehicles when dry, but it has grades of roughly 15 percent and can be demanding on the descent. Confirm the road condition and use the signed hiking start; the lower bike-park trailheads on the same road are different destinations.

Map position: 52.84883, -119.21828 · trailhead. source-published; not field-verified

On the trail

Climb the McKirdy trail through mixed forest, passing openings toward Valemount and Kinbasket Lake. Near the subalpine, follow the signs distinguishing the meadow route from the YORA cabin. The main trail crosses the meadow to a further junction with several possible extensions. Choose the ridge continuation for views toward Mount Robson, then use the signed cabin connection or reverse the approach as planned. The guide gives about 20 km return and 700 m of gain for its ridge option, but visiting the cabin before climbing the ridge adds undulating terrain and can raise the total ascent to around 1,000 m. Those variants should not share one unqualified elevation-gain figure.

Distance and elevation source notes

Source comparison: McKirdy ridge directly; 20 km; 700 m ascent; 4–5 hours as published; assess pace for 20 km duration; return scope. This is another description of the main outing, a duplicate endpoint, an unscoped source claim, or a related facility.

McKirdy ridge: the direct ridge itinerary is listed at about 700 m ascent; visiting the cabin first increases the listed ascent to about 1,000 m. These are different itineraries.

Conditions & seasons

Summer and autumn are the normal hiking seasons. The cabin is also used for backcountry skiing, but winter road access and avalanche terrain require a separate plan. Mosquitoes and alpine flies can be persistent from late spring into summer.

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.

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Camping & overnight plans

The YORA cabin is an overnight facility and has an outhouse nearby. Confirm booking and access arrangements with the operator before relying on it. The nearby creek is the only published water source; treat water and do not assume every meadow or ridge branch has a suitable tent site.

Photos of McKirdy ridge

A photograph with confirmed reuse permission has not yet been added to this guide.

Surrounding area and context

These photographs provide context; they do not establish the appearance of this selected route or facility.

Mount McKirdy above the forested slopes east of Valemount
Mount McKirdy viewed from Valemount on 16 July 2011. This distant mountain view provides geographic context; it does not show the signed ridge trail, meadow or cabin.Mount McKirdy from Valemount (opens original source) · tuchodi · CC BY 2.0 (opens original source) · 2011-07-16. Source display image downloaded without content edits; page presentation may resize. No people removed or imagery generated.

Original photo galleries

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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/mckirdy-cabin-meadows-ridge/ (opens original source)
  2. https://www.vancouvertrails.com/contest/gallery/2014/photo/mckirdy-ridge-trail/ (opens original source)
OpenStreetMap line references (2)

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

  1. https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/643220902 (opens original source)
  2. https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/1562665067 (opens original source)

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