Valemount & Mount Robson / Full trip pack
Carson's Peak / McKirdy summit extension
- Published distance
- Unconfirmed Trip basis unconfirmed
- Elevation gain
- Not established Carson’s Peak adds about 450 m from the col; this is not total trailhead gain
- Walking time
- Unconfirmed
- Difficulty
- Unconfirmed
extension
https://hikingprincegeorge.com/hikes/carson-s-peak-mckirdy-summit-extension
Carson's Peak adds450m climbing from col; main McKirdy summit more technical.
1. Getting there and 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.
Road and vehicle: The local guide says a high-clearance 4WD is not usually needed; road conditions can change.
2. Walking the route
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. At the upper junction, the right branch descends toward a col; Carson’s Peak is an additional climb of roughly 450 m from that area. The full Mount McKirdy summit is beyond the ordinary meadow/cabin hike and is described for people with mountaineering and route-finding experience. Loose rock is a concern on the final summit approach. Do not apply the cabin or ridge trip statistics to the full summit without a separate route plan.
3. Route map
Published locations only. A complete route line is still needed.
Published locations
Numbered points match the map. Use the role beside each point. A summit or park reference point is not a parking location.
| Place and role | Coordinates | Source and notes |
|---|---|---|
| Carson's Peak / McKirdy summit extension trailhead | 52.848831 -119.218285 | source-published; not field-verified https://hikevalemount.com/mckirdy-cabin-meadows-ridge/ |
5. Camping, facilities and seasons
Camping and tenting
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.
Water
The only water source identified by the local guide is the creek beside McKirdy Cabin, on its separate branch. A direct ridge or summit itinerary does not necessarily pass it; plan the cabin detour if collecting water and treat what you collect.
Toilets
The outhouse is at McKirdy Cabin on its separate branch. A direct ridge or summit itinerary does not necessarily pass the cabin.
Season and access
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.
Mobile service
The local guide reports intermittent cell reception.
Practical details checked 2026-10-17.
Your trip notes
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