Bear Lake & northern lakes / Full trip pack
Livingston Springs
- Published distance
- About 9 km from summer parking or 10 km from the winter gate Trip basis unconfirmed
- Elevation gain
- Not established The source lists 35 m, but its relationship to a complete selected outing is not established.
- Walking time
- 4–6 hours
- Difficulty
- Easy out-and-back
calculated return outings including access walks
Access and trail reports
Winter condition report
The source describes favourable trail condition in January 2026. That winter observation should not be reused as a current year-round condition.
Reported 2026-01 · checked 2026-10-17 · Caledonia Ramblers
January trail report
The club reports the trail was in good condition in January 2026. Winter gate access adds an approach walk.
Reported 2026-01 · checked 2026-10-17 · Caledonia Ramblers
Reports describe the cited dates. An expected reopening date does not establish reopened access.
A mostly level forest route in Crooked River Park leads to cool spring water that can remain open in winter. The springs are a wildlife-viewing destination, not a hot-spring bathing site.
1. Getting there and parking
Turn into Crooked River Provincial Park from Highway 97 approximately 75 km north of Prince George, just south of Bear Lake. In the summer operating season, begin from the main parking area and walk northwest toward the springs trailhead. In winter the highway gate is closed, so park only where permitted at the entrance and walk the park road past the gatehouse. That approach adds distance before reaching the same forest route; the published total therefore ranges from roughly 7 to 10 km depending on the start.
Crooked River Park area, not full trailhead approach. Source-published approximate distance from Prince George; not a current routed travel time.
2. Walking the route
Locate the Livingston Springs trailhead northwest of the main parking area, then follow the route predominantly west through lodgepole-pine forest for about 3.5 km. Most of the approach is flat. Near the destination, descend the short but more pronounced slope to the springs and return by the same path. The water is reported at only about 5–7°C year-round and can attract trumpeter swans in winter; observe from a distance without disturbing birds. A January 2026 report describes good trail condition then, but does not establish current fallen-tree, flooding or snow conditions. Keep enough time for the added road walk when starting outside the winter gate.
3. Route map
Mapped named trail
© OpenStreetMap contributors. Route geometry is available under the Open Database License (ODbL) 1.0. · Line source · Open Database License (ODbL) 1.0 · Source-line database: https://hikingprincegeorge.com/data/osm-route-lines.geojson
Partial elevation profile
Partial elevation profile
This chart covers only part of the route. It does not establish the full hike or a return journey.
1.59 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
Copernicus DEM 2021 GLO-90 via Open-Meteo. Linework source: https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/847811757. Sampled and rounded for display.
Source: https://open-meteo.com/en/licence
Licence: CC BY4.0 elevation data; Open Database License (ODbL) 1.0 linework · https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Profile source checked: 2026-10-18
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Livingston Springs start point of published trip track (parking unverified) | 54.482114 -122.674462 | Embedded trip-map feature 'Livingston Springs Track 12/15/23 12:07:53 PM': first recorded coordinate [-122.674462, 54.482114].
Point extracted from the original public trip map. A track start is evidence of where recording began, not certification of parking, legal access, road suitability or the complete route. https://hiking.princegeorge.tech/livingston-springs/ |
5. Camping, facilities and seasons
Season and access
Summer and winter use the same general trail, but the closed winter gate adds a road approach from Highway 97. The springs are cool water, approximately 5–7°C, despite remaining open in winter.
Measurement notes
7-10 km
35 m
More maps & trail files
Livingstone Springs on AllTrails
The hosted map shows about 8.6 km return in Crooked River Park. Its start and gain estimate may differ from the summer and winter approaches in this guide.
AllTrails: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/canada/british-columbia/livingstone-springs
Comparison checked 2026-10-18.
These links open files and maps maintained by their publishers. They require an internet connection and are not included in this saved guide.
Your trip notes
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