Valemount & Mount Robson / Full trip pack
McKirdy ridge
- Round trip
- 20 km
- Elevation gain
- 700 m Published route measurement
- Walking time
- 4–5 hours return , as published; assess pace carefully for 20 km
- Difficulty
- Hard Out and back with optional meadow loops
return to ridge directly; cabin-first option differs
Meadow junction continues toward ridge.
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. 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.
3. Route map
Mapped named trail sections
© 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
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 |
|---|---|---|
| McKirdy ridge 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.
Measurement 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.
Your trip notes
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