Wells, Barkerville & Bowron / Full trip pack
Mount Magnus (Vinje Grind)
- Published distance
- 3.3 km Trip basis unconfirmed
- Elevation gain
- Not established The source lists 550 m, but its relationship to a complete selected outing is not established.
- Walking time
- 3 - 4 hours return
- Difficulty
- Hard There and Back
published trail length; return/one-way basis not explicit
https://hikingprincegeorge.com/hikes/mount-magnus-vinje-grind
The Vinje Grind climbs steeply to Mount Magnus above the Wells and Bowron Lake area. It shares its lower access with Mount Patchett before splitting toward a shorter but still demanding summit objective. Wells and Area Trails Society describes about 8 km return and 550 m of ascent; the club page’s 3.3 km figure does not identify a comparable return scope, so it should not be used as the full-day distance.
1. Getting there and parking
From Quesnel, take Highway 26 toward Wells and Barkerville. Turn onto Bowron Lake Road, then take the right-hand road toward Likely, signed as the 3100 Road. At roughly 3107.5–3108, cross Grouse Creek and turn left onto the 1600 Road/Atan–Chisel Loop. Continue to the 1615 area and the grassy pullout with a yellow sign. This is the lower parking option shared with Patchett. The trail society mentions another pullout about 300 m up the overgrown side road for Magnus; do not assume that rough branch is suitable for an ordinary car or confuse an upper start with the lower-start distance.
- From Highway 26 beyond Wells, turn onto Bowron Lake Park Road, then after about 300 m turn right toward Likely on the 3100 Road.
- Continue about 7.5 km to Grouse Creek. Immediately beyond the bridge turn left onto the 1600 Road, signed Atan–Chisel Loop.
- After the 1614 road marker, pass the small lake on the right and take the next right. Through the pine plantation keep left at the fork and continue to parking.
Parking: The published parking is about 1 km off the 1600 Road, beyond the small lake just after the 1614 road marker. This is a resource-road marker, not a 1,614 km journey.
2. Walking the route
Begin on the Mount Patchett approach and climb approximately 2.2 km to the split identified by a yellow trail marker, a large rock and a sign among the trees. Take the Magnus/Vinje branch, keeping the Patchett continuation separate. The remaining climb is steep and leads to the summit cairn and views over the surrounding lakes and mountains. Return through the same marked split to the selected parking spot. The source does not provide a continuous series of upper junction bearings, so use the steward’s route map as well as the prose, particularly where signs or flagging have deteriorated.
The return
Descend the same steep trail. The club allows three to four hours for the return outing.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Mount Magnus (Vinje Grind) start point of published trip track (parking unverified) | 53.087500 -121.355320 | Embedded trip-map feature 'Path': first recorded coordinate [-121.35532, 53.0875].
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/vinje-grinde-mt-magnus-wells-bc/ |
5. Camping, facilities and seasons
Season and access
South aspect makes this an earlier-season option than many alpine routes; actual snow conditions vary.
Practical details checked 2026-10-17.
Measurement notes
3.3 km
550 m
Your trip notes
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