Pine Pass, Chetwynd & Peace / Full trip pack
Mount Stephenson lake approach
- Round trip
- 7 km
- Elevation gain
- 540 m Published route measurement
- Walking time
- About 6 hours
- Difficulty
- Unconfirmed
return to alpine lake/viewpoint, not summit
https://hikingprincegeorge.com/hikes/mount-stephenson-lake-approach
A seismic-line ascent reaches alpine lake country below Mount Stephenson. This guide’s main objective is the lake approach; a summit or ridge extension requires separate planning and should not be folded into its basic measurements.
1. Getting there and parking
From Chetwynd take Highway 97 toward Prince George for 24.8 km, then turn left onto Westcoast FSR. Follow it 9 km to the fork and turn right onto Hasler Road. After 38 km, turn right onto Boulder Road and continue 4.8 km to the route entrance on the left. The 2016 club directions report flagging but no trailhead sign. Westcoast is a radio-controlled road; verify current industrial access and park clear of the roadway. The summed road legs differ from the guide’s headline distance from Chetwynd, so do not use that total to identify the turn.
Parking: The 2016 source places the route entrance on the left about 4.8 km along Boulder Road, with flagging but no sign. It does not specify an established parking lot.
Road and vehicle: Westcoast FSR is radio-controlled. This approach continues via Hasler and Boulder roads, whose present condition requires a current road check.
2. Walking the route
Locate the flagged seismic corridor and climb through the forest toward the alpine basin. The route reaches a view of the lake with Mount Stephenson beyond; use the lake-area objective as the turnaround for the basic 7 km return description. The path is an undeveloped route intended for experienced navigators, and optional travel onto surrounding ridges is not a marked continuation guaranteed by this guide. A July 1, 2026 report found wet lower ground and lingering snow, including a slippery inclined section. Assess snow before crossing and turn back if your party cannot descend it safely. Return via the same corridor rather than descending an appealing but unverified drainage.
The return
The published 7 km return outing ends in the lake area below Mount Stephenson. The summit and surrounding ridge explorations are separate objectives; return through the same seismic corridor.
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 Stephenson lake approach start point of published trip track (parking unverified) | 55.424470 -122.244957 | Embedded trip-map feature 'MtStephensonJuly2026': first recorded coordinate [-122.244957, 55.42447].
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. Source date: 2026 https://hiking.princegeorge.tech/mt-stephenson-trail-near-chetwynd-bc/ |
5. Camping, facilities and seasons
Season and access
Club last reviewed summer 2016.
Practical details checked 2026-10-17.
Your trip notes
________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________