McBride & Robson Valley / Full trip pack
Ptarmigan Creek / Hammel Lakes
- Published distance
- 11 km One way only
- Elevation gain
- Not established Cumulative ascent for this outing has not been established.
- Walking time
- Unconfirmed
- Difficulty
- Unconfirmed
one way from forest-road trailhead to the lakes
https://hikingprincegeorge.com/hikes/ptarmigan-creek-hammel-lakes
Valley approach to three subalpine lakes.
1. Getting there and parking
The access leaves Highway 16 about 5 km west of Crescent Spur, near Catfish Creek. Follow Ptarmigan Creek Forest Road toward the shared Ptarmigan/Erg trailhead, approximately 8 km from the highway in the official description. This access has a history of flood and bridge damage, so the published road length is not proof that a vehicle can currently reach the full trailhead.
- Leave Highway 16 near Catfish Creek, about 5 km west of Crescent Spur, for Ptarmigan Creek Forest Road.
- BC Parks describes an 8 km road approach to the shared Erg/Ptarmigan trailhead. Present road and bridge passability is not established by that distance.
Drive from Prince George: 155 km · approximately 152 minutes. Estimate; allow for road conditions and stops.
Modeled one-way driving time from Prince George City Hall, using mapped road speeds. Forest-road sections can take substantially longer: surface, clearance, radio procedures, gates, washouts, plowing, and legal access are not verified by the router. No live traffic or invented forest-road multiplier is included. Allow extra time and check the dated access notes. Seasonal access notes apply; this estimate does not establish plowing or winter road access.
2. Walking the route
The historical trail follows Ptarmigan Creek up its steep-sided valley toward the three subalpine Hammel Lakes near the headwaters. BC Parks gives about 11 km from the trailhead to the lakes, but warns that flood damage washed out sections of trail and footbridges in 2001. The page still describes sparse marking and shoulder-high vegetation that makes the route difficult to follow. Treat this as an advanced, uncertain wilderness approach requiring current crossing information, not a maintained lakeside hike. An old recorded line cannot establish that the missing bridges have been replaced.
- The historical route follows Ptarmigan Creek upstream to the three Hammel Lakes. BC Parks gives 11 km from the trailhead.
- The park still warns of washed-out trail sections and footbridges, sparse marking and dense vegetation. The retained source does not provide a reliable junction-by-junction replacement route.
The return
A return to the same trailhead would double the published 11 km approach, but no complete currently passable itinerary has been verified.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Ptarmigan Creek / Hammel Lakes source-published trailhead / parking waypoint | 53.573919 -120.860767 | Embedded trip-map feature 'Trailhead': point [-120.860767, 53.573919].
Shared Erg/Ptarmigan access confirmed by BC Parks. This is the approach trailhead, not the Hammel Lakes destination. Current road and trail conditions require checking. https://hiking.princegeorge.tech/erg-mountain-northern-bc/ |
5. Camping, facilities and seasons
Camping and tenting
The reviewed park page does not identify developed campsites, toilets or a potable water supply at Hammel Lakes. Do not infer facilities from the presence of a lake or an old route description.
Water
BC Parks states that potable water is unavailable; carry drinking water.
Season and access
BC Parks mentions backcountry skiing and snowshoeing on the summer corridor, without groomed tracks. Flooded creeks, overgrowth and snow each change the route; no fully maintained winter alternative was verified.
Winter route
The park permits backcountry skiing and snowshoeing on summer routes and provides no set ski tracks. This is not evidence that missing crossings become safe in winter.
Dogs
Pets must be leashed; BC Parks advises that the remote backcountry and bear habitat are unsuitable for pets.
Practical details checked 2026-10-17.
Your trip notes
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