Valemount & Mount Robson / Full trip pack
Selwyn Traverse
- Point to point
- 9.7 km
- Elevation gain
- 200 m Published route measurement
- Walking time
- 3–3½ hours one way
- Difficulty
- Moderate Point to point
one way; approximately 19.4 km out and back
Access and trail reports
Downed trees on southern section
YORA’s May 2026 notice reports multiple fallen-tree sections between McKirdy Creek and the Canoe River FSR end, slowing travel.
Reported 2026-05-04 · checked 2026-10-17 · YORA / Hike Valemount
Reports describe the cited dates. An expected reopening date does not establish reopened access.
Forest traverse toward Kinbasket Lake; arrange return transport.
1. Getting there and parking
For the northern start, drive east through Valemount on Fifth Avenue, cross the railway, then turn right and follow the bike-park signs up 5-Mile Road to the Selwyn parking area just before its trailhead. The southern endpoint is on the East Canoe forest-road network near the head of Kinbasket Lake. Arrange a vehicle at each end if doing the full traverse; the local guide says the southern approach can require four-wheel drive and road suitability changes seasonally.
Road and vehicle: Vehicle-clearance requirements depend on seasonal road conditions, according to the local guide.
Drive from Prince George: 296.9 km · approximately 248 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.
2. Walking the route
Follow the forest traverse from the bike-park side toward Kinbasket Lake, crossing several creeks and rolling terrain rather than a continuous steep climb. The published distance is about 9.7 km one way, so an unshuttled return nearly doubles the outing. The southern section offers a viewpoint toward Kinbasket Lake and Canoe Mountain. A May 2026 steward update reports multiple fallen-tree sections between McKirdy Creek and the Canoe River forest-road end, making travel slow. Select a shorter out-and-back if the full southern connection is unsuitable, and do not treat the modest elevation gain as a short or effortless hike.
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.
4.64 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/1389178854. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Selwyn Traverse trailhead | 52.843890 -119.240760 | source-published; not field-verified https://hikevalemount.com/selwyn-traverse-trail/ |
5. Camping, facilities and seasons
Toilets
An outhouse is listed at the bike-park parking area.
Season and access
Spring through autumn are the normal walking seasons. Fallen trees and wet creek-side sections can slow the southern half. The May 2026 report is a dated observation, not confirmation of later clearing.
Mobile service
The local guide reports reception on most of the route; coverage is not continuous or tested across carriers.
Practical details checked 2026-10-17.
Your trip notes
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