Vanderhoof & Fraser Lake / Full trip pack
Telegraph Trail / Hogback Lake
- Published distance
- Source says loop and 10 km one-way; unresolved Trip basis unconfirmed
- Elevation gain
- Not established Cumulative ascent for this outing has not been established.
- Walking time
- Unconfirmed
- Difficulty
- Unconfirmed
A complete outing distance has not been established.
https://hikingprincegeorge.com/hikes/telegraph-trail-hogback-lake
A historic route follows an esker through the Hogback Lake area, with lake views and remnants of the Collins Overland Telegraph corridor. The public distance wording conflicts, so plan using a chosen entrance and a deliberate turnaround.
1. Getting there and parking
To reach Hogback Lake, take Highway 16 to the Blackwater Road turn approximately 6.6 km east of Vanderhoof’s visitor centre, then follow Blackwater Road to the 22.5 km point. Follow the recreation-site signs, keeping left, and use the easternmost parking area; look for the trailhead sign there. A second Telegraph Trail entrance is described 12.1 km beyond the Hogback Lake Road entrance, with a sign on the right. Confirm these junctions against the local trail map rather than treating the two entrances as interchangeable.
- From Highway 16 about 6.6 km east of the visitor centre, turn onto Blackwater Road.
- At the 22.5 km road reference, follow signs to Hogback Lake recreation site.
- A separate Telegraph Trail entrance is described 12.1 km beyond the Hogback Lake Road entrance, signed on the right; do not confuse these two starts.
Parking: At the Hogback Lake recreation-site approach, stay left and use the easternmost parking area beside the trailhead sign.
2. Walking the route
From your selected trailhead, follow the route along the top of the esker, where the raised ground gives views of surrounding lakes. The surface is described as moderate to rough and is also used by experienced mountain bikers. Telegraph-wire remnants are historical objects and should be left in place. The district calls the route both a loop and 10 km one way; that unresolved wording does not support advertising a precise 10 km circuit. An out-and-back to a planned turnaround avoids committing to an unverified loop connection. Keep track of which branch returns to the parking area you used.
The return
The district calls the route both a loop and 10 km one way. Until the actual connections are resolved, choose a turnaround and retrace the selected approach rather than relying on an advertised 10 km circuit.
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.
10.29 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/197709263. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Telegraph Trail / Hogback Lake recreation project location | 53.849841 -123.835457 | PROJECT_NAME=Telegraph Trail Hogsback; FOREST_FILE_ID=REC5886; official source point [-123.83545651455209, 53.84984063266491] https://vanderhoof.ca/visit/trails/ |
Measurement notes
The municipal source describes Telegraph as a loop but also gives 10 km one way. Route extent and return convention are unresolved; do not convert this into a 20 km outing.
More maps & trail files
Telegraph Trail at Hogsback Lake on AllTrails
An approximately 20.6 km return at Hogsback Lake near Vanderhoof. This supports a much longer outing than a 10 km loop; the district’s loop versus one-way wording still needs endpoint verification.
AllTrails: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/canada/british-columbia/telegraph-trail--2
Comparison checked 2026-10-18.
These links open files and maps maintained by their publishers. They require an internet connection and are not included in this saved guide.
Your trip notes
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