Trip 322 - September 16, 2024 (Monday)

Green Mountain Trail Hike

Near Gold Bridge, BC

Page 2 of 4

Trailhead Location: About 11 km from Gold Bridge, BC via Hurley River FSR and Green Mountain Trail access road.

Liked: Excellent views of mountains, valleys, and lakes. A former fire lookout shack. Shade in the forest. Meeting a marmot. Very few bugs.

Of Note: Hurley River FSR towards the trail is like a washboard. Remote wilderness area. High altitude trail. No shade in the sub-alpine and alpine. A GPS with this trail is recommended. Moderately difficult trail to the fire lookout shack - hiking poles and boots are highly recommended. Moderate-to-difficult trail past the shack - hiking poles and boots are essential.

Vancouver, Coast & Mountains Backroad Mapbook (2019 edition) Coordinates : Page 50 (Downton Lake) G5.

Follow @ihikebc

Green Mountain Trail is located in the remote southwest part of British Columbia near Gold Bridge. It's takes a 103 km drive via a scenic BC Highway 40 from Lillooet to get to Gold Bridge, and then a drive for over 8 km on washboard-like Hurley River Forest Service Road (2WD regular clearance vehicles - ok, but ensure to have good tires and a spare). After that, there is an access road of about 2.8 km to the trailhead, then just over 3 km to an old and well-preserved fire lookout shack, and then further hiking of about 3 km to the end of the trail.

If you have a high-clearance short-wheelbase 4x4, you might be able to make it all the way to the shack. Otherwise, park by Hurley River FSR and start hiking. It's not a very difficult trail all the way to the shack (gets tougher after that), but there are absolutely no signs (save for one by the forest service road), and several splits where you either need to know where you are going, or have a GPS unit with this trail.

The views of mountains, valleys, and lakes are absolutely great, and the shack is in good enough shape to accommodate an overnight stay - it has 4 bunk beds and a stove. There is also an open air pit toilet (with a view!) near the shack. We first hiked this trail in May of 2021, but stopped about halfway to the shack due to deep snow. Unless otherwise noted, all photographs in this trip report are from the trip we took in September of 2024.

* All trail distances are based on a GPS odometer and are approximate.

31. At 1.73 km of Green Mountain Trail near Gold Bridge, British Columbia, Canada.

Green Mountain Trail near Gold Bridge BC Canada

32. Looking to the right at 1.80 km we see Gun Lake in the distance.

Gun Lake view from Green Mountain Trail

33. In May of 2021, we finished our hike around here by climbing up a steep snowy slope on the left side. It wasn't the best idea, as we lost footing, slid down for about 20 meters, and smashed into a fir tree. Good thing it had lots of soft branches.

Hiking in British Columbia

34. Here is the view at the end of the hike in May of 2021.

35. Back to September of 2024, we are at the 1.91 km mark of the trail.

Green Mountain Trail near Gold Bridge BC Canada

36. 50 meters later.

Green Mountain Trail British Columbia Canada

37. At 2.07 km there is a split. Hiking trail straight ahead, vehicle detour to the right.

Hiking in British Columbia

38. At 2.09 km of Green Mountain Trail near Gold Bridge, BC.

Hiking in Gold Bridge BC area - Green Mountain Trail

39. Looking back from the same spot. The views are getting better and better the higher you climb.

Hiking in Canada - Green Mountain Trail in British Columbia

40. Just over a hundred meters further.

Green Mountain Trail

41-43. At 2.24 km, we are at a T-junction where the hiking trail reunites with the vehicle detour. Turn left.

Hiking in British Columbia - Green Mountain Trail near Goldbridge

43. At 2.40 km, we are about to re-enter the forest.

Green Mountain Trail Hike in British Columbia

44-45. At 2.51 km, we are approaching the best view of the hike before the fire lookout shack. Just go to that obvious opening between the trees.

British Columbia Hiking

46. Here is a fine panoramic view from that location.

Panoramic View from Green Mountain Trail near Gold Bridge BC Canada

47. But it turned out an even better view is just up the trail. Head up for forty more meters, and there is a short path on the left side for all the fine views.

Hiking in British Columbia, Canada - Green Mountain Trail

48-52. Here are all the fine views from a short path branching off at 2.55 km of Green Mountain Trail. Coordinates: N 50⁰47.581' W 122⁰55.515'. Elevation: 1,920 meters. In the foreground and on the right side is light blue-coloured Downtown Lake, with Lajoie Dam at the far end on the right side. And on the left side is a small Lajoie Lake followed by a much larger Gun Lake. Left to right, followed by a panorama.

Gun Lake and Downton Lake View from Green Mountain Trail near Gold Bridge, BC

Downton Lake British Columbia

Here is our video of the views from this location.

More ihikebc videos are on our YouTube Channel.

53. Continuing towards the fire lookout. At 2.62 km of Green Mountain Trail.

Green Mountain Hike

54. At 2.69 km now. Our GPS showed that the trail which split at 1.68km rejoined our trail around here, but we could not find it, though didn't look much. Could have been hidden by the trees.