Trip 323 - September 18, 2024 (Wednesday)

Sunshine Mountain Trail Hike

Near Bralorne, BC

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Trailhead Location: At the end of Noel Creek Forest Service Road, 4.4 km from Bralorne, British Columbia, Canada.

Liked: Bralorne Powder Club clubhouse by the trailhead, valley and mountain views, alpine views, shade in the forest, no bugs.

Of Note: Remote wilderness area, high altitude trail, dangerous trail in the alpine due to steepness and loose rocks - suitable for properly equipped experienced hikers only, hiking poles and boots are essential in the alpine (recommended up to that point), motorized traffic (motorcycles) possible up to the alpine, Noel Creek FSR to Sunshine Mountain Trail trailhead requires at least a medium clearance vehicle past the 2.3 km split due to cross-ditches (or the hike would be extended by 2 km each way), 2WD ok all the way (with good tires), several steep stretches on Noel Creek FSR past the 2.3 km split, watch for a bump at the end of the FSR - long wheelbase vehicles with insufficient clearance might get high-centered.

Vancouver, Coast & Mountains Backroad Mapbook (2019 edition) Coordinates : Page 51 (Gold Bridge) B6.

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Sunshine Mountain Trail is located near Bralorne, BC, which itself can be found 12 km from the end of 103 km-long BC Highway 40, which connects Lillooet with Gold Bridge. This trail has four distinctive parts: an unremarkable hike through a forest, then a neat sub-alpine area, then a dangerous trek across steep and loose-surfaced stretch of the alpine area, followed by a very pleasant nearly flat alpine area close to the peak of Sunshine Mountain.

Unless you are a well-equipped experienced hiker, please limit the hike to the sub-alpine, as the alpine area is a disaster waiting to happen, unless you know what you are doing and have hiking poles and boots. We have all of the above and still managed to fall twice, broke a hiking pole, injured an elbow, and suffered a minor abrasion. The fine views made up for the hurt, but it is a very remote trail, and help will take a long time to arrive should you ever need it.

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

0. Here is a Google Maps location of Sunshine Mountain near Bralorne, British Columbia, Canada.

1. We are at the entrance to Bralorne, BC, with Gold Bridge (a small general store and a seasonal? self-serve gas station) 12 kilometers behind us.

Bralorne BC

2. Proceed for 1.1 km and turn right onto Lorne Street.

Bralorne - British Columbia - Canada

3. 200 meters later, arrive to the beginning of Noel Creek Forest Service Road.

Noel Creek FSR Start

4. At 2.3 km of Noel Creek FSR, there is a split. Turn LEFT. Regular clearance vehicles should be able to make it up to this point, but going further you would need at least medium clearance due to about 10 cross-ditches. 2WD - ok. It's just over 2 kilometers from here to the trailhead.

Noel Creek Forest Service Road

5. Noel Creek FSR at 3.9 km.

Noel Creek FSR near Bralorne British Columbia Canada

6-7. At 4.3 km, we are almost there. There is a prominent bump at this point, and long wheelbase vehicles with insufficient clearance might get high-centered.

Noel Creek FSR end

8. At 4.4 km from the start of Noel Creek Forest Service Road, we arrived to Bralorne Powder Club clubhouse, and Sunshine Mountain Trail trailhead (on the right side out of frame). Coordinates: N 50⁰45.318' W 122⁰47.493'. Elevation: 1,450 meters.

Bralorne Powder Club clubhouse

Here is our video of driving on Noel Creek FSR from start to finish.

More ihikebc videos are on our YouTube Channel.

9. Turning left, there is a bench and a picnic table with a very fine view.

British Columbia Mountains near Bralorne

10. Bralorne Powder Club clubhouse. To the side of it is a pit toilet and a mountain bike trail (rated black diamond).

Bralorne Powder Club Clubhouse near Bralorne BC

11. Looking back at the main door after entering the clubhouse.

Bralorne Powder Club Clubhouse Entrance Door

12. Now looking the other way.

Inside Bralorne Powder Club Clubhouse

13-14. Straight ahead is a balcony with a fine view.

View from balcony of Bralorne Powder Club Clubhouse

15. Just by the balcony is a staircase to the attic.

Attic of Bralorne Powder Club Clubhouse

16-17. There is also a kitchen area on the ground floor.

Bralorne Powder Club Clubhouse Kitchen

Here is our video of inside and outside Bralorne Powder Club clubhouse.

More ihikebc videos are on our YouTube Channel.

18. Another exterior view of Bralorne Powder Club clubhouse. Noel Creek FSR is to the right, and Sunshine Mountain Trail trailhead is seen straight ahead.

Bralorne Powder Club Clubhouse and Sunshine Mountain Trailhead

19. Here it is. Motorcycle tracks go all the way to the alpine. The trail is too narrow for ATVs after a few hundred meters.

Sunshine Mountain Trail Trailhead

20. Looking back at 30 meters of Sunshine Mountain Trail.

Bralorne Powder Club Clubhouse view from Sunshine Mountain Trail

21. With much zoom, we see Bralorne, BC.

Bralorne BC zoomed view from Sunshine Mountain

22. Quite a muddy spot at 240 meters. Likely a mini-swamp earlier in the season.

Muddy Spot on Sunshine Mountain Trail near Bralorne BC

23. At 280 meters of Sunshine Mountain Trail, approaching a T-junction.

Hike in British Columbia

24. Ten meters later, here it is. Turn right.

Hike in Canada

25. Ten meters after turning right at the T-junction.

Sunshine Mountain Trail Hike in Bralorne BC Area

26. Now at 1.24 km of Sunshine Mountain Trail. A pleasant, if unremarkable, hike in the forest with steady elevation gain.

Hiking Sunshine Mountain Trail near Bralorne BC

27. At 1.57 km now. Prominent motorcycle tracks.

Motorcycle Tracks on Sunshine Mountain Trail near Bralorne BC

28. At 2.25 km of Sunshine Mountain Hike, the forest ends, and the sub-alpine begins. Coordinates: N 50⁰44.470' W 122⁰46.885'. Elevation: 1,895 meters.