At 14½ kilometres and almost 5000 feet of elevation gain, this usually takes 2 days. Unfortunately, the first bridge at 4 kilometres was out and the trail formally ended here but has been rebuilt.
The lake unfortunately is still 350m below the tree line. The alpine scenery is pretty but may disappoint for the amount of energy put out to get here. It is a difficult bushwhack to get around the lake. However, you won’t see anyone else on this trip. It is a true wilderness with grizzlies, big trees and silence.
The trailhead is accessible only by boat. The closest launch would be from New Denver.
Difficulty: E1 or 2
Elevation gained: 1370m (4800 ft)
Key Elevations: Slocan Lake 537m. Wee Sandy Lake 1945m.
Distance: 14.5km one-way
Time: 2 days up, 1 day down
Season: late June through mid-October
Map: 82F/13 Burton, Valhalla Society Guide to Valhalla Provincial Park
Access: Boat required usually from New Denver. For shuttle service, ask the Valhalla Society 250 358-2333. The boat moorage is excellent.
The beach is coarse pebble (much nicer than sand) and there are several nice campsites with picnic tables.
Trail: It is an enjoyable historic trail for the first 2 km with views of goats at the entrance to the valley on the north side. The trail is only officially open to 4 km at the first crossing where the bridge is out (but the creek can still be crossed). It is a rugged trail beyond 4 km.
15 minutes: Lookout and old wagon road to Sharp Creek. 2kms.
4.8km Mountain goats on a cliff across the creek. Trail on the north bank for 3.4kms.
5.6km Log bridge with cable handhold. Soon after, pass the old trapper’s cabin.
Waterfall. Ascend the rock wall beside the waterfall.
8.2km Cross back to the south bank.
10.5km Remains of another trapper’s cabin.
11km Iron Creek Shelter (1524m 5000’ and 3240’ above the lake. Log structure with a stove. Many camp here for one night on the way up. The next kilometre goes through the ancient forest.
12km Cross to the west bank of Wee Sandy Creek’s south fork. Begin the final, demanding steep 2.5km ascent. Large waterfall close to the lake.
14.5km Wee Sandy Lake 1945m 6380 ft. The lake is 2.6km long. Mt Niord towers above to the northwest. The best campsite is 1.2km south down the west shore of the lake.
Descending from Wee Sandy Lake. One group making a traverse of the Valhallas decided to exit the traverse out Wee Sandy Trail, a very logical choice because of the trail, but requiring a boat shuttle. However, they did not have a paper map nor know that the trail is on the north bank for 3.4kms between 4.8 and 8.2kms. They missed both crossings and ended up bushwhacking (virtually always a horror show in the WK) for much of the descent below 8.2 km.
What to do: Once here, three to four days would do the area justice.
1. Explore Grizzly Lakes and the routes to Caribou Creek to the NW,
2. Climb Mount Niord or Mount Meers.
3. Make a loop out of the trip and exit via either
a. Mount Denver and Sharp Creek (2 km long wagon road from Sharp Creek to Wee Sandy) or
b. Shannon Lake to the north.
