McKEAN LAKES TRAIL
The steep trail follows a dramatic creek to a beautiful subalpine basin. Climb Mt Woden or Mt McKean. There is a private cabin here available for rent.
On the north-south ridge between Hoder Creek to the east and Koch Creek to the west. The mountains from north to south are McKean Lakes (Mt Woden & Mt McKeen), Mt Harlow, Mt Ludlow, Mt Freya, and Mt Flynn and Mt Heimdal at the south end of the ridge, a distance of 17kms.
Difficulty: C1
Elevation gained: 655m (2145′)
Key Elevations: Trailhead 1445m (4740′); First McKean Lake 2100m (6885′), Mt Woden (2695m 8840′); Mt McKean (2591m 8500′)
Distance: 3.3 km
Time: 5 hours round-trip
Season: Early July to October
Map: 82F/13 Burton
Drive: To access the southern Valhallas, drive south from New Denver or north from Playmor Junction (between Nelson and Castlegar).
From New Denver. Start at the Petro Canada Station at the junction of Hwys 6 and 31A in New Denver. Drive Hwy 6 south, along Slocan Lake’s east shore, 32.5km to the village of Slocan. Near the village, ignore the signed turnoff for Drinnon Pass, but turn right (west) onto Gravel Pit Road. Zero odometer 0.0
0.0 Start west on Gravel Pit Road. Go straight and cross the bridge over the Slocan River.
.8km Stay left on Slocan West FSR.
1.2km Cross a bridge over Gwillim Creek.
2.3km Go right on Little Slocan FSR.
13.2km Right is Bannock Burn FSR to Gimli Ridge / Mulvey Basin TH.
Bear left SW on the main road for the rest of the Valhallas.
20.3km Right is Hoder Creek FSR to Drinnon and Gwillim lakes. Left continues southwest on Little Slocan FSR. Reach Little Slocan Lakes FS campground in 200m.
From Nelson or Castlegar. Start at the Playmore Junction, the junction of Highways 6 and 3A between Nelson and Castlegar. Turn north on Hwy 6 up the Slocan Valley.
The southern Valhallas are accessed from Passmore Road, 15.6 km from Playmore. there is a large transformer station at the turn. This is 12.1 km south of Winlaw on Hyw 6. Turn left (west). Zero odometer.
0.0 Start NW on Passmore Upper Road.
.3km Cross the Passmore Bridge over the Slocan River.
3.1km Pavement ends
3.6km Left on Little Slocan FSR. Red 44 KM sign.
5.2km Right.
7.5km Go straight on the main road.
9km Stay right, following a sign for Valhalla Provincial Park.
13.2km Straight on Little Slocan FSR. Left is Koch Creek FSR to McKean Lakes.
16.1km and 23km Proceed straight.
25km Go straight. Turn off to the right for Little Slocan Lakes campground.
25.2km Junction for Hoder Creek FSR – left to Drinnon/Gwillim Lakes. This is 20.3km from Slocan City.
Koch Creek FSR to McKean Lakes
0.0 Start on Koch Creek FSR. Go straight. Right goes to Little Slocan Forest Rd 13.2 from Passmore Rd/Hwy 6 junction.
9km Stay right on the main road. Left goes to Grizzly Creek Recreation Site (2 tables, above creek gorge, no flat parking) and Greasybill Cr Rd.
11km Go straight. Right is Marioka Road to Mt Flynn. Reset odometer; 1.4km Fork, to right; 8.1km Fork, go left.
16km Stay straight and level. Then pass two ascending right forks (the second one has 51km sign).
17km Cross bridge over the creek. Go straight where the rough road ascends right.
21km At a huge boulder, go right on the higher road. Left goes up Dago Ck FSR
22.6km Stay left on the lower road. Upper road signed Branch 1.
25.8km Cross a bridged tributary of Koch Creek
30.5km Pass a 65km sign just before reaching the bridge over McKean Creek. Park in the landing 1445m (4740′).
Trail: The trailhead (1445m 4740′) is just north of the bridge over McKean Creek. It is often muddy at the beginning. A steep (one-way) trail gains most of the 655 meters in only 2.5 kilometres. The trail is rough and follows the fall line without a single switchback. One consolation is that it follows a nice creek with a series of waterfalls.
Reach the smaller first McKean Lake at 2.5kms (2100m (6885′). Reach the second, much larger lake at 3.3 km. It has a very odd-shaped west arm and the main lake is 7 km long. All is set in a lovely subalpine basin full of meadows and clumps of trees. Mt Woden (2695m 8840′) is to the northeast and Mt McKean (2591m 8500′) is to the southeast. McKean Pass lies next to McKean Peak and leads into the watershed of Hoder Creek. A trail has been built. Three kilometres south of the cabin are the Chico Peaks, another lovely area to explore.
This is a great place to spend three or four days. Include as part of a traverse to the Hoder Creek FSR and Drinnon/Gwillim lakes with a shuttle.
The privately owned cabin, built in 1987, is near the west shore of the large lake. Contact to reserve. Its main season is in the winter with access to 10 alpine basins and terrain for all abilities, but is also available in the summer for hikers. It sleeps 10 people in separate rooms. Contact via the website www.valhallamountainadventures.com or by phone: Leo Jansma 1-250-229-4661 or Brian Cross 1-250-355-2269. The mailing address is Box 1206, Nelson, BC, V1L 6H3.
