A pleasant 5km of loop hikes through a dense forest followed by a climb to a fine view of Castlegar and the Columbia Valley. Multiuse trail with something for everyone: hiking, walking, nature tours, photography, bird watching, mountain biking, and cross-country skiing.
Difficulty: Easy family oriented A1
Elevation gained: 80m (260 ft)
Key Elevations:
Distance: 5km (total trail network)
Time: 1½ hours to do it all at a brisk pace.
Season: Year around.
Map: 82F/5 Castlegar
Drive: 0.0 From the junction of Hwy 3 and 22, at the overpass in Castlegar, travel west towards Grand Forks for 3km. onto Merry Creek Forest Service Road. 3km. Turn right onto Merry Creek FSR.
5.2km. Parking lot on right.
Trail: This network contains three trails – Big Cedar Trail, Merry Valley Trail and the Columbia Trail. Bike and dog friendly. The highlights are the points of interest, information signs, birding, viewpoints and the footbridges over Merry Creek, Iverson Creek, Milestone Brook and Trillium Brook. The forest is a mixed forest of cedar, hemlock, spruce, fir and birch. History is also hidden among the trees with some evidence of past horse logging mills, remains of early settlements and evidence of the 1925 Westfly fire.
Viewpoints are of the community of Castlegar, the confluence of the Kootenay and Columbia Rivers, Merry Creek watershed and out at the Bonnington Mountain Range.
Start at a double wide hiking trail for a few hundred metres before leading to a junction. Right to the Merry Creek Trail, left to the Big Cedar Trail. Both trails lead to a self-guided interpretive loop trail and a couple of viewpoints.
The Big Cedar Trail is wide enough for two to walk abreast and enjoy each others company. Look for the remains of a awesome big cedar. On a hot day, this almost level, shade dappled trail offers respite from the heat.
The Columbia View trail is a little more ambitious up to the view point. There are great wildflowers early in the season and fragile lichen and moss communities.. The sun-baked knoll offers expansive views of Castlegar, the Columbia and Kootenay rivers.
Facilities. Pit toilets at TH, benches, interpretive signs, well marked trails.
