Gold Creek and then some

Stats: 19 km / 850m gain / 585m high point

We were expecting an easy hike since the stats in the "105 Hikes in SW BC" book were for 14 km / 340m gain. But the gain is not cumulative and we did the two suggested tributary trails, going a bit higher on the second one so as to get those amazing views of Golden Ears + Eagle Peak.

We started hiking from the East Canyon parking lot.

At the beginning of the trail this large rock had about 8 blue marbles embedded into it. Most of the old stumps along the trail were decorated with rocks.

The East Canyon Trail was broad and fairly level, originally an old logging road.

Viewpoint Beach. Left is Evans Peak, in the distance Eagle Peak is peaking out of the clouds and Golden Ears is partially hidden.

We backtracked 10 minutes, past the outhouse and to the East-West Canyon connector. This bridge is built on an old concrete pier that supported a logging bridge until the 1960s.

Once across the bridge, the trail soon began to ascend and become more narrow. Not long after we rounded a bend, we came to the junction for the Golden Ears trail. There we turned right.

There were numerous metal bridges on this muddy rooty trail.

Such clear water.

Evans & Eagle Peaks. We carried on past the Alder Flats campsite and climbed for about 20 minutes to this amazing view.

Here we're off of the Golden Ears trail (having headed back down) and on the West Canyon Trail.

The second pic looked like the behind of an animal.

The Gold Creek Lookout. The trail was not all downhill.

This steep rough trail came to a junction for the Lower Falls. This took us an extra half an hour and was a short but steep trail.

Notice the platform on the other side which is accessible from the East Canyon Trail.

After the Lower Falls junction the trail became broad and level again.

2 pic slider: Avens

Not far from the West Canyon parking lot, we turned left onto the Menzies Trail by the big water containers. This soon led to the road where we crossed the car bridge and were then back at the East Canyon parking lot.