Mt. Cheam
August 18, 2026 -- Chilliwack Valley
Stats: 10 km / 735m gain / 2084m high / 3:30 hours MT / 4WD
You get a lot of bang for your buck on this hike. Open alpine views right from the get-go.
I had cancelled the day prior because my other driver said it was too smokey to do it. It was but when I woke in the morning and saw the sky, thanks to the wind the smoke haze was down to a minimum. I was regretting having cancelled it. Four of us women had made other plans to do a forest hike by Cultus Lake. When Charlotte sent me an email, prompting me to reconsider, I immediately responded with a resounding, "yes!"
Usually I don't go 4x4ing without another vehicle but this FSR is a more popular route. It was a pleasant surprise to see a larger machine had been up there, filling in the water-bars on the Chipmunk Creek FSR and clearing out a large washout about halfway up. You still need a 4x4 to get up there (preferably high-clearance) because the higher up it goes, it does get a bit rougher and some broad open water-bars have a significant hump to drive over.
Fireweed along the first flat stretch of FSR. The outhouse was loaded with toilet paper.
Crossing the meadow shared by Cheam & Lady Peak Mountains.
Lady Peak.
Spirea or Willowleaf Meadowsweet
Spoon Lake
Mt. Baker to the right.
Spoon Lake -- west.
The trail did a broad switchback and then turned north. Cheam Peak to the right.
Loads of blueberries.
Slesse, Larrabee, Border Peaks, Tomyhoi -- south.
east
On the ridge, almost at the summit -- east.
Group shot: Jen M, me, Charlotte H & Laura F
The views from the summit, starting with Jones Lake to the east then Lady Peak southeast, south + west of Sumas Prairie.
west
There were quite a few chipmunks darting around between the rocks.
west to northwest
The mighty Fraser River winding through Sumas Prairie and Sumas Mt + Harrison Lake to the far right.
Laura is doing one of her yoga poses (she's an instructor).
Heading back down. Conway Mt (left) still had some snow clinging to it.
Jones Lake -- east.
We agreed on the way up to take the side-trail to the left on the way down and check out the steep drop and valley on the other side. When the others started yelling at me from farther back, I thought they were saying to not forget to turn off. It wasn't till later when we were driving home and they started talking about a bear, that I found out they had been warning me about a nearby bear! Laura was wondering why I hadn't stopped and waited for them.
The steep drop -- east
Mt. Cheam Peak to the right. My son, Corwin has skied down this slope.
Lady Peak
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