The Needle + Flat Iron

July 23, 2025 -- Coquihalla Recreational Area

Stats: 14.7 km / 1211m gain / 2090m high / 5:45 hours MT

Two in one. I didn't plan to do both peaks, but once we were at the lake on Flat Iron's slopes, the summit didn't look too far away. The two peaks were total opposites; the Needle was pointed, rugged and rocky whereas the Flat Iron had smooth fairly level meadows dotted with pink heather and two shallow pictursque tarns. The latter is an annual snowshoe trip we do in the winter. I hadn't summited the Needle in about 25 years so it was exciting to revisit it.

A thin shroud of cloud hovered above the surrounding peaks for most of the morning.

The first 50 minutes or so through the forest were quite steep.

Destination in sight.

The Flat Iron.

These oblong rounded slabs of granite made me think of the backs of whales.

We regrouped at the saddle between the two peaks. The sign says 1 km to the Needle Peak, 1.5 km to Flat Iron Peak & 3.3km back to the trailhead.

And away we go. We stuck close together from here to the peak, guiding each other while route finding and negotiating the sketchy parts.

The chain is fairly new and very necessary.

We had to lean out a bit to the left to get up onto the little ledge that Jim's toes are on.

Looking back at Flat Iron. The lake is nestled at the base of the rock slope.

A shelter in the space between the gigantic boulders.

Young George (Owen's nephew) seemed to be having a good time with us oldies.

A second tight spot, squeezing through this narrow crack. The photo on the right shows where the iron marker was on the summit.

Yak Peak on the other side of the highway, has the same pink box at the summit. They contain note pads and some trinkets. The contents of the box on Yak were soaking wet.

Looking at the ridge we'd climbed up on.

We found comfy spots for lunch on the top of the high cliffs on the east-facing slope.

Our views were limited on top as we were sitting in the fast moving clouds.

Group shot: Sue A, George, Redina B, Iraj F, me, Owen W (thanks for coordinating), Brigitte G, Jim A + Brian H

Descending required even more caution.

Back in the crack.

Our next objective -- west.

Yak & the Needle -- northeast.

From the saddle we dropped down and then ascended Flat Iron's sweeping slope. Jim Kelly & Coquihalla Mt -- southeast.

Looking back at the Needle. It's 230m higher than Flat Iron.

From the lake, four of us continued to the summit of Flat Iron.

Just a bit beyond the tower is this tarn. Too bad we didn't bring our bathing suits -- north.

northwest

The second smaller tarn is a bit higher up -- north.

Descending back to the lake.

The other five were parked on the flat rock by the water's edge.

Not a bad place to be for a break.

Group shot, back row, left to right: me, Iraj F, Owen W, Jim A, George

Front row: Brian H, Sue A, Brigitte G, Redina B

Alpaca, Vicuna & Guanaco Peaks -- north.

Markhor to the left of the Needle.

The Needle.

Yak to the right.

Making use of the picnic tables by exit 217 which is a popular stop for truckers. This man was very interested in where we'd just hiked so Iraj was showing him photos of it.