Hiking
The Callaghan hiking experience offers a virtually untouched mountain environment with breathtaking views in every direction. The hiking & "trails"; are in-fact true wilderness routes, which means that they are flagged, but some route-finding may be necessary and you should expect some primitive sections of trail along the way.
The Callaghan encompasses 3 distinct biogeoclimatic zones: Mountain Hemlock, Coastal Western Hemlock and Alpine Tundra. Each zone features several tree species including Mountain and Western Hemlock, Douglas Fir, Western Red Cedar, Yellow Cedar, Engelmann Spruce and Whitebark Pine. As summer sets in, the alpine meadows around the lodge come alive with wildflowers like Indian Paintbrush, Lupines, Arnica and Queen Anne’s Lace. The area is also home to a wide variety of wildlife including marten, lynx, coyote, wolf, cougar, deer, mountain goat, as well as black and grizzly bear.
A hike through subalpine meadows around Conflict Lake. This trail has very minimal elevation gain and lovely scenery virtually the entire way. Great views of the alpine compliment this lakeside walk through an astonishing diversity of plant life. Can you identify the carnivorous plants? True story; look for insects getting stuck to their sticky leaves...wild, right!? Remember to look and not touch, be careful where you step and stick to the trail to avoid braiding in sensitive terrain. Speaking of keeping things wild; with clear skies you can see the border of the Conservancy marked by the height of land surrounding the upper valleys. Love the land and keep it wild.
Callaghan Peak is the tallest peak in this range and like most mountains has more than one way to the top. These are not trails and are only recommended for those with solid physical fitness, navigational capabilities and a developed mountaineer skill-set on rock/ice/snow depending on route selection or time of year. Most common route selection starts from your high point on the Ring lake trail before dropping down to Ring Lake. Ring Peak is another scramble option from the lake however this "choss-pile" is not recommended due to the loose and friable nature of the volcanic rock.
A challenging 5km hike with roughly 400m of elevation gain from The Journeyman Lodge and nearby Conflict Lake. This is a raw and rugged single-track trail pushing further into the heart of grizzly country. This trail is not for the faint of heart and you will be forced to navigate mud, talus and river crossings safely. Your reward is well worth every step as Ring Lake reveals itself at the foot of Ring Mountain and Mount Callaghan. This powerful place is undoubtedly a tempting camping destination but remember camping is not permitted anywhere in the conservancy. Love the land and keep it wild.
Resident wildlife, including grizzly bears and black bears, are omnipresent in the Callaghan Conservancy. It is our responsibility to ensure that our recreational pursuits do not contribute to human-wildlife conflict. Do your part to learn more about reducing conflict where we play, and learn more by visiting WildSafeBC & AdventureSmart. We also recommend this excellent presentation organized by the Coast to Cascades Grizzly Bear Initiative and AWARE Whistler: Coexistence - Recreation and Grizzly Bears in the Backcountry >>
