Blue Grouse Basin Recon September 4.25
Corinne T and Bob T checked out the Blue Grouse Basin trail for a possible NACTS Group Hike in later September. This is a beautiful, but lightly travelled trail in the NE corner of Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park. The trail has been recently cleared by Parks Crew and is in good condition with all falls and brush at knee height and above cleared. The trail is easy to follow anlthough a few spots could use some repair and grading. The 5.2 km (one way) trail climbs 800 m up steep slopes through forest most of the way with partial views down the valley on the way up. The basin itself is very pretty with a couple of dried tarns at the base of the mountainous amphitheatre. While well worth the 12 km drive up the well maintained Enterprise Creek FSR for access (30 minutes from pavement to TH), the hike is too steep and strenuous to consider for a group hike. For strong hikers it is a must!
Kimbol Lake Connector Clearing August 6.25
John Hitt, Frank Kennedy and Bob T spent Saturday September 6 clearing the old trail connecting the North end of the lake to the south along the east shore. This opens up the Kimbol Lake Trail for an unobstructed through hike from the Nakusp Hot Springs to the Horseshoe Lake fire road for a hiking distance of 8.4 km. Horseshoe Lake is another 2.4 km past the junction with the quad track to the Kimbol Lake trappers cabin. The Horseshoe Lake fire access road is in good condition except for very deep water bars that require a high clearance 4wd with good break-over angles. The trail along the east shore of Kimbol Lake is easy to hike but requires regrading and repairs in several sections. A climbing switchback when hiking south to north approximately 500 m from the cabin is easy to miss. Better signage is required. Thanks to John Hitt for his excellent chainsaw work. These were big trees hung up on steep precarious slopes. John enjoyed using his knowledge and skill from his days working as a professional faller.
Clearing Whitewater Canyon August 26.25
Jamie D, Frank K and Bob T cleared the Whitewater Canyon Trail near Retallack Lodga on Tuesday, August 26. While this isn’t a NACTS trail, we volunteered to clear it for Recreation Sites and Trails BC since their own crews won’t have time this year and we would like to use it for one of our group hikes on September 7th. It was a beautiful day and the team did a great job of clearing and brushing the trail up to the 3.3 km mark. There are no more deadfall’s beyond that. The trail is clear from the Trailhead to the Hieght of Land below the tarn. Enjoy!
Saddle Mountain Lookout Group Hike Aug 24.25
12 hikers lead by Simone H and Michele N hiked up Saddle Mountain on Sunday August 24. The weather was perfect. All but two hikers made it all the way to the summit, but close counts. We stopped part way up at the bench on a rock outcrop for a rest and snack and again for lunch at the summit lookout. Graham F and Jamie D did a few repairs on the lookout entry and measured and planned for future improvements. Everyone had a good time! The views were stunning. Maybe we go earlier next year so we catch the alpine flowers in full bloom.
Saddle Mountain Upper Trail access clearing Aug 22,25
Brian W and Frank K cleared tow bit falls a short way in from the upper Saddle Mountain upper parking lot. These were big trees in a difficult position. Frank reports that Brain did a pro job of assessing the risks, preparing clear areas and an escape route, and cutting and sectioning the falls. Good work Brian and Frank! With those falls removed the upper trail to the summit is completely clear.
Kuskanax Mountain Erosion Repair Aug 20 & 21.25
A 4 member Recreation Sites and Trails crew lead by Cory J and his team of students joined Graham F and Bob T for a couple of days of setting cedar step blocks on steep and eroded sections of the lower Kuskanax Mountain South Trail. Everyone worked hard and anchored, backfilled and graded 29 blocks over a km or so of trail. The RSTBC crew last year set almost 50 blocks in the section above between the first and second viewpoints. We went back and repaired some of the installs from last year and generally graded and repaired the trail as best we could in the time we had. Graham also removed a tricky deadfall that was blocking the trail. This first 2 km of the trail switchbacks up the steep sandy flank of the mountain on the way to the radio tower and summit ridge line. It will require repair and upgrades every year.
Kimbol Lake Group Hike August 3.25
Simone H and Bob T lead a group of 8 hikers, including themselves, up the Kimbol Lake Trail from the Hot Springs source Trail Head to the Lake. It was a beautiful day for a hike through the old growth cedar and hemlock forest with the best part being a swim for most in the placid and not even very cold waters. Everyone remarked on how well the trail was maintained, thanks to the NACTS volunteer trail crew.
Hot Springs Trail Clearing August 6.25
Frank K and Bob T hiked down the Nakusp Hot Springs trail about 3 km to remove a lone deadfall that was leftover from last fall’s blowdown. It was more difficult than it looks since it was lying down the side of steep gulley and kept sliding as Frank sectioned it. The trail is now clear from the lower to upper trailheads.
More NACTS Volunteer Trail Work July 2025
Trails Society volunteers continue to clear our trails and ensure they are in good condition for the summer hiking season. Frank K, John H, Bob T, Jamie D, Ryan N, Graham F and Michele N were out during the last 2 weeks in July clearing the Box Lake and Cedar Grove trails and helping get ready for the upcoming Kuskanax Mountain switchback step block project. These were all shorter efforts but an essential part of our summer work program.
Eva Lake Group Hike July 26
9 hikers set off from Nakusp early Saturday in two vehicles to head up to Mount Revelstoke National Park where one more hiker from Kelowna joined them for tor a leisurely 16 km return walk to Eva Lake through high alpine meadows and rocky traverses. The flowers and mountain vistas were stunning, as was Eva Lake, one of the prettiest in the National Parks. We had sun, rain and lots of bugs to keep things interesting.
