McBride Peak

BOU AVENUE
McBride Peak

Kicking off our summer vacation road trip, Zosia Zgolak and I hooked up with Eva Nagyova near McBride, British Columbia (BC) on 1 August 2021 and hiked up the town's namesake peak. A very straightforward ascent route is described in numerous online sites including probably the most definitive one by the Caledonia Ramblers based out of Prince George. The crux of the trip is the long approach along a forestry service road (FSR).

From the intersection with Main Street/Bridge Road in McBride, drive east along Highway 16 for 2.3 kilometres and turn left onto Mountainview Road. Drive for about 600 metres before turning right onto Rainbow Road. Drive another 400 metres and turn left onto the McBride Peak FSR. The first 5.5 kilometres of this road to the Halfway Viewpoint Recreation Site (outhouse and shelter) is generally good and should be suitable for most 2WD vehicles. High-clearance vehicles can perhaps continue for an additional 4.6 kilometres to an upper parking area near some telecommunication installations while a 4WD vehicle is definitely needed in order to reach an abandoned fire lookout in about another 900 metres.

Leaving Eva's minivan at the start of the FSR, I drove all of us up to the recreation site in my Honda CR-V without any problems. A heavily rutted section of road just beyond the recreation site forced us to walk from there, but we would later see other vehicles at both the upper parking area and the fire lookout. Other than having to fend off annoying mosquitoes, we had no problems walking up the remainder of the FSR, and despite the mundane hiking here, it was a good opportunity for Zosia and me to socialize and catch up with Eva. From the upper parking area, we followed a much rougher road which climbs through the last trees and enters sub-alpine meadows before ending at the fire lookout. Like many other abandoned fire lookouts throughout BC, locals have done a wonderful job of restoring the structure and converting it into a convenient public shelter.

From the lookout site, Eva, Zosia and I picked up a good trail which heads east for a little more than five hundred metres before reaching a junction marked by a large cairn. Turning left, we followed the easy trail which runs up the south ridge of McBride Peak all the way to the summit. While wildfire smoke obscured all far-reaching views on this day, we could still see a higher bump further north which looked easy enough to reach. After snapping a quick photograph on the summit of McBride Peak, we continued hiking along the connecting ridge to the higher bump, and as expected, we had no difficulties reaching it. There are actually two distinct bumps here of roughly equal height, and both are definitely higher than the gazetted summit of McBride Peak. While the panorama did not improve all that much, we did get some tantalizing views further north of a spire known as The Blackwater Tusk.

After tagging both bumps, Eva, Zosia and I simply retraced our steps back over McBride Peak and down to the recreation site without any issues. We subsequently drove back down the FSR to pick up Eva's minivan before rendezvousing one last time at a gas station in McBride. Parting ways with Eva (she was heading to Clearwater), Zosia and I drove westward to carry on with our road trip.

With some determination, I probably could have kept driving, but it wasn't worth risking damage to my vehicle so early in our road trip.
Zosia and Eva hike up the remainder of the access road.

Ribbit. This boreal toad looks a bit grumpy in the grasp of Sonny's hand.

It's a shame that we couldn't drive up to here.
Eva and Zosia reach the upper parking area.

Need a 4WD vehicle to drive up here! Zosia and Eva follow a steep and rough road up through the last trees.

And Easterners wonder why people love trucks so much out West! A couple of trucks are parked next to an abandoned fire lookout.

Better than a 5-star hotel! The abandoned fire lookout has been restored and now serves as a convenient public shelter.
Photo courtesy of Zosia Zgolak

It's better to stick with the trail than trying to climb the ridge crest. Eva and Zosia continue up a trail beyond the fire lookout.

Turn left here! Eva and Zosia pause for a break at a trail junction. In the hazy distance at right is Mount Teare.

Easy stuff. The trail continues up to the top of McBride Peak without any complications.

Zosia, Eva and Sonny hoist rocks on the gazetted summit of McBride Peak (2261 metres).

Shame about all the smoke!

Zosia and Eva head for an unnamed high point (right) further along the ridge.

	Zosia and Eva reach the unnamed high point (2279 metres) which is higher than the gazetted summit of McBride Peak.
	Zosia and Eva hike to yet another unnamed high point a little further along the ridge.
	The Blackwater Tusk (right of centre) still looks impressive despite the smoky haze. Further right is unofficially-named Congregational Peak.
	Eva and Zosia head back to McBride Peak which still has snow clinging to its northeastern aspect.
	Zosia checks out a rustic shelter at the Halfway Viewpoint Recreation Site.
	Total Distance: 16.0 kilometres Round-Trip Time: 6 hours 56 minutes Cumulative Elevation Gain: 1045 metres GPX Data

	Zosia and Eva hike up the remainder of the access road.
	This boreal toad looks a bit grumpy in the grasp of Sonny's hand.
	Eva and Zosia reach the upper parking area.
	Zosia and Eva follow a steep and rough road up through the last trees.
	A couple of trucks are parked next to an abandoned fire lookout.
	The abandoned fire lookout has been restored and now serves as a convenient public shelter. Photo courtesy of Zosia Zgolak
	Eva and Zosia continue up a trail beyond the fire lookout.
	Eva and Zosia pause for a break at a trail junction. In the hazy distance at right is Mount Teare.
	The trail continues up to the top of McBride Peak without any complications.
	Zosia, Eva and Sonny hoist rocks on the gazetted summit of McBride Peak (2261 metres).