Distance | 8.2 km (one way) km |
---|---|
Duration | 2.5 Hours (one-way) |
Difficulty | More Difficult |
Geo Referenced PDF | View Map |
Access Map | Google Maps |
Latitude / Longitude | 50.82866779, -118.83503882 |
Activities |
A full-day hike requiring route finding in alpine/subalpine terrain. This 9 km trail partially follows the pack trail to the historic Mara Fire Lookout on Morton Peak and features boardwalks, rugged mountain bluffs, alpine meadows, and spectacular views of Mabel, Shuswap, and Morton Lakes as well as the Monashee Mountains.
The hiking trail starts on the fire lookout pack trail, passes the old Cache Cabin, then continues climbing up through the forest into sub-alpine forests and meadows. When you get into the meadows, follow the new trail with blazes and flagging tape. The maintained trail ends at 5.5 km at a 4x4 post where the trail enters Kingfisher Creek Provincial Park. From this point route finding, knowledge of the area, or good mapping software (like Avenza paired with our GPS referenced map) is required to visit the Eagle Valley Snowmobile club’s Owlhead Chalet and summit Morton Peak to visit the Mara Fire Lookout.
Owlhead Chalet: To visit the Eagle Valley Snowmobile Club’s impressive log built Owlhead cabin from the 4x4 post marking the end of the maintained trail, head northeast for approx. 80 m into the alpine meadows, then north another approx. 120 m to the cabin. You should be able to see the cabin’s green roof to the north when you enter the meadow.
Mara Fire Lookout: To get to the fire lookout from the end of the maintained trail, follow 4x4 tracks up the skinny ridge and back down into the alpine bowl (aptly named “Super Bowl” by sledders) or follow a more scenic hiking trail that passes alpine lakes, skirts around the east side of the ridge, then comes out in Super Bowl. Once in Super Bowl, you can climb up to the saddle and go around the east side of the subpeak to the ridge between the sub-peak and summit or follow a more exciting option suitable for steady-footed hikers. The alternate route is to go across Super Bowl and traverse up a couple grassy shelves until you get to a rock face with unique metamorphic folding. Carefully walk up the rock face on the natural rock ledges. Continue climbing up left (east) of the scree slope below the summit, skirting any snow and being cautious of the loose rock. You can find the old telegraph wire from the lookout in places here. Once you attain the saddle between the sub-peak and summit there is an obvious trail up to the summit and fire lookout.
At the east end of Sicamous on Hwy 1, turn right onto McLean-McPherson Rd and go to its end where the Owlhead FSR starts. Drive past the 17 km marker and Provincial Park gate to where a Landmark post on the right (south) marks the trailhead. Park well off the side of the road in the wide area across from the trailhead to avoid blocking forestry traffic. Obey all notices and check shuswaptrails.com for updates.
Distance: 1541
Duration: 0.5-1 Hours + (round trip)
Difficulty: Easy to More Difficult
Fostering a healthy, engaged community in the Shuswap Region – economic/environmental/social – through well designed, maintained, and promoted trails connecting people, culture, and landscape