Getting Here
Icefall lodge sits at 6300 feet and can be accessed in the summer either by helicopter or hiking in. The hike in is 5 km long and involves an elevation gain of 850m(2800 feet). There is a good trail that travels past rushing creeks and through old growth forests before breaking into open slide paths for the last half. The hike from the trailhead to the lodge normally takes 4 to 5 hours. People find the creek crossings the most difficult, they are normally single log bridges.
If groups would like to hike in, it is recommended that they hire a guide for the day. There are several different options for hiking in and conditions can change rapidly.
The trailhead is reached by driving 2 hours from Golden. The first 20 km is traveling westbound on the Trans Canada Highway. From there you take the Bush River forestry road at Donald, which is west of the vehicle inspection station and east of the Columbia River. It is recommended that you use a radio with the Bush frequency(153.230) when using this road. The road is gravel and although dusty, it is good until the last 10 km. High clearance vehicles are recommended for the last section. Make sure that you have an inflated spare tire for your vehicle.
From Donald you take the bush road to km 61 where there is a fork, take the right hand fork (staying on the south side of Bush River). Just past km 68 you turn right on the Valenciennes Road (this turn is easy to miss). The km start over at 0 again here. This road climbs steeply at first and then levels out and follows the Valenciennes River until Icefall Brook is reached (km 13 on the Valenciennes road) Here you turn left on the Mons Creek road until the parking area is reached at km 22.5. There is a major washout here and this is now the end of the road. There is a log fot bridge accross this creek. There is not regular maintenance on the last 22 km of the road. Chicken wire is useful for keeping porcupines away from vehicles. There is enough for 3 vehicles left at the parking area.
As of July 27, 2010, the road is in good condition with no washouts until km 22.5.
Mapping Coordinates: 51.8734N -117.1314W.
The lodge is situated at 1900m (6300 feet. 1:50,000 map sheet 82 N14
Rostrum Peak 4 912E 57 470N
From the washout, cross the footbridge and follow the road for 300m. Here you will see a turnout on the left and a sign for Icefall Lodge. The trail crosses Icefall Brook on a double log bridge and climbs up the side valley towards Mount Kemmel.
The trail starts at a bridge over Icefall Brook, which is 100m to the west of the turnout. There will be flagging tape to mark the trail where it is not obvious. After crossing Icefall Brook it then crosses Kemmel Creek to the west side and up a steep slope to gain the east edge of a clear cut. It climbs to the top right side of the clear cut, and then though mature forest , before emerging in a slide path From here the trail stays on the west side of Kimmel Creek alternating between forest and open slide paths. The trail crosses the creek 200m above a fork in the creek. It then continues several hundred meters on the ridge between the two creeks. Continue up on the west side of the east fork until open slide paths with meadows are reached. Follow the left hand slide path to the lodge at 6300 feet elevation.