Bugaboo Park

The Bugaboo Provincial Park and Alpine Recreation Area is situated in the Purcell Mountains and includes its largest icefields.  These mountains, bounded by the Rocky Mountain Trench on the east, are ancient in comparison to the Rockies.  Originating over 1,500 million years ago, when the only form of life on earth was algae, it was not until the era of the dinosaurs that the Purcells acquired the Rocky Mountains as a neighbouring range. 

Some 70 million years ago, when the Rockies were concluding their development, molten rock was welling up to create massive intrusions within the old metamorphic rocks of the Purcells.  The erosive forces of water and glacial ice have since removed much of the weak overlying rock, revealing the solid granitic masses and chiseling them into the spectacular spires of the Bugaboo region.   The  heavy snowfall of the 'Columbia Wet Belt' continues to support large remnants of the vast alpine glaciers that dominated and shaped the rugged Purcells in the past.

Since the Palliser Expedition of 1857 - 1860, which first traversed and named the Purcells for Goodwin Purcell, expedition sponsor, these ranges have attracted miners, loggers and some of North America's leading mountaineers. Today the early routes, first done with many pitons and bolts for direct aid, are often largely repeated free with less damaging aluminum chocks for protection.  Free climbing techniques enable faster ascents with reduced exposure to the frequent lightning storms and continually open new lines in an area where the elements of glaciers, major routes on firm rock, significant altitude and violent weather combine to create world-class challenges.

In 1969, the 358 hectare Bugaboo Provincial Park and the 24,624 hectare Bugaboo Alpine Recreation Area were set aside to preserve and protect this outstanding area of the Purcells.  In 1972, the Alpine Club of Canada erected the Conrad Kain Hut, which has since been maintained by the Parks Division as a base for climbers and to reduce visitor impact on the fragile timberline area below Snowpatch.   Road access to the park is fairly easy but trails are few.  Inexperienced or ill-equipped climbers or hikers should forego a visit in favour of less demanding areas.

How to get to the park:  A good gravel road, open late spring through late fall, leads from Brisco, 27 km north of Radium Hot Springs on Highway 95, to  Bugaboo Glacier Provincial Park and Alpine Recreation Area, a distance of 45 km.  Heavy logging trucks travel the road.  Drivers should exercise extreme caution at all times.  Vehicles of park and recreation area visitors should be parked in the public lot provided and not in the Bugaboo Lodge (Canadian Mountain Holidays) parking lot, unless permission is received.

Access to the northern portions of the park via the Vowell and Molloy Creek drainages is possible by leaving Highway 95 at Spillimacheen, north of Brisco, cross the Columbia river and turn left on the West Side Road.  After 8 km, turn right onto Bobbie Burns Road and follow this main route up the Bobbie Burns Creek drainage past the lodge of the same name.  Logging roads up Vowell Creek and Malloy Creek lead to semi-open terrain which can be hiked into the park.  The status of bridges in inactive logging areas may vary in upper drainages.

Trails:

Recreation Area Parking Lot to Conrad Kain Hut:  Length 5 km, suggested time 2 1/2 hrs, elevation change 700 m.  The trail follows the northern lateral moraine of Bugaboo Glacier.  The trail is very steep and strenuous.   Extreme caution should be exercised along its route.  Strong reliable footwear must be worn.

CMH Lodge to Cobalt Lake (Blue Lake):  Length 5 km, suggested time 2-3 hrs, elevation change 884 m.  Trail switchbacks up steep grade to open ridge and view of Cobalt Lake.  A marked route then descends to lake.  Open meadow area at high point excellent for wandering.

Routes lead from Conrad Kain Hut to climbing destinations.  The route from the Hut to Malloy Igloo (shelter located at Malloy Glacier) traverses a distance of approximately 13 km.  Elevation change 762 m.  Only roped parties should attempt the trip as several glaciers have to be crossed.

Access to the Malloy Igloo via Malloy Creek is possible.  For groups of mixed experience it poses several obstacles.  It is recommended you stay on the east side of the creek due to two formidable stream crossings, and gain access via a small steep gully from which the crest of the moraine can be reached.  The final headwall is easier in early summer (lots of snow), but may require roped climbing later in the season.

Please keep to designated trails.  Shortcutting, switchbacking and trampling meadows destroy the plant life and soil structure which keep rain and snow melt from eroding trails.

Facilities:

Camping in Bugaboo Park and the Crescent Glacier Area is restricted to tent pads situated below the Conrad Kain Hut at Boulder Camp and on Mount Applebee.   A per party fee is in effect for camping.  Visitors intending to use the campsites or to bivouac, must first self-register at the Kain Hut.  Bivouac sites should be chosen carefully to prevent contamination of water sources and to minimize damage to alpine vegetation.

The Conrad Hut is available for overnight accommodation for a maximum of 50 persons.  Propane stoves are provided for cooking purposes.  Visitors must bring all other necessary equipment and utensils.  Foamies and/or sleeping pads are not provided at hut.  A per person, per night fee is levied during the period June 1 to September 30.

The Malloy Igloo Hut will accommodate a maximum of six persons.  No facilities are provided. 

For more information, please link:
wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/parkpgs/bugaboo.htm