Kuskanax Mountain Trail

Trail Description

The 4-kilometre road, with its narrow, rutted, gravel surface, is passable by dirt bike or 4-wheeler. Those who prefer walking can ascend the mountain in the quiet solitude afforded by the mainly second-growth trees lining the roadway. After parking, walk along the road, which turns sharply to wind up the mountain after about 600 metres. Roughly 0.8 kms from the first switchback, there is a small white sign on the left-hand side of the road noting the 1^st viewpoint, Vicky’s View. Scramble through the trees to take in the impressive vista of Nakusp and Upper Arrow Lake, with the Monashee Mountains extending along the west side of the lake. The trek to the 1^st viewpoint makes a nice half-day jaunt; culminate here with a picnic, and it’s time well spent. The road continues to climb, switching back and forth through the fire’s corridor, until reaching the 2^nd viewpoint. The viewpoint used to be a launch pad for local hang gliders, but it is now no more than a clearing beside the road. The pine trees flourished after the fire and now frame the view of town, a testament to the regenerative power of wildfires. The road extends another 500 metres past the 2^nd viewpoint, but is quite overgrown with alder saplings. Continuing along the last stretch will lead hikers to the start of a rough trail that heads almost straight up the mountainside. Scrambling up the trail, not much more than a deer path really, leads to the bottom of some craggy bluffs. From here, looking back through the tall trees toward town affords a stunning view.