Shannon Lake

The trail to Shannon Lake climbs steadily along the west side of the Shannon Creek. The creek is quite steep and tumbles down in a series of small water falls and cascades. Cow parsnip, blueberries, hellebore and stinging nettles crowd in, obscuring the trail bed. Watch your footing as the trail is rocky and can be slippery when wet. Shannon Lake is a popular fishing lake. A trail along the right shore leads to 2 areas that are used by campers.

Shannon Lake has a lot to offer hikers and rock climbers too. Mt. Vingolf and the glaciated ridges at the head of the lake, are easily gained by following the trail along the shore. From the head of the lake, it is an short walk through a sub-alpine meadow to the scree and talus slopes that lead to the ridge. One could easily spend a few days here, walking the ridges of the Valhalla Ranges.

From the junction of Highway 6 and 31A in New Denver, travel north on Highway 6 for 15.2 km to Hills. Turn left onto "Bonanza Road". Follow the asphalt over the bridge, onto gravel at the beginning of the "Shannon Creek Forest Service Road". Turn right onto this road. Just before the "3 km" road marker, take the right fork. Within a kilometre the road will fork again. The left fork takes you to Wragge Beach. The right fork continues up Shannon Creek. Travel along the right fork to the "12 km" road marker. Look for a brown, 4x4 post with white lettering, signed "Shannon Lake". Fork left onto a dirt, 4 wheel drive road. The next 2 km to the trail head is rough and requires a high clearance vehicle.