Swift Creek/Crooked Creek Ridge Route #7

Description:

Consists of a recent fire access road through subalpine fir and pine forests to the timberline on an unnamed ridge between Swift Creek and Crooked Creek in the Rocky Mountains overlooking the Rocky Mountain Trench. The access road was upgraded while fighting a 2004 forest fire. It exactly follows the route of a fireguard built in 1994 when a previous forest fire, further up Swift Creek, began to look as if it might threaten the town of Valemount. Charred forest near the upper end of this road is part of a back-burn conducted while fighting the 2004 fire.

Wildflowers in the area include some pink lupines as well as the more common blue ones.

Getting There:

Travel north from Valemount on Highway 5 for 1 Km. Turn right on Loseth Road. Watch for railroad tracks on your right and take the first side road that crosses the tracks. Keep right across benchland to the foot of the mountains, then "take the high road" at all intersections except as noted below. On the steeper sections of road, "water bars" (shallow cross ditches) have been built to reduce erosion. These ditches are designed to be passable by four wheel drive vehicles, but use caution. After a long, fairly steep ascent through young pine trees, the road forks. The branches come together again after a short distance. The lower branch is in the best condition at this writing. At a landing near the top of old logging, you will find the firefighting road going up the slope at the same point where you enter the landing. From here, the road has very steep sections. At the end of the road, a faint trail is flagged to the right and up to the treeline.

Hiking Time:

Allow 3 to 5 hours round trip from the end of the fire road to the alpine ridge-top, or longer if upper part of road impassable for vehicles.