Bugaboos Provincial Park
Bugaboos Provincial Park
5
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
5.0
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Zexi
Toronto, Canada106 contributions
Jul 2015 • Couples
The Bugaboos are well off the beaten path. Signage over the years has made it much easier to get to, but you have to be prepared to drive 50+ km on dirt / logging roads.
Once you get up to the park parking lot, it is highly recommended that you surround your car with chicken wire (available free at the site) to protect the rubber parts of your car from porcupines. Just follow what all the other people have done.
There is one hike from the parking lot. Its not very long, but its quite steep in sections with chains and a ladder. As you go you have beautiful views of both the valley and the amazing glacier with its many spires, including one that seems to come out of the middle of the glacier.
Higher up there is great climbing, a hut to stay over night as well as two camp grounds.
I wouldn't say its a must visit place, but it is special and if you are looking for something off the beaten path that is truly beautiful it may be worth the trek.
Once you get up to the park parking lot, it is highly recommended that you surround your car with chicken wire (available free at the site) to protect the rubber parts of your car from porcupines. Just follow what all the other people have done.
There is one hike from the parking lot. Its not very long, but its quite steep in sections with chains and a ladder. As you go you have beautiful views of both the valley and the amazing glacier with its many spires, including one that seems to come out of the middle of the glacier.
Higher up there is great climbing, a hut to stay over night as well as two camp grounds.
I wouldn't say its a must visit place, but it is special and if you are looking for something off the beaten path that is truly beautiful it may be worth the trek.
Written August 19, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JohnnyMcL
Bothwell, UK251 contributions
Jun 2015 • Couples
Bugaboo is an adventure. Simply getting there is a a rocky drive for many miles so if you're not in a 4x4, I'd not go there.
The rough road matches the rigged terrain but as probably one of the not visited so much parks, it has a charm all of its own.
Like many places around here, you begin to run out of superlatives to describe the scenery. There aren't any amenities here - it really is in the middle of nowhere so be prepared.
The rough road matches the rigged terrain but as probably one of the not visited so much parks, it has a charm all of its own.
Like many places around here, you begin to run out of superlatives to describe the scenery. There aren't any amenities here - it really is in the middle of nowhere so be prepared.
Written July 3, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chris D
Somerville, MA7 contributions
Jun 2015 • Couples
If you are here for the climbing, you are probably getting your information elsewhere, so I'll stick to the scenery.
For the intrepid, this difficult-to-reach range offers one of the most stunning mountain experiences in the North America. A strenuous 5 km / 3 mile hike with 700 m / 2300 ft of elevation gain delivers you to the Conrad Kain Hut overlooking the Bugaboo glacier icefall and a multitude of towering granite spires. Be aware that there is a 50 km drive on logging roads to access the car park, and that in some years a high clearance vehicle might be needed. The hiking trail may have snow cover until the end of June.
Check with BC Parks or the Alpine Club of Canada for more information about overnight stays.
For the intrepid, this difficult-to-reach range offers one of the most stunning mountain experiences in the North America. A strenuous 5 km / 3 mile hike with 700 m / 2300 ft of elevation gain delivers you to the Conrad Kain Hut overlooking the Bugaboo glacier icefall and a multitude of towering granite spires. Be aware that there is a 50 km drive on logging roads to access the car park, and that in some years a high clearance vehicle might be needed. The hiking trail may have snow cover until the end of June.
Check with BC Parks or the Alpine Club of Canada for more information about overnight stays.
Written June 24, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JeffreyHanley
Willemstad, Curaçao253 contributions
Dec 2014 • Couples
These mountains compare favorably to the Grand Tetons in the United States.
Although the forest road is not maintained, we found the snow well packed and drove our Subaru Forester (with winter tires) the 42km to the park entrance. Arriving at the park we encountered two persons (we think the owners) of the Bugaboo Lodge. They weren't too thrilled to see us, saying we were on 'kinda private property'. Could have been they were upset we made the drive while they're charging people $4k+ to helicopter in.... or they were generally concerned for our safety, in which case I rescind my prior remark.
In any sense, the road wasn't open all the way to the parking lot, had to stop just past the lodge (about 1/2 km past the Bugaboo Park sign) and walk the rest of the way into the park. Appears snow mobiles have been through the area so the path was pretty well packed, we didn't need snow shoes.
The vista was amazing and well worth the hour plus drive to get there. The Bugaboo Falls along the way were also neat and totally frozen over with huge icicles.
I wouldn't recommend driving anything less than a 4x4 outfitted with good snow tires. The ice was the biggest problem on the road. With no guard rails, steep drop offs, and no cell service, sliding could have been disastrous. In retrospect, avalanches were also possible, so stopping is not advised.
An amazing and remote place, safest to visit in summer.
Although the forest road is not maintained, we found the snow well packed and drove our Subaru Forester (with winter tires) the 42km to the park entrance. Arriving at the park we encountered two persons (we think the owners) of the Bugaboo Lodge. They weren't too thrilled to see us, saying we were on 'kinda private property'. Could have been they were upset we made the drive while they're charging people $4k+ to helicopter in.... or they were generally concerned for our safety, in which case I rescind my prior remark.
In any sense, the road wasn't open all the way to the parking lot, had to stop just past the lodge (about 1/2 km past the Bugaboo Park sign) and walk the rest of the way into the park. Appears snow mobiles have been through the area so the path was pretty well packed, we didn't need snow shoes.
The vista was amazing and well worth the hour plus drive to get there. The Bugaboo Falls along the way were also neat and totally frozen over with huge icicles.
I wouldn't recommend driving anything less than a 4x4 outfitted with good snow tires. The ice was the biggest problem on the road. With no guard rails, steep drop offs, and no cell service, sliding could have been disastrous. In retrospect, avalanches were also possible, so stopping is not advised.
An amazing and remote place, safest to visit in summer.
Written December 14, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ootskapiinii
Invermere, Canada249 contributions
Jul 2015 • Solo
In Bugaboo Provincial Park is located the Lower Bugaboo Falls. Google Lower Bugaboo Falls, print off the map or follow my directions here. From Invermere, BC it is located 53km north on h'wy 93/95 past Radium and just before Brisco, turn left onto the Brisco Road. All the roads off the h'wy are gravel and are fairly well maintained. Stay on the Brisco road and over the bridges and road on the wetlands and stay right after you get across. There are two forks in the road here and stay right and then at the intersection of the Westside road also stay right. Continue on the Westside Road. You will pass about 5 numbered markers on the left side of the road beginning at 1 and as you approach the hike area will be #5 and at about the 53km mark look for the small parking lot and sign Lower Bugaboo Falls Recreation Trail. You come on it very quickly. The trail begins next to the Forestry recreation trail sign. This 1.5km one way hike is pretty easy, albeit there are some steep areas if you want to get to the water below the falls. Take some bug spray as the mosquitoes can be vicious during the summer months. If you want to go above the falls stay left at the Y forks about 1km into the hike. Take a camera, GoPro or cell phone to get unforgettable pictures. WARNING: Stay off the ledges as they are beginning to collapse as it is several hundred feet down to the river. Enjoy!!!!
Written July 25, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JPatti1
Chicago, IL266 contributions
Jul 2022
We spent three days heli-hiking the Bugaboos and found them to be both beautiful and unspoiled. Due to the relative inaccessibility and minimal infrastructure, this park does not receive too many visitors and is off the Banff/Jasper/Waterton track of most travelers. While good for us, it certainly has every reason to attract those interested in hiking and, as it is more famously known for, mountaineering.
We were heli-hiking and thus able to "cheat" a good deal, but we spent one day climbing the West Ridge of Pigeon Spire, which is claimed to be one of, if not the, best 5.4 mountaineering route in the world. Not sure about it being the best in the world, but it certainly would be in the discussion! Our excellent guide (Tom Gruber) carefully took us through the glacier (yes a few large chunks of ice fell off near us while we were cramponing up the glacial arête and rocks can always fall on your heads- death is always a possibility here) to the base of the climb. From there, we had the time of our lives doing "real" mountain-climbing with ropes and belaying, including a spot of two of some potentially frightening exposure - definitely this is NOT an activity for anybody with a fear of heights. The climb itself, however, was manageable, particularly given the excellent traction one finds on this granite and the decent foot- and handholds throughout the climb.
Do the climb if you can!
We were heli-hiking and thus able to "cheat" a good deal, but we spent one day climbing the West Ridge of Pigeon Spire, which is claimed to be one of, if not the, best 5.4 mountaineering route in the world. Not sure about it being the best in the world, but it certainly would be in the discussion! Our excellent guide (Tom Gruber) carefully took us through the glacier (yes a few large chunks of ice fell off near us while we were cramponing up the glacial arête and rocks can always fall on your heads- death is always a possibility here) to the base of the climb. From there, we had the time of our lives doing "real" mountain-climbing with ropes and belaying, including a spot of two of some potentially frightening exposure - definitely this is NOT an activity for anybody with a fear of heights. The climb itself, however, was manageable, particularly given the excellent traction one finds on this granite and the decent foot- and handholds throughout the climb.
Do the climb if you can!
Written September 10, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
How long do people think the drive from Brisco to the trailhead would take in a 2WD vehicle? Google maps says 3 hours to travel the roughly 50 km. Thanks!
Written May 6, 2021
Seeing mixed reviews about driving to Bugaboo. Is the road from the highway to the park driveable for a soccer mom in her new minivan? When they suggest 4x4, are they referring to roads within the park?
Written July 4, 2019
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