Swift Creek Loop

Swift Creek Loop (#6 on hiking map)

1. Difficulty: Medium
2. Warnings: The biking trails intersect at various spots along the way, watch for the #6 markers which will keep you on the main hiking trail.
3. Wheelchair accessible: no
4. High-clearance 4×4 advised to access trailhead? no
5. Best seasons: spring, summer, fall (May-Nov)
6. Distance (Loop via Main St.): 10 km / 6.2 mi
7. Approx. time: 4 hrs (full loop)
8. Elevation gain: 150 m/500 ft
9. Steepest grade: 25%
10. Viewpoints: Mountain views
11. Geocache points: Unknown
12. Closest bathroom/outhouse: Outhouse at the bottom of 5-Mile Rd or Centennial Park
13. Cell service? Only along the creek closest to town or along the road
14. Gear to bring: Bring 1 L water per person, mosquito spray, bug hat and a bug shirt
15. How to access/where to park: Travel down 5th Ave to the railway tracks, after crossing the tracks turn left onto Main St and follow for 1 km. Parking is available on the west side of the road just before the bridge (across from the Golden Years Lodge). The trail starts immediately after the bridge on the right. Click here for Google Map Directions.
16. Best Parts: This trail has many great attributes making it a favourite among locals and visitors. The calming rush of the creek, the huge cedar trees, the lookout overlooking Valemount and surrounding mountains, the lichen, mushrooms and other plant life, plus the new suspension bridge! In September you can occasionally see spawning salmon close to the municipal water intake. The Village gets its drinking water from this stream, please respect that this is a watershed. Keep yourself and your pets out of the water as not to disturb the delicate salmon nests. Chinook salmon are more commonly seen closer to the Info Centre in Swift Creek and usually begin spawning in mid-late August.
17. Worst Parts: There is a short steep section right before the viewpoint. On the southwest side of the creek there is a couple sections where the ground can be wet and muddy after a heavy rainfall.  Watch out: bears are sometimes spotted along this trail during spring and summer. Be sure to make lots of noise so you don’t surprise them and they have time to leave to avoid an encounter. The mosquitoes are bad during the summertime.

Trail Description:

This trail has many great attributes making it a favourite among locals and visitors. The calming rush of the creek, the huge cedar trees, the lookout overlooking Valemount and surrounding mountains, the lichen, mushrooms and other plant life, plus the new suspension bridge!  The biking trails intersect at various spots along the way, watch for the #6 markers which will keep you on the main hiking trail. To avoid walking down 5-Mile (which can be very dusty due to biking shuttle vehicles) watch for the sign across the road which will which allow you to access the new roughed in trail which will get you to the bottom of 5-Mile. 

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Elevation change profile (metres and km). Click to expand.

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