Mount Cheam, Chilliwack

Mount Cheam, Chilliwack - 360 view

- September 16, 2017

For Mt Cheam, getting to the trailhead is a real adventure.

Distance: 9.5KM(round trip)
Elevation gain: 700m
Highest point: 2,104m
Hiking time: 4 hours (break excluded)
Pace: Intermediate (micro-break)

Mount Cheam or Cheam Peak in Chilliwack has high point 2,104 m with Jones Lake to the northeast, Harrison Hot Springs to the northwest, Lady Peak as its neighbor and with the view of Mt Baker far to the south.

The trail itself is 9.5 km with an elevation gain of 700 m. A round trip should take 4 - 6 hrs, placing it as an intermediate hike.

Mt Cheam offers a 360-degree panoramic view, one of the most breathtaking viewpoints in the area. On a clear day, you will even be able to see the cities of Agassiz, Chilliwack , and Harrison.

However, the worst part is the 15 km road leading to the parking lot where the trail starts. It requires a high clearance vehicle like an F350 or jeep. Furthermore, the road is pretty narrow so passing another vehicle in the opposite direction should be done very carefully. Sometimes, it’s necessary to park or yield let them pass. This 15 km road may take you 1 hour to 1.5 hours to get to the trailhead.

On the way to the parking lot, it’s not hard to have a view like the below.

If you really want to a spot close to the trailhead, be sure to arrive before 10 am or as early as possible.

The amazing thing is that you already have a spectacular view from the parking lot. On this trail, you don’t need to search for viewpoints; Viewpoints are everywhere along the trail.

After a short 10-minute hike, you’ll reach a meadow with a pond in the shape of a hoof.

Beyond this point, the real workout begins.

The center of the below photo is still the trail, heading northwest to the peak. You can actually see the people at the top from her but don’t be fooled into thinking that the mountain top is close. From here, you can even see the meadow and the parking lot.