We had been trying to hike the magnificent Balu Pass trail for several years. In 2011 we hiked about halfway up the trail but had to turn around due to poor conditions - it was raining and foggy and we would not have been able to see the fantastic views at the top of the pass.
In 2012 my dad tried to take me on the trail with his hiking club but sadly I am unable to hike at the speed of his club (composed of mostly retired people), how embarrassing! So I did not manage the hike that year either.
However, third time is the charm and in August 2013 we managed to hike Balu Pass. The weather was perfect and I was with my family that was accommodating of my slowness.
The Balu Pass trailhead is located in the parking lot at the Rogers Pass Parks Canada information centre. This is a nice stop even if you are not planning on hiking the trail as there are some lovely displays inside and the Parks Canada staff also host lectures on the wildlife of the area. I learned all about caribou and Grizzly Bears during the hours I whiled away at this visitor centre in 2012. Keep in mind though that in order to partake of the offerings at the facility you must have a Parks Canada pass.
The trail starts off with a tough (for me) slog up some switchbacks through the forest. This, to me, was honestly the hardest part of the hike. While there is still a significant amount of elevation gain later on in the trail it is a more gradual climb. So if you get past the initial switchback you should be good to go for the rest of the hike!
Once you finish with the switchbacks you soon leave the forest and enter out into the more open valley. Scattered along the trail are bushes full of berries, no wonder bears like to hang out here, hence the name of the pass. Lots of food to eat!
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| Bear Food! |
The trails winds through the valley crossing over babbling brooks and offering up beautiful views.
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| Looking back down the valley from about 1/4 way up the trail. |
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| Another view looking back down the valley, about 1/2 way up the trail |
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| Almost to the top of the pass! |
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| Looking back down the valley from the top of the pass. |
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| Hurray! After three years we finally made it! |
Here are two videos of the view from the top of Balu Pass. The first is from the lunch spot which is at the end of the trail and the second is from the area near the toilet.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUzQYDxVVGs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCwO5aZIE8M
During our lunch break one of the other groups told us that once of the Parks Canada staffers had told them that a week previous a family with two children was separated on the trail by a bear and that another group of 6 also in the recent past had been charged by a Grizzly Bear. I was told by my Dad after we got back to the car that he had actually been warned against going on the trail that day by Parks Canada staff due to the recent bear activity. My dad decided that we should go anyways and withheld that information from me until after the hike because he knew I would have chickened out. I was a wee bit mad about that!
In regards to bears, it is called Balu Pass for a reason, and Parks Canada does state that you must hike in a tight group of 4 or more if you plan to tackle the trail. So, if you want to do this hike, which I definitely recommend, make sure that you are carrying bear spray, that you are in at least a group of 4 and that you check with the staff at the information centre before beginning your hike. The hike is well worth the effort!
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