Mill Lake Trail
The Mill Lake Trail is an 8.8 km out-and-back hiking route near Nelson, BC, that takes you through a recovering section of forest that was ravaged by a fire in 2017 to the tranquil shores of a beautiful woodland lake. Along the hike, you will experience a beautiful but slightly eerie sensation as you make your way through the toasted trees that are showing signs of new life. A new access road to the trailhead has made the hike a manageable day trip; however, it is still fairly rough, so you will likely need a high clearance vehicle to make the journey in.
Quick Navigation
Join our newsletter
Get a weekly dose of discounts and inspiration for adventure lovers
Route Description for Mill Lake Trail
Hiking along the Mill Lake Trail is an amazing outdoor experience due to the beautiful scenery and fun route, but also because of the way in which you can visibly see nature healing and reclaiming the forest. Devastated by a forest fire in 2017, this area is now starting to show plenty of green amongst the charred trees, a sure sign that things will eventually return to normal in the area.
The trail sets out from the parking area and heads through the forest before coming to a small creek crossing with a bridge. Once you are on the other side, the trail climbs back up through the trees among countless berry bushes, so make sure to keep an eye out for bears and make plenty of noise. As the trail continues to steepen, you will cross a slope dotted with charred trees, providing a good understanding of the scale of the fire that ravaged the area. Eventually, you will arrive at the serene waters of Mill Lake, surrounded by a forest of burnt trees and surrounding mountain peaks. After taking in the eerily beautiful views, head back along the same route to return to the parking area.
Getting to the Mill Lake Trail Trailhead
To reach the Mill Lake trailhead from the Harrop Proctor Ferry, drive 2.3 km on Harrop Proctor Road and turn right. Reset your odometer and turn right at the 4.3 km mark. Keep on the main road and at the 9.4 km mark you will arrive at the trailhead.
Route Information
Mill Lake Trail Elevation Graph
Weather Forecast
Check Area WeatherMill Lake Trail Reviews
Add a comment
You must be logged in to post a comment.