Plaid Lake and Mt Crawford

Name: Plaid Lake and Mt Crawford
Rating: 10

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Plaid Lake is a beautiful hike with an optional extension to summit Mount Crawford for spectacular views of the surrounding mountain ranges. The elevation gain is the most challenging part of this hike as you ascend and descend twice to enter the lake. Mount Crawford is close to as high as Mount Loki and overlooks Loki and many other peaks in this area. On the way up, the ridgeline unveils glimpses of Kootenay Lake cloaking the land below.

Route Description for Plaid Lake and Mt Crawford

This trail follows a mild route away from the crowds. It's a family-friendly hike that traverses a panoply of terrain and landscapes: rocks, ridgelines, and forest, while also granting remarkable views of Kootenay Lake.

The well-worn path may be a little rocky with scattered brush at the start, but it is usually easy to walk—outside of snowfall, of course. Take a moment to admire the summer wildflowers as you walk!

Plaid Lake can be seen from Mt Crawford and sits in the lower valley, so even if you lose the trail for a while due to snow, the general direction is easy to navigate.

Some of you may want to scramble atop Mt Crawford. However, this part can be quite steep and dangerous for kids, so try to avoid doing this if you're hiking with children. It may also be super rainy and windy at the top, but the view of Mount Loki will make the tough climb worth it in the end.

Do note that the meadows and Plaid Lake itself offer pleasant places to camp, although they are not designated campgrounds.

Insider Hints for Plaid Lake and Mt Crawford

Try this hike during the wildflower season in early July
Spend the weekend in Crawford Bay or Boswell and enjoy some summer lakeside activities. You can find a collection of lovely Airbnb’s in this area, and they usually offer free use of canoes.

Getting to the Plaid Lake and Mt Crawford Trailhead

From the Ferry Terminal in Kootenay Bay, drive towards Creston (South) and into the Village of Crawford Bay. Just before the church, turn left onto Wadds Road, after about 2.5 km, you will take another left onto Crawford Creek Road, and at 10.0 km, you need to bear left onto Crawford-Hooker Road, then again onto Plaid Lake Road. This road encompasses wooden signs for “Plaid Lake.” Note that driving a 2WD high clearance vehicle would be OK, but 4WD is advised for this road. The final stretch from the car park to the trailhead is almost impassable even with a 4WD vehicle due to a washout, although this can change year to year. Walking this part adds 1.0 km each way (as seen on the GPS).

Route Information

When to do:
Late June to Early September
Backcountry Campsites:
No official campgrounds, but camping near the lake is allowed
Pets allowed:
No
Family friendly:
Older Children only
Route Signage:
Poor
Crowd Levels:
Low
Route Type:
Out and back