Mount Gladstone
- Physical DifficultyThis is the average user-submitted rating on the physical difficulty of this route. In general, green is beginner, blue is intermediate, black is advanced/most difficult and double-black is expert-only. It is recommended that users build up to black and double-black routes.
- Technical DifficultyThis is the average user-submitted rating on the technical difficulty of this route. In general, green is beginner, blue is intermediate, black is advanced/most difficult and double-black is expert-only. It is recommended that users build up to black and double-black routes.
A scramble up Mount Gladstone is a wonderful day out in the Castle! A nice trail alongside a lively creek, a colorful ascent, and unparalleled views of Castle Peak and Windsor Mountain make it one of the most scenic mountains in the entire park!
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Route Description for Mount Gladstone
The scramble up Mount Gladstone is a great route, however, there is a bit of trail-finding and bushwhacking. We suggest taking a GPS device with the map loaded to assist you on this scramble.
From your parking spot, make your way along the barbed wire fence for 100 m, then contour left along a road leading into the forest. Here you need to keep your eyes out because taking the wrong trail can lead to a much longer and trying day!
DO NOT take the wide, obvious trail leading upstream that looks like a horse trail. If you take this route there will be a faint trail with many river crossings, a lot of trail-finding, and bushwhacking.
Instead, continue past this point to find an ATV trail which will lead you through the forest to a single river crossing.
Once you cross the creek you will see a cairn marking a trail heading into the bush. This trail is obvious, but long sections of it have been taken over by alder bushes and you may have to plow through them. The trail is in reasonable condition aside from a few washouts and a mudslide higher up the creek.
Continue around the base of Mount Gladstone, as the trail trends to the right and goes across numerous avalanche paths. This would be a terrible winter route, however, in summer the avalanche paths allow views as you are out of the trees.
Eventually you come out of the trees and you reach the base of the general route up Mount Gladstone. This is towards the westernmost of several partially forested scree ribs. The scree on this rib is generally very stable and patches of vegetation help when it is not.
Once you reach the low point on the ridge separating Mount Gladstone from North Castle, travel from this point to the summit, 2.0 km away and 200 m higher, is very easy. Views from the summit are nice in all directions and the view of Castle Peak to the southwest is absolutely spectacular.
To get back to your car at Mill Creek, follow the alternate descent route, scree skiing most of the way down with a few little zig zags to avoid problematic sections. The scree here is very loose and would be quite difficult to ascend.
Continue back the way you came.
Insider Hints for Mount Gladstone
- The Castle area is notoriously windy, so be prepared for increased winds once you’re in the alpine.
Getting to the Mount Gladstone Trailhead
From Beaver Mines, head east on Highway 507 for 3.5 km. Turn left onto Range Rd 20A for about 6.4 km, then left onto Range Rd 21A for 2.8 km. Where the road splits go left, now on Range Road Rd 22A. Follow this for 4.5 km and then go right. Follow this for 1.5 km and go right again and follow this road for 1.6 km until you come to a fence surrounding the small gas installation, where you park.
Route Information
Mount Gladstone Elevation Graph
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