Hiking Cowap Peak near Mount Baker
Contents
Cowap Peak Hike Information
Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 8.40Km (5.20 Miles)
Elevation Gain: 550m (1,805 Ft.)
Highest Elevation: 1,644m (5,394 Ft.)
Average Gradient: 13.10%
Effort/Reward Ratio: Low / Moderate
Time Needed:
– Slow: 4 – 5 Hours
– Moderate: 3 – 4 Hours
– Fast: 2 – 3 Hours
Dogs Permitted?: Yes
Season: ~June to October
4×4 / High Clearance Required? No
Scrambling / Exposure: Minimal
Cowap Peak Trail
Trailhead Coordinates: 48°57’32.7″N 121°48’25.4″W
Cowap Peak Overview
Cowap Peak is a minor summit located slightly south of the Canadian border and north of the more popular Excelsior Peak. Accessed from the Damfino Lakes trailhead, Cowap is a short, simple outing to a relatively minor summit, albeit one that offers reasonably decent views of the usual peaks around Mount Baker highway.
As a standalone hike Cowap will only take most parties a few hours at most, however it’s easy enough to extend into a fuller outing by adding on the nearby Excelsior Peak, increasing the hike stats to around 15.50km / 828m (9.6 Miles / 2,716 Ft.)
Accessing the trailhead requires driving up the long Canyon Creek (NF31) forest road all the way to 1,300m, making Cowap a strictly summer hike when snow has melted at these elevations, with June to October the usual period for visiting. The road is usually in decent shape and parking at the trailhead requires the purchase of a recreation pass.
Most of the hike is very straightforward, however there is a short, simple scramble just before the summit that shouldn’t cause too many issues for most parties.
Dogs are welcome in the area
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Is Cowap Peak worthwhile?
Cowap Peak is a decent little hike with fairly nice views relative to the effort. Since you begin at 1,300m (4,265 Ft.) it doesn’t take too long to break out of the trees and enjoy the trail. That being said, this is a low elevation peak that never fully gets out of the treeline, so don’t expect a blockbuster either. If you’re looking for an extension, Excelsior Peak is a worthy add-on and offers better views than Cowap. The linked GPX includes both peaks.
How difficult is the hike to Cowap Peak?
Cowap alone is a short, straightforward hike that most groups can finish in less than 3 hours. It’s a relatively steady climb the whole way up, with the only challenge being the short, narrow scramble while working along the ridge just before the summit. It is literally a couple of steps though, so shouldn’t be an issue for most people.
Cowap Peak Route Information
The hike begins from a large parking area at the end of Canyon Creek Road (NF31), also known as the Damfino Lakes trailhead. If you add on Excelsior Peak you will pass by Damfino Lakes, which are very underwhelming either way. The road is typically suitable for all vehicles but does have a history of closing due to washouts (it’s a 25km (15.5 Mile) long FSR).
From the trailhead you will begin a steady climb on the Damfino Lakes trail. After a little over 1km (0.6 Miles), shortly before reaching the lakes, you want to keep an eye out for a trail on your left known as the Canyon Ridge trail. Taking this trail, you’ll continue to climb through the forest for another kilometer or so before the trees begin to thin out as you reach the base of the eastern cliffs of Cowap Peak, where the views begin to open up.
You’ll now follow a rising traverse below this eastern face as you work towards the NE ridge of Cowap, at which point you’ll switch back and begin working up this ridge. The gradient steepens a little here, but the views really start to come out now, particularly of the Cheam range on the Canadian side of the border.
Most of the ridge is a wide, simple hike, but as you near the end you’ll have to cross over a narrow, slightly exposed cliffy section. It’s only a couple of steps before you’re on the other side, so most people manage okay. You can actually drop off the ridge crest to the northern side to avoid the worst of it, then climb back up.
Soon enough you’ll be on the summit, which is partly forested. The views aren’t bad, with Mount Baker, the Cheam range, Mount McGuire and plenty others on show. After resting up. You descend back the way you came.
If you plan to add on Excelsior (as the GPX linked does) you would head back to the Damfino Lakes / Canyon Ridge junction, then continue along the Damfino Lakes trail, pass the lakes (meh) and head over to Excelsior. There is nothing technical about this, it’s just hiking along a well established trail. Having already hiked Excelsior via the High Divide trail, adding this on was merely a way to get a few more views and make this fairly long drive out more worthwhile.
When should I hike Cowap Peak?
Cowap Peak is not something you would really want to dedicate a beautiful bluebird summer day to as the views are just okay and the hike itself is so short. I liked doing this at the end of the season in October when my ambition was low after a full summer of hiking. The falls colours here are always amazing, but unfortunately I was a little late to the show going in mid-October. A few weeks earlier would have been prime time for this. Overall though, anytime between July and October works well. Mid to late June might be fine too, but any snow along the ridge might cause issues where it narrows.
Top Tip
If you haven’t done Excelsior Peak I would definitely suggest adding it on. Excelsior is far easier from this side than the High Divide trail from Mount Baker Highway anyway, so combining these two together from the Damfino Lakes trailhead actually makes for a nice outing that isn’t too challenging.
