Hiking Bedpost & Spiral Peak near the Coquihalla Summit Recreation Area
Contents
Bedpost & Spiral Peak Hike Information
Difficulty: Difficult
Distance: 21.60Km
Elevation Gain: 1,285m
Highest Elevation: 1,899m
Average Gradient: 11.90%
Effort/Reward Ratio: High / High
Time Needed:
– Slow: 8 – 10 Hours
– Moderate: 7 – 8 Hours
– Fast: 6 – 7 Hours
Dogs Permitted?: Yes
Season: ~June to October
4×4 / High Clearance Required? No
Scrambling / Exposure: Some easy, low exposure Class 2 on Spiral Peak
Bedpost & Spiral Peak Trail
Trailhead Coordinates: 49°34’37.4″N 120°58’21.4″W
Bedpost & Spiral Peak Overview
Bedpost (Sootheran) and Spiral Peak are a duo of peaks located near Coquihalla Pass, accessible from the well graded Tulameen FSR. These peaks can be summited in a couple of ways, with some parties ascending via a loop including Illal Mountain (this comes with issues in terms of getting back the trailhead from the top of Bedpost), but having previously climbed Illal I was looking for a more direct route, and this route via the 10K Snowmobile Trail fit the bill.
Bedpost Peak is a simple hike following this snowmobile trail most of the way to the summit, however adding on Spiral Peak involves a 300m descent to a low point between the two peaks, before a loose, Class 2 talus scramble to the top. Unfortunately you do have to reclimb Bedpost Peak on the way out, or you could feasibly bypass it using the Gardner trail, but this adds significant distance in the process. Some people may prefer to just hike up Bedpost and then return, as adding Spiral is where the complexities of this hike begin. Bedpost alone would only be around 13km and 700m gain.
From a peakbaggers perspective it is likely easiest to combine Coquihalla Mountain, Jim Kelly and Illal Mountain into one trip, then save Spiral and Bedpost Peak for another. Doing all 5 peaks in one go would be a monumental, but not entirely impossible task.
The 10K Snowmobile Trail may be driveable for a portion in a high clearance 4×4. The road is rough but drivable for several kilometers, so you could potentially shave off up to 5km round trip. Tulameen River FSR is not a plowed road, which means this hike is only accessible once the snow has thawed, but it is a well graded gravel road suitable for all vehicles. Most people will not hike Bedpost and Spiral Peak until the summer months, usually between mid-June and October.
In terms of camping in the area there are a few tarns between Bedpost and Spiral that might be fine to drink from in the early summer with snow still around, but will grow ever undrinkable as the summer progresses.
Dogs are allowed in the region and most should be fine to get up both peaks.
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Is Bedpost & Spiral Peak worthwhile?
These two summits are more peakbagger peaks than others in the region. If it’s your first foray in the area you should definitely consider Jim Kelly & Illal Peak or Coquihalla Mountain first, but if you’ve already done those and are looking to get back into what is a beautiful area, Bedpost and Spiral Peak are a nice outing with worthwhile views. The 10K Snowmobile Trail certainly isn’t the most scenic one, but it’s efficient and brings you right up into the alpine with ease. If you’re able to drive a portion of it, even better.
How difficult is the hike to Bedpost & Spiral Peak?
With an average gradient of 11.90% this isn’t the steepest of hikes. The whole hike up to Bedpost is straightforward and follows what is essentially a rough road. Some parties may want to stop at Bedpost and return, as Spiral is where the complexities begin. The 300m descent off Bedpost is steep with a sparse trail. Then the hike up Spiral isn’t the most pleasant, on loose talus with some Class 2 scrambling. You then have to reclimb Bedpost on the way back.
Technically speaking there isn’t too much to it other than some routefinding and the Class 2 scramble on Spiral Peak.
Bedpost & Spiral Peak Route Information
This trailhead for Bedpost and Spiral Peak is from a large parking area 10km down Tulameen FSR. This is the parking area for snowmobilers in the winter using the 10KM Snowmobile Trail. Most people will park here, but if you have a HC 4×4 you can potentially drive a good chunk of the trail.
The first 500m or so of the road is very rough, with a massive washout on one side but space on the other side to fit a vehicle in. After 500m you’ll hike/drive over a creek crossing where the nearby cliffs are crumbling away, after which the road begins to improve. Gaining elevation gradually, you’ll continue climbing to around 1.8km where you’ll reach a junction with another spur and a sign indicating the way to the 10K Snowmobile hut. Ignoring this spur, continue hiking/driving along the trail.
At around 1,520m the climb begins to ease off as the road approaches Sootheran Creek. The route can get very muddy here, as runoff pools along the road. Hiking through it can be a bit messy, and driving through it could prove impossible for most vehicles. An ATV/Dirt bike might be able to weave through, but any large vehicle will likely struggle. It might be better in late summer once the snow has fully thawed.
The next 1.5km or so runs parallel to the creek, with several stretches of muddy spots along the way. At around 1,690m you’ll begin to climb away from the creek, with the mud and dirt giving way to more pleasant footing. At 1,800m you’ll reach the 10K Cabin, which is a nice place for a break, although it’s not actually far to the summit from here. There is still a road to follow even at this elevation, to continue to follow it as it twists and turns around a few bumps on the way to the summit itself. The road ceases just before Bedpost Peak, but navigation at this point is in the open alpine. In short order you’ll be on the summit, with very nice views of the Coquihalla Mountain massif, as well as Needle Peak, Yak Peak and all the other surrounding mountains on the Coquihalla.
You’ll see Spiral Peak in front of Coquihalla Mountain, and it will likely look quite far away from here. You might want to refer to your GPX now to follow the steep descent off the summit. The uptrack on the return journey is actually a better one to follow that stuck to the trail much more closely than the downtrack. If you go the right way the descent should be steep but mostly open travel. Much of it should follow a faint trail, but at times the trail vanishes.
At the low point (1,630m) you should be able to connect to the Gardner Trail, which is a lot easier to follow. This now begins to turn towards Illal Meadows, passing a small lake on the way. You should begin to see Spiral Peak and the smaller bump to its west. You’ll soon depart from the trail and climb towards this smaller bump. You can actually bypass the bump by making a climbing traverse towards the col between Spiral Peak and the bump, though this may involve some snow travel or scree.
Once you gain the col it’s merely a case of working your way towards Spiral Peak. There isn’t much of a set route here, but once the terrain turns to loose talus you may be able to make out a faint route up. Either way, it’s easy navigation, but tedious and slow going. The climb starts off as just hiking, but towards the top you’ll likely get into some easy Class 2 terrain with little exposure. Shortly ahead you’ll reach the summit, again offering rewarding views.
To return to the trailhead you simply retrace your steps, which unfortunately involves a 300m climb back up to Bedpost Peak. There are other options, such as taking the Gardner Trail, but this adds distance. While climbing back over Bedpost isn’t ideal, it seems the preferred choice.
When should I hike Bedpost & Spiral Peak?
Due to Tulameen River FSR only being accessible once the snow has melted, all of the peaks around Illal Meadows are generally summer only objectives. Usually this means mid June to mid-October.
Top Tip
If you don’t care for peakbagging you may just want to stop at Bedpost Peak and skip Spiral as it requires a lot more effort and doesn’t really provide that much additional value.
You could also reach these summits starting from the same trailhead as Illal Mountain further along the Tulameen FSR, but this comes with other problems, such as which route to take off of Bedpost Peak to get back to the trailhead.
Bugs can be horrendous on this hike at certain times, usually earlier on in the summer. Bring plenty of bug spray, especially if you’re camping.
