Hiking Borden Peak near Chilliwack
Contents
Borden Peak Hike Information
Difficulty: Difficult
Distance: 15.65Km
Elevation Gain: 1,035m
Highest Elevation: 1,680m
Average Gradient: 13.23%
Effort/Reward Ratio: High / Moderate
Time Needed:
– Slow: 7 – 8 Hours
– Moderate: 6 – 7 Hours
– Fast: 5 – 6 Hours
Dogs Permitted?: Yes
Season: Year-Round (Winter Preferred)
4×4 / High Clearance Required? Yes
Scrambling / Exposure: Some steep bushwhacking but no exposure
Borden Peak Trail
Note: The below coordinates lead to the beginning of New Borden FSR. You will need to switch to another map to navigate up the FSR itself.
Trailhead Coordinates: 49°04’34.2″N 121°43’19.3″W
Disclaimer: Winter hiking (snowshoeing) involves significantly more risk than summer hiking. Hikers should be prepared with appropriate education, training and equipment for all possibilities, including but not limited to avalanches. A mistake such as going off trail, getting lost or injured can be far more dangerous in winter than summer. You are responsible for your own safety, and while I am happy to give my opinion on this website as to the avalanche risk of a specific hike, do not take this as fact and please do your own research. Everybody has different risk tolerances and mine might be different to yours.
Borden Peak Overview
Borden Peak is an unofficial name of a partially forested summit situated between Mount McGuire and Slesse Mountain near Chilliwack. Presumably named after the nearby Borden Creek, this peak offers some nice views of most of the nearby iconic summits.
While there is no official trail to Borden Peak, there a few old logging roads that pass nearby, offering a couple of different options for summiting this peak. The general approach will begin from the New Borden FSR, ideally with hikers parking at around 800m elevation before continuing on foot. New Borden FSR is a rugged and deteriorating FSR that likely requires a higher clearance vehicle to get up.
The majority of the hike follows old, disused logging roads before self-guiding your own way to the summit which, depending on the route you take and the time of year, may or may not be simple. The route described here follows old roads to the NNE of the summit, before departing the trail and bushwhacking steeply up to the northern ridge, which you then follow to the summit. This is easier with a deep snowpack to cover the brush and alder, and also to reduce bushwhacking.
The alternative route is to follow the Outsetter’s Ridge Trail to the south of the summit and bushwhack your way to the summit from the southern ridge. Both routes initially start on the same trail, splitting only once hikers reach 1,250m elevation. The Outsetter’s Ridge route might be easier as the trail goes higher and much closer to the summit than the route described here, however at the time of hiking impassable alders had reclaimed the Outsetter’s Ridge trail at the 1,250m junction and the alternative route was the only option.
This hike is feasible year-round, though it’s much preferred to hike in spring when a deep snowpack will cover any alder and underbrush to allow a smooth ascent, as well as offering the ability to park at the 800m starting point. Summer will be fine too but will likely mean more involved bushwhacking without any snow to cover it. Winter works but your ability to park at 800m will likely be diminished by a lower snowline, meaning you will have to park lower and hike further and higher than other times of year.
If hiking in consolidated snow/ice and following the route described here it is advised to carry an ice axe and crampons as some slopes are steep enough to warrant needing them, and as always avalanche preparedness is a must.
Borden Peak is dog friendly.
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Is Borden Peak worthwhile?
Borden Peak is an involved hike that will likely only be attempted by adventurous parties looking for an obscure summit that is rarely trafficked. For the average hiker there are likely far less involved and more rewarding hikes than Borden Peak, but for any parties that don’t mind a bit of an adventure the views at the top are actually very nice, with excellent views of Slesse Mountain, the Border Peaks, Tomyhoi Peak, Mount Baker, Mount McGuire and the entire Cheam range.
How difficult is the hike to Borden Peak?
Physically speaking this is a relatively difficult hike, albeit perhaps on the lower end. Most of the elevation gain is along old logging roads, which are always a steady, but never exceedingly steep climb. The climb up to the northern ridge is steep but fairly short, then there’s another steep climb up to the summit, again fairly short though.
Technically this hike is a mixed bag. While the old logging roads are straightforward they can also be alder-ridden depending on the time of year you hike. Spring is best to avoid this as snow will cover the worst of it, but summer and fall can be variable. Gaining the northern ridge involves a steep bushwhack, with self navigation around some bluffs and dense forest. There is no trail nor markers, you’re on your own. While this GPX is a general route guide, by no means is it the most efficient route. The Outsetter’s Ridge route might be preferred if the alder on the logging road is manageable.
Borden Peak Route Information
This hike begins where the New Borden FSR meets the old Borden FSR, at around 790m elevation (see GPX). This FSR is accessed from Chilliwack Lake Road and likely requires a high clearance vehicle thanks to a few aggressive cross ditches. Some SUV’s with higher clearance might make it up as well with some careful driving, otherwise you may need to begin lower down on the FSR. There is no “official” parking here, you simply need to find room on the side of the FSR to fit your vehicle, which shouldn’t be too challenging as there are several pull outs along the way.
The hike begins at a crossroads where you’ll want to head east along the old Borden FSR, descending slightly as you go. You could actually still drive this part if desired, but once you reach the creek that’s ultimately where the road ends. You’ll now have to cross this creek, which may or may not be difficult depending on the time of year. In early summer you very well may get wet feet, otherwise you’ll just need to hop over rocks to the other side. On the other side you’ll momentarily continue to follow the old Borden FSR before turning right onto an unnamed logging road.
This is where the climb now begins as you follow this logging road up as it gradually ascends. After following this trail for around 2km, or around the 1,000m elevation mark, keep an eye out for another old logging road on your left, it’s easy to miss and continue along the trail you’re on, which ultimately goes nowhere.
Following this new FSR you’ll continue along the trail for another ~2km, gaining another 250m or so. Just as you near the 1,250m elevation mark you’ll reach another junction where the Outsetter’s Ridge Trail will be on your left, leading you towards the southern ridge of Borden Peak, whereas continuing straight on the current FSR will bring you towards the northern ridge. When I hiked this the Outsetter’s Ridge trail had been reclaimed by alder and seemed impassable, so I continued on the current FSR to the northern ridge, which wasn’t the initial plan and isn’t the preferred approach, but it worked out in the end.
The next stretch of FSR is mostly flat, but the alders begin to encroach more and more as you progress. After 700m or so you’ll reach another junction where you’ll want to keep left, climbing again as the alders worsen. You’ll follow this FSR almost to the very end, at which point you need to decide where to leave the FSR and bushwhack up to the northern ridge. The GPX provided is a reasonable guide for where to depart the FSR, but you’ll very likely just find your own route up.
Ascending to the ridge is around 100 vertical meters of steep bushwhacking, which would be made easier with a healthy snowpack. There are some bluffs and dense forest to navigate around but for the most part it’s short.
Once on the ridge you’ll find a combination of open slopes and light forest. You can simply now follow the ridge up, choosing whether to stay in the cover of the forest or explore the open slopes. Some sections are steep but for the most part travel is straightforward.
Soon you will be on the summit, which is still partially forested, but there are plenty of worthwhile views to be had. To the south will be the Border Peaks, Tomyhoi Peak and Mount Baker. West will be Mount McGuire, east will be Slesse Mountain and north will be the full Cheam range, plus Williams Peak.
After resting up you simply return the same way you came.
When should I hike Borden Peak?
Borden peak is a feasible hike at any time of year, though conditions will be quite different in each season. Spring will likely be the preferred choice, allowing you to park at the trailhead yet still benefit from a deep snowpack that covers the alder and bushes towards the summit. Summer will also be fine, but any bushwhacking may be made worse by a lack of snow.
Top Tip
Be prepared with options to hike either the Outsetter Ridge trail or the route described here as you may need to change plans on the fly depending on the conditions of the trail. The Outsetter Ridge trail is likely the easier choice if it’s not alder ridden.
