Hiking Mount Cheam in the Fraser Valley
Contents
Mount Cheam Hike Information
Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 8.40Km
Elevation Gain: 670m
Highest Elevation: 2,112m
Average Gradient: 15.95%
Effort/Reward Ratio: Moderate / Very High
Time Needed:
– Slow: 4.5 – 5.5 Hours
– Moderate: 3.5 – 4.5 Hours
– Fast: 2.5 – 3.5 Hours
Dogs Permitted?: Yes
Season: ~July – Mid-October
4×4 / High Clearance Required? Yes
Scrambling / Exposure: None
Mount Cheam Trail
Trailhead Coordinates: 49°10’06.4″N 121°41’33.0″W
Mount Cheam Overview
Mount Cheam, also known as Cheam Peak, is an iconic mountain in Chilliwack, visible from as far away as Vancouver Island on a clear day. It is the northernmost peak in the Cheam Range, dominating the skyline in large parts of the Fraser Valley. With its pyramidal and imposing summit, Mount Cheam is typically very high on the list of “must-dos” for hiking enthusiasts, and for good reason.
Unfortunately the biggest challenge with this hike is simply accessing the trail. Getting to the trailhead requires a 4×4 with high clearance as the Mount Cheam Forest Service Road is a long, very steep drive with deep cross ditches. A low clearance vehicle simply will not make it up, and even most SUV’s and AWD’s likely won’t make it.
Despite the difficulty of getting to the trailhead, many do make it up and Mount Cheam is a very popular hike in the summer, mostly thanks to the extremely short season due to the elevation at the summit and the amount of snow the Cheam Range receives. Parking is fairly limited at the top and on a sunny summer weekend you can expect the sides of the FSR to be lined with vehicles, making driving all the more challenging.
A hike to Mount Cheam offers breathtaking views from the moment you leave the car (not surprising since you start at over 1,400m elevation). With lush alpine meadows and mountain range backdrops it almost feels like you are hiking in the Swiss Alps for the day. It really does feel like you are in a totally different region of the world.
Mount Cheam is predominantly a summer only hike due to the elevation of the trailhead, though some people do go in the winter and snowshoe (or ski) up the FSR. This makes for a very long and tiring outing. Cheam is a pet friendly hike.
Maintaining this website requires a significant investment of both time and money, if you find this website a useful resource, please consider making a donation using this button.
Is Mount Cheam worthwhile?
There aren’t a lot of negatives I can think of for this hike other than the difficulty of getting to the trailhead (which arguably is a positive as it keeps some of the crowds away). This is a moderately long and difficult hike with exceptionally good views, a rarity in British Columbia where you typically have to put in a lot more effort than this to reach 2,100m elevation. The views are outstanding throughout the entire hike, particularly of the photogenic Lady Peak (another fantastic hike) as well as from the summit itself.
How difficult is the hike to Mount Cheam?
This is a moderately difficult hike. The average gradient of 15.95% is somewhat steep, but when the entire hike is only 8.4km and 670m elevation it’s fairly short lived and can be completed pretty quickly if you wanted to. Most people like to take their time though, so as to soak in the views throughout the hike.
Technically speaking the hike is straightforward. The trail isn’t the most manicured but it’s easy to follow. Note that there could be snow at the higher elevations well into summer, and due to the steepness it can prove tricky at times if you don’t have microspikes, so make sure to check conditions beforehand.
Mount Cheam Route Information
Assuming you made it safely to the trailhead, you will probably already be exhilarated by the crazy drive up, as well as the amazing views you’ve already seen. They only get better from here on out.
The beginning of the Mount Cheam trail is pretty straightforward and stays fairly flat for the first 1.5km or so. You’ll work your way around a hillside where the views to the south are immediately fantastic, crossing a few streams as you go, before arriving at a small lake called Spoon Lake. This is where the climb begins and it doesn’t really stop until the summit. Don’t worry though, it’s only about 2.5km further!
When we went in Mid-July there was still a lot of snow on the trail and people had manufactured their own route at times. The trail itself was also very muddy from the melting snow so be prepared for that if going early in the season. After Spoon Lake we followed one of the trails up the snow that was more direct, but the actual trail traverses to the right before cutting back and traversing left to avoid being too steep. The gradient is steep but perfectly manageable at a steady pace.
After crossing a few more streams the views of Lady Peak will begin to open up, which for me is the best view of the entire day. Lady Peak is such a picturesque mountain in a beautiful setting, it makes for great photos throughout your entire hike.
At around the 2.5km point you may notice a trail leading off to the right. This trail heads up Lady Peak and is very steep. We actually decided to add Lady Peak to our day and combined it with Cheam, but suffice it to say it made for a very long and tiring day.
Ignoring this junction you’ll continue forward and the views from here on out are fantastic. Make sure to keep looking behind you as you climb as you’ll be blown away by the views of Lady Peak in the foreground and mountain upon mountain behind it. On a clear day you can see for miles.
Unfortunately along with the rapidly improving views you will now be working you way up the rapidly steepening trail. If you have snow on the trail like we did, be careful with your footing as you traverse several steep slopes. You’ll be following several switchbacks and I won’t lie the last kilometer of this hike is a bit of a grind. That’s not a problem though as you’ll now be very motivated to get to the top, knowing full well the views above the Fraser Valley are just as breathtaking as the views behind you.
At one point near the top there will be a large rock cropping out from the hillside that makes for an excellent photo opportunity with the massive valley and mountain backdrops . I’ll put the photo in the gallery below but it’s a bit like Pride Rock from The Lion King. This is also a great excuse for a break from the grind up.
Continuing on you’re pretty much there now. After a few more switchbacks you’ll reach the ridgeline where you can either go left where there’s a nice bench to sit and enjoy the view, or right to the summit where you can get that epic summit shot over the Fraser Valley that you’ve probably seen a few times. I suggest gunning it for the summit first, taking your summit shots, then heading back down to the bench to relax, have some food and soak in the views. The summit here can often be busy and it’s a fairly small summit area with everyone wanting the same photo spot. Please don’t camp at the summit and hog the views! Take your photos then move on so others can do the same.
We hung around on the ridgeline for a little while, resting and eating before heading back down. We had big plans of summiting Lady Peak this day as well so there wasn’t time to hang around too long.
After you’ve finished up, you simply head back the way you came. Thankfully the way back allows you to face the best views rather than having your back to them, so make sure to remember to appreciate it! I often forget that on the way down and just run back to the car.
When should I hike Mount Cheam?
As mentioned the season for Mount Cheam is quite a short one due to its elevation. We went in Mid-July and there was still a decent amount of snow on the way up, but it was perfectly manageable. I’d definitely save this for an assuredly sunny summer day so preferably go in August/September. You can feasibly go anytime from early July to Mid-October or even early November before the trail becomes too snowy, but make sure to check conditions if going towards the start/end of the season.
Top Tip
If you’re a glutton for punishment and don’t mind a seriously challenging day, combine this with Lady Peak to make it one of the best day hikes in BC. Mount Cheam in itself is a pretty simple hike for any enthusiast and you could be done in 3 hours or so. After that hellish drive up, why not make the most of it? That being said, Lady Peak is a different beast to Cheam and requires scrambling and a head for heights/exposure to reach the summit. Even if you only make it part way up Lady Peak though, it’s well worth it! I actually preferred Lady Peak over Mount Cheam.
If sticking to Mount Cheam only, my best advice is to set off early (the FSR alone takes an hour, 3 hours total from Vancouver), take good traction and this is probably a good hike for poles too as it’s pretty steep.
