Hiking Mount Mercer in the Fraser Valley
Contents
Mount Mercer Hike Information
Difficulty: Difficult
Distance: 14.50Km
Elevation Gain: 1,190m
Highest Elevation: 1,704m
Average Gradient: 16.40%
Effort/Reward Ratio: High / High
Time Needed:
– Slow: 6 – 7 Hours
– Moderate: 5 – 6 Hours
– Fast: 4 – 5 Hours
Dogs Permitted?: Yes
Season: Year-Round
4×4 / High Clearance Required? No
Scrambling / Exposure: None
Mount Mercer Trail
Trailhead Coordinates: 49°06’44.5″N 121°39’20.4″W
Mount Mercer Overview
Mount Mercer is the third and highest summit along the Elk-Thurston-Mercer ridge in the Chilliwack River Valley, yet sees far fewer visitors than Elk Mountain & Mount Thurston, likely because it’s the hardest to reach.
There are primarily two routes to reach the summit of Mount Mercer. The most popular route is to traverse all three peaks of this ridge in the summer from west to east, but this is a long approach (~23km), and given Mount Mercer is only slightly higher than Mount Thurston, most people opt not to bother.
The alternative route is to approach Mount Mercer directly from its eastern ridge, offering a significantly shorter route (~14.5km) via a steep, self-navigated and bushy approach. Due to the bushy terrain many people like to save this eastern approach for when there is snow on the ground so as to make travel smoother, however I found the bushwhacking to be overstated, it was simple and actually quite fun, and I’d say this is a good year-round option.
I should note that Mount Mercer is not a particularly well traveled summit, especially from this eastern approach, so if you prefer to travel on a well hiked trail you might want to find a group or skip this altogether. Bears are also frequent in this area and I did run into one the day I went.
The views from Mount Mercer are excellent, with beautiful views of the whole Cheam range, as well as Slesse Peak, Mount MacFarlane, Mount Baker, the Border Peaks, Williams Peak, Mount McGuire, Mount Laughington and even as far as Mount Judge Howay on a clear day.
One of the nice things about Mount Mercer is the ability to access the trail with a 2WD. The Foley Creek FSR and Chipmunk Creek FSR were in excellent shape when I went, with minimal potholes and absolutely zero cross ditches. I am quite confident most vehicles can make it to where I parked (see coordinates) to reduce the hike distance.
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Is Mount Mercer worthwhile?
Absolutely, the views on this hike are very good from the top and for much of the ridge, better than both Elk Mountain and Mount Thurston. I also really liked the fact this is a quiet hike even on a beautiful day. I did not see a single soul on a bluebird Sunday. Even the forest bushwhacking was actually quite fun and not at all frustrating like it can often be.
How difficult is the hike to Mount Mercer?
At 16.40% average gradient this isn’t an easy hike by any stretch of the imagination. The beginning of the hike goes up a steep ATV road (watch out for ATV’s!) before diving into the forest where it continues to be steep. Once out of the forest the gradient mellows for the most part, however there are a few very steep (but short) sections that will certainly challenge you. The ridge goes on for some time and just as you think you’re near the end you’ll probably be surprised to find another summit along the ridge.
Technically this hike is pretty straightforward. The most challenging part is the self-navigated bushwhacking in the forest. There is no trail of any kind to follow, but it is well flagged and if you just follow the flagging tape you should be fine. Even if you lose it, just follow your map and you’ll pick it up again somewhere along the ridge. Once out of the forest it’s mostly just a simple walk along a wide ridgeline to the summit. In snow there might be a few steep sections that will prove challenging, especially on the descent, but it should be fine if you take it slowly. Nowhere along the hike will you be exposed to any significant fall or scrambling.
Mount Mercer Route Information
The trailhead for Mount Mercer begins on the side of the road of the Chipmunk Creek FSR. The official AllTrails route starts at the bottom of this FSR, but you can drive up to approximately 580m elevation and park on the side of the road (not a lot of parking, enough for perhaps 3-5 cars), cutting off around 2.5km of the hike. Both Foley Creek FSR and Chipmunk Creek FSR were in good condition when I went, with minimal potholes and no cross ditches. I’m confident most 2WD’s can get to the trailhead and even up to the 580m parking spot.
From here you will see a wide open trail going into the forest on the other side of the road to where you will have parked. Shortly after starting the hike you’ll find yourself on the Chipmunk Creek trail, which is an active ATV track. You’ll be hiking up this ATV track for the start of this hike, so be cognizant of ATV’s and off-road bikes using it as they can move quickly and blow rocks all over the place as they struggle uphill. Stand well away to the side if they pass by, as they did when I went.
The trail starts off steep as it winds through the forest. The footing is extremely rocky and jagged, it’s impressive the ATV’s can make it up in all honesty (it’s rated an extreme ATV track). The route is simple though, you just keep following the ATV track as it climbs. I ran into a bear along this track, so I do recommend carrying bear spray on this trail.
At around the 950m mark it’s time to pay attention to your map (which you absolutely need for this hike). The trail abruptly leaves the ATV track and dives into the forest to your left. There should be some obvious flagging tape leading into the forest, so if you see it you should absolutely follow it. I missed it somehow and ended up making my own way through the forest on the ascent, but on the descent it was clearly a very well flagged trail.
You will be bushwhacking through this forest for the next 1.2km or so, and it’s again quite steep. Luckily the terrain is relatively simple, I didn’t need to bushwhack a whole lot and it’s easy to pick a safe line through. At around 1,150m elevation you should find yourself at a small cut block area where trees have been felled. If you haven’t been following the flags yet, this is where they are very easy to find and it’s where I picked up the flagged trail.
The forested ascent continues until just shy of 1,300m elevation, which is conveniently where the snow started, so I threw on the snowshoes here as well. Thankfully the gradient of the trail now eases as you break out of the treeline, and you also start to get some views to the south. You’ll work your way along the ridge for around 1km, gaining 100m or so in the process, as well as ascending one steep roll, before entering the forest again. The flagging was unfortunately now gone for me, but the direction to go is obvious, if in doubt look at your map.
You’ll be in and out of the forest a couple of times along the ridgeline, but once you reach around 1,450m elevation it should mostly just be open travel. You may see some false summits along the ridge and mistakenly think that is the end, but as is often the case it’s usually not. There will be one particularly steep roll at this point which proved challenging in the soft snow, but it was fine if you take your time.
Once you’re at the 1,600m mark the terrain is now entirely open and the views are expansive, both north and south. I actually found some of the best views were in this area, particularly to the north east looking at the Cheam range. You should also now see the actual summit, which looks quite steep from here but in reality is straightforward. I happened to stumble upon multiple grouse when I was hiking this area, which came as a surprise as I thought they stayed much lower down than this, so if you hear some peculiar deep noises, it’s probably them.
With an obvious route to take it’s now just a case of putting one foot in front of the other towards the summit. The final push is probably the steepest section of the hike, but it’s also easy to just zig zag up the hill to avoid the steep gradient, which was necessary in snowshoes that’s for sure. You’ll know you’re at the summit when you see the radio tower, and also when there’s nothing else above you…
From the summit the views are 360 degrees, with especially nice views to the south of Slesse Peak, Mount MacFarlane, Tomyhoi Peak, Mount Baker and the Border Peaks. The Cheam range and Mount Laughington to the north east will still be visible but partially blocked by trees, and to the west you should be able to see the forested Mount Thurston and even Mount Judge Howay and Robie Reed on a clear day.
After resting up at the summit and enjoying the views, you simply head back the way you came, taking care on the steep rolls, especially if it’s snowy. Back in the treeline it should be easy to follow the flagging all the way back to the ATV track and from there it’s just a simple plod back to the trailhead.
When should I hike Mount Mercer?
Many people like to hike Mount Mercer in the winter or spring when there is snow covering the bushes in the forest. I can’t argue that this is a good time for this hike, but even in May when the snowline was at 1,300m I found the bushwhacking to be simple, so I think this trail is just fine in the summer as well. If you are planning to approach Mount Mercer from Elk Mountain and Mount Thurston, it’s likely a summer only option due to its long approach.
Top Tip
You’ll want to bring an offline map for this one as there is a lot of self navigation, especially if you can’t find the flagging tape. Since a chunk of the trail is a bushwhack you may want to wear pants or gaiters to protect your legs from scratches. As noted it’s also a high activity bear area, so be prepared for possible bear encounters.
