Hiking Mount Webb near Chilliwack
Contents
Mount Webb Hike Information
Difficulty: Difficult
Distance: 21.00Km
Elevation Gain: 1,690m
Highest Elevation: 2,163m
Average Gradient: 16.10%
Effort/Reward Ratio: High / High
Time Needed:
– Slow: 9 – 11 Hours
– Moderate: 8 – 9 Hours
– Fast: 7 – 8 Hours
Dogs Permitted?: Yes
Season: ~July – October
4×4 / High Clearance Required? No
Scrambling / Exposure: None
Mount Webb Trail
Trailhead Coordinates: 49°05’26.1″N 121°27’13.4″W
Mount Webb Overview
Mount Webb is a peak situated in Chilliwack Lake Provincial Park and is a highly visible summit through the Chilliwack River Valley. Webb requires a demanding slog through the forest before a steep and slippery hike up its southwest ridge. While featured in Matt Gunn’s Scrambles in SWBC, there is actually very little, if any, scrambling required to reach the summit.
Fit parties will often combine Mount Webb with the nearby MacDonald Peak, which adds another 3km and 300m elevation gain to the day. MacDonald Peak is a more involved affair requiring trickier route finding and class 2 / 3 scrambling.
The hike begins from the day use parking lot of the Chilliwack Lake Campground, before beginning a long, arduous slog in the forest to Radium Lake. From here the trail continues out of the forest and up to a saddle between the two peaks. From the saddle hikers can follow an obvious trail up the southwest ridge of Mount Webb, with relatively easy and open route finding. The ridge is slippery thanks to sand covered rock, but there is no exposure, nor any real need to use hands.
Some parties may consider splitting this hike up over a couple of days, camping at Radium Lake on day 1 before summiting both peaks the next day and hiking back out.
Due to the massive stats and complex terrain of this hike, Mount Webb is typically only summited in the summer months, usually between mid-June to mid-October. In the early summer you might still have snow to contend with.
Dogs are permitted in the area, though the long slog may prove challenging for many. Dogs will be fine getting up Webb, but MacDonald will prove somewhat trickier due to the scrambling.
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Is Mount Webb worthwhile?
Mount Webb is a physically demanding hike with big stats. Most of the hike is a fairly boring slog through the forest, but once you eventually reach the saddle between the two peaks the views really open up. The climb up Webb is simpler than MacDonald, so this will likely appeal to a wider audience, but while the views from Webb are very nice, they aren’t as good as those from MacDonald Peak.
How difficult is the hike to Mount Webb?
Obviously the stats for this one are fairly substantial, particularly if you add on MacDonald Peak. That being said, much of the elevation gain is easy and efficient, climbing quickly through the forest. Unfortunately the hike begins and ends with ~3km of almost flat trail, which is nothing but an annoyance. This also means the average gradient is over 20% in reality.
Technically speaking Mount Webb is much easier than MacDonald Peak, with simple route finding and far less technical terrain. At no point should you really need to use your hands, though hiking poles will be useful on the slick, sandy footing. If you add on MacDonald Peak you’ll have to contend with more complicated route finding and class 2 / 3 scrambling.
Mount Webb Route Information
Hikers will want to park at the day use area of Chilliwack Lake Campground before hiking through the campground and joining up with the Trans Canada Trail. Campgrounds can be confusing to navigate, so a map here may prove useful.
Once you’ve joined the Trans Canada Trail you will follow it as it descends down and crosses a bridge over the western outlet of Chilliwack Lake. On the other side of the bridge the Trans Canada Trail will run parallel to the Chilliwack River for around 1.5km, descending slightly in the process to a low point of 590m. Make the most of it as it’s all uphill from here.
You’ll soon begin a series of switchbacks as you climb in the forest, and shortly ahead you’ll reach a junction where you depart from the Trans Canada Trail and begin following the Radium Lake Trail. These should be well signposted at this stage. Once you’re on the Radium Lake trail it’s merely a case of following it, as there are no decision points until you reach the saddle between the peaks.
After following the trail for another kilometer you’ll cross an interesting suspension bridge over Radium Creek before continuing to climb on the other side. Another kilometer ahead you’ll cross back over Radium Creek, this time on a steel bridge. At around 1,100m, after crossing back over the creek once again, the trail will pass through a couple of stretches of dense foliage that can often be overgrown.
Eventually you will reach Radium Lake, around 10km into the hike, at the 1,500m mark. This is a nice place to stop and enjoy the first view of the day, though the lake is nowhere near as nice as many other lakes in the Chilliwack Valley. There are a couple of tent pads here, as well as a basic pit toilet.
The “officially” maintained trail ceases at the lake, but the quality of trail remains exactly the same thereafter nonetheless. You’ll now begin following the Saddle trail, and after 200m more of climbing you’ll finally break out of the treeline and get your first visuals on MacDonald Peak. You won’t see Mount Webb until you’ve climbed a little higher. The Saddle trail continues to ascend, eventually reaching a boulder section, before following a dusty route up to the saddle between the peaks. The views from the saddle are excellent, with sweeping views to the east of Chilliwack Lake and countless peaks behind. This is another good place for a rest before continuing on.
From here you’ll want to turn to your left and begin following the trail towards Mount Webb. The route up Mount Webb should be fairly obvious even once you have transitioned onto rock. The route will pass over some slippery sand covered rock sections, and it’ll be fairly steep at times, but at no point will you need to scramble, nor is it exposed. Taking care with your footing it’s merely a case of plodding up. It should only take around 30 minutes from the saddle to reach the summit.
The summit of Mount Webb is quite broad, so you’ll need to walk around a little to get all the views. From the south western end of the summit there will be exceptionally good views of MacDonald Peak, Mount Lindeman, Mount Rexford, Mount Baker, Slesse Mountain and more. To the north will be Williams Peak and the Cheam range, while out east you’ll be able to see the entire Chilliwack Lake, with Mount Meroniuk, Paleface Mountain, Thompson Peak and countless more on the horizon.
After a break at the summit you hike back down the way you came, taking care with your footing not to slip. Once you’re back at the saddle you can either return to the trailhead the same way you came, or optionally add on MacDonald Peak. It’s around an hour to the top of MacDonald Peak, or 1.50 – 2 hours return depending on how long you rest at the summit for. It’s a more demanding addition requiring route finding and class 2 / 3 scrambling.
When should I hike Mount Webb?
Most people will want to do this hike in peak summer without any snow, which usually means July to October. A few weeks either side might be fine as well depending on the season, but try to confirm the snow conditions during these periods.
Top Tip
You’ll want to start this hike early in the day, especially if you are adding MacDonald Peak. Poles will be useful with balance on the slippery hike up to the summit.
