Hiking Taggart Peak in Abbotsford
Contents
Taggart Peak Hike Information
Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 10.90Km
Elevation Gain: 850m
Highest Elevation: 796m
Average Gradient: 15.60%
Effort/Reward Ratio: Moderate / Low
Time Needed:
– Slow: 4 – 6 Hours
– Moderate: 3 – 4 Hours
– Fast: 2.50 – 3 Hours
Dogs Permitted?: Yes
Season: Year-Round (Summer Preferred)
4×4 / High Clearance Required? No
Scrambling / Exposure: None
Taggart Peak Trail
Trailhead Coordinates: 49°04’49.5″N 122°09’37.0″W
Taggart Peak Overview
Taggart Peak is a summit located in Sumas Mountain Regional Park, Abbotsford, that is much less popular than the nearby Sumas Mountain and Abby Grind. At 796m, it’s around 100m lower than Sumas Mountain and offers far inferior views since the peak is mostly forested or blocked by communication towers. Due to this, Taggart Peak does not see that many visitors other than those simply looking for a workout.
While there are a few ways to summit Taggart Peak, the easiest and most popular route follows the Glen Ryder Trail, hiking up the Abby Grind and continuing beyond. From the Abby Grind viewpoint Taggart Peak is 3.5km (one way) away, so hikers can add on around 2 hours to their Abby Grind time to also complete Taggart Peak. The whole hike is in the cover of forest, some of which is quite scenic.
Taggart Peak is high enough that it will usually see a fair amount of snow in the depths of winter, so unless you’re prepared with the necessary winter gear it’s likely best saved for spring, summer or fall. It’s probably also wise to avoid going during or recently following rainy periods, as the Abby Grind section of the hike is steep and muddy in these conditions, making for a slippery trial/
Given the significant network of hiking and biking trails in Sumas Mountain Regional Park, technically it would be possible to string together the Abby Grind, Taggart Peak and Sumas Mountain into one long hike should you desire (~17km, 1,000m gain), though navigation would be necessary as the trails are not well marked.
Taggart Peak is pet friendly.
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Is Taggart Peak worthwhile?
Most visitors to Taggart Peak are probably hikers who are completing the Abby Grind and looking to go further (given the grind can be completed in an hour for fit parties). The views from Taggart Peak are largely obstructed by trees, though you will have some peek-a-boo views of Mount Robie Reid, the Golden Ears range, Sumas Mountain, Mount Baker and a few other peaks in the Fraser Valley.
With that said, if you are only looking for views there is not much point hiking Taggart Peak, with the nearby Sumas Mountain much nicer. If you’re looking for a workout or to extend your Abby Grind hike, Taggart Peak is a fine option.
How difficult is the hike to Taggart Peak?
The overall stats for this hike are mostly moderate, though the Abby Grind portion is certainly steep, rising around 440m in just 1.75km (25% gradient). Beyond the Abby Grind viewpoint the remainder of the trail is much more modest, rising gradually with plenty of flat stretches thrown in.
The hike is technically straightforward. Up to the Abby Grind viewpoint is very simple, albeit steep. The initial trail beyond the viewpoint is narrow and fairly overgrown, but it improves as you progress further. There will likely be some deadfall to contend with, either by climbing over or under. Navigation may be somewhat of an issue as trails beyond the Abby Grind viewpoint aren’t well marked. An offline map is therefore recommended.
Taggart Peak Route Information
The trailhead for Taggart Peak is the same as Abby Grind, from a gravel parking lot on Lakemount Road (see coordinates). There is plenty of parking here for lots of vehicles, and even if full you can likely park on the side of the road easily. Note that the trailhead is directly adjacent to a firing range, so don’t be alarmed if you hear gunshots in the area. Once you get going, the trail veers away from the area and you shouldn’t hear the shots after a short while.
From the parking lot, the trail into the forest is quite obvious. There are a couple of points along the trail to the Abby Grind viewpoint where hikers can choose different ways, but the trails always re-connect further up, so whatever you choose at this point doesn’t really matter.
The trail starts off a little narrow before opening up as you progress further along. In little time you will reach the first marker indicating ¼ completion, after which there’s a bit of a flat section to catch your breath on. The trail will once again begin to climb up one of the steeper stretches, but soon enough you’ll reach the halfway marker. There really will not have been any views at all so far, so it’s just a case of taking your time and moving at a consistent pace.
Shortly ahead you’ll reach the ¾ marker, after which the trail splits, giving hikers the choice of which way to go. Going right is a bit steeper and shorter, and going left is longer but less steep.
The trail will reconnect just before you reach a signpost indicating a viewpoint to your right, with the trail to Taggart Peak to your left. Assuming you go to the viewpoint first, go right, and just ahead you will reach the viewpoint and the end of the Abby Grind trail. You’ll find yourself on a rocky bluff overlooking Abbotsford and the surrounding area.
To continue on to Taggart Peak there is actually a connecting trail leading directly from the bluff, you don’t need to go back to the earlier junction. It’s a little faint but you should find it on the opposite side of the bluff from where you arrived. In no time this trail will reconnect with the Taggart Peak trail.
The initial Taggart Peak trail is very narrow and perhaps a little overgrown, though it does improve as you progress along the trail. Over the next 2km you will meander along the ridge, remaining in the forest the entire time, while climbing another 150m or so. At this point you will find yourself on an old logging road, where you’ll want to turn left and follow the road until you reach a junction.
Keeping right at the junction you’ll continue on the trail, where shortly ahead it will split again. Both of the trails here will reach the summit, but the left (Salty Nozzle) trail is a mountain bike trail, so try and keep right on the hikers Taggart Peak trail.
The last kilometer will climb another 150m, after which you will find yourself at the base of a communication tower. This isn’t quite the summit yet, you’ll want to go around this tower, where on the other side you’ll see a second communication tower. This is the summit.
The views will be fairly underwhelming, but you will get some slight views of Mount Robie Reid, Golden Ears Peak and Sumas Mountain, as well as partial views of the Fraser Valley below. If you wriggle your way around to the other side of the communication tower you’ll also see Mount Baker.
After a break at the summit you simply return to the trailhead the same way you came, rejoining the far busier Abby Grind trail, where it may be easier to jog down due to the steep gradient.
When should I hike Taggart Peak?
I would probably avoid doing this hike in the depths of winter as snow on the trail will make navigation very difficult and travel will generally be unpleasant. Rain days likely aren’t ideal just because of the Abby Grind, which will be a slippery, muddy mess. Other than that, anytime of year will usually be fine.
Top Tip
A real adventure would be ascending Abby Grind, going over Taggart Peak, continuing on to Sumas Mountain and descending via Chadsey Lake to Sumas Mountain Road. This would require two vehicles, but it would be an interesting trip through all of the major sites in Sumas Mountain Regional Park.
