Hiking Wells Peak near Hope
Contents
Wells Peak Hike Information
Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 6.30Km
Elevation Gain: 700m
Highest Elevation: 1,863m
Average Gradient: 22.22%
Effort/Reward Ratio: Moderate / High
Time Needed:
– Slow: 4 – 5 Hours
– Moderate: 3 – 4 Hours
– Fast: 2.50 – 3 Hours
Dogs Permitted?: Yes
Season: Summer
4×4 / High Clearance Required? No
Scrambling / Exposure: One short, steep, unexposed section where you’ll use some bushes/branches to climb up a slippery slope.
Wells Peak Trail
Trailhead Coordinates: 49°19’42.4″N 121°22’57.1″W
Wells Peak Overview
Wells Peak is a lesser known summit south of the town of Hope and is accessible from the same trailhead as Hope Mountain off of Hope Mountain Forest Service Road at 1,150m elevation. While not that commonly hiked, there is a reasonably well maintained and marked trail, though at times it can be somewhat overgrown lower down and you may need some self-navigation through the meadows below the summit block.
The status of the Hope Mountain FSR varies depending on logging operations in the area. In the past this logging road has been in poor shape, requiring high clearance 4×4 to access. Recently (2022) the FSR has been graded due to active logging, with the road drivable in an SUV with reasonable clearance. The final 500m to the trailhead passes several cross ditches of varying depths that may stop some vehicles, in which case you’d need to park before this last stretch and hike it. It would be prudent to have recent information on whether this FSR is in drivable condition before heading out on this hike.
Due to the elevation of the trailhead, Wells Peaks is primarily a summer hike. Snow would make driving to the trailhead impossible in winter and the hike would be a long and steep one from lower down.
Wells Peak is often combined with a hike up Hope Mountain, which starts from the same trailhead. While a much bigger day of around 16km / 1,550m, combining the two peaks makes for an efficient and productive outing and is advised for parties looking for a longer trip.
Wells Peak is both pet friendly and camping accessible, with a broad ridge that would make for a great spot for a night. That being said, water sources are difficult if not impossible to come by once all the snow has melted, usually by mid-summer.
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Is Wells Peak worthwhile?
The effort to reward on Wells Peak is pretty high thanks to being able to park at 1,150m. You can be on the summit in an hour and half, and back at the car in two and half hours at a decent pace. If you’re looking for something quick and rewarding you can’t go wrong here. If you want something more challenging then add Hope Mountain as well for a fuller outing.
How difficult is the hike to Wells Peak?
With an average gradient of around 22% Wells Peak is certainly steep, however the hike is quite short and most people will likely find it a moderately difficult outing. Once you’re in the meadows you’re likely going to stop and enjoy the wildflowers and the views, offering plenty of opportunity to slow down and rest.
Technically the hike is very straightforward with an easy to navigate trail to the meadows. Once in the meadows there is still a trail but it is easy to lose, so a map would be worthwhile in case you end up self navigating. There is one section on the ridge where hikers will need to climb up a steep slope with loose dirt underfoot. You’ll likely need to utilize the nearby bushes and foliage to pull yourself up and prevent slipping. Coming back down this section will likely require you to scooch down on your butt. It isn’t exposed though and is only short.
Wells Peak Route Information
The trailhead for both Wells Peak & Hope Mountain is about 8km up the Hope Mountain Forest Service Road. As noted the status of this FSR varies depending on the logging operations in the area. In recent times the FSR has been driveable in an SUV with reasonable clearance, but historically this road has required 4×4 high clearance. It would be good to understand the status of the road before you head out, especially if this is a long drive for you. When I went the FSR was drivable for an SUV at least to within 500m of the trailhead. The final 500m crosses several cross ditches which may or may not stop you. If it does you can just park before them and hike this stretch.
From the trailhead you will see signage for both Wells Peak and Hope Mountain. Following the correct signage the trail immediately narrows in some dense foliage which may or may not be overgrown. This trail is maintained but the brush grows quickly and can often impede on the trail. Either way, even if it is overgrown it won’t be that detrimental and shouldn’t have much of an impact on your pacing, but you might want to wear long pants if you’re concerned with this.
The trail climbs at a moderate gradient, passing a few small creeks on the way, before switching back on itself. After a little less than a kilometer of hiking you’ll leave the narrow, bushy trail and enter the forest. Here the trail is faint but still easy to follow, with any overgrowth now a thing of the past. Instead, the trail zigzags steeply up through the forest at a consistent but not overly onerous gradient. You’ll rapidly climb over 150m over a span of around 50m, and in no time you’ll be out of the dense forest and find yourself in some meadows.
At around 1,500m elevation the trail mellows out for a few hundred meters as you saunter through some meadow in sparse forest. Gradually the forest thins out, and at around 1,600m you’ll be completely out of the forest and into an open alpine meadow with a creek running down. In the early summer the trail here can be quite boggy, at times with a creek flowing directly over the trail. You’ll now have a clear view of Wells Peak up ahead, with its steep northeast face looking imposing. Continuing to climb there should still be an obvious and usually marked trail up through the meadows to around 1,700m. Here the trail begins to traverse across the face of Wells Peak, heading southeast to gain the ridge leading up to the summit.
The trail now gives way to a combination of boulders and heather, and you very well might lose any semblance of a trail to follow. This is where a map may be handy, but even so as long as you keep working your way across the boulders to the southeast ridge you’ll no doubt pick up the trail once you reach the ridge.
Once reaching the ridge you will no doubt locate the trail, which is easy to spot and well marked. It’ll now climb up through some bushes, with one steep, loose dirt section that you’ll want to take care on. Here you’ll likely need to use nearby branches and bushes to pull yourself up. There isn’t really any exposure but it is steep. Thankfully it’s only a brief climb and soon enough it mellows out again to a walking trail, and in no time you’ll gain the ridge proper.
The views now will be great, and you’ll note you can either go north or south along this ridge following a well traveled trail. North goes to the true summit of Wells Peak, which is now only a couple of hundred meters of simple hiking away. Once on the summit the views will be panoramic, with Hope Mountain looking mighty impressive from this angle. Other impressive peaks on display will be Silver Peak and Mount Grant, with Mount baker and the Cheam range visible in the distance, as well as numerous Coquihalla summits.
You’ll note another summit further ahead, which is the second summit of Wells Peak, with a summit cairn on it. This is not the true summit and there is no need to drop down and go over there if you don’t want to, though some people choose to.
After resting up and having some food/drink, you might want to head over to the viewpoint on the other end of the ridge towards Mount Grant. It’s a nominal effort to go over there on the descent and offers a decent view of Mount Grant and other peaks nearby. Otherwise you can simply return back down the steep, slippery section (again taking care and utilizing branches to assist), before heading back to the trailhead the same way you came.
When should I hike Wells Peak?
As noted, Wells Peak is predominantly a summer only hike. The trailhead at 1,150m will only be accessible once the snowline has receded this far and the steepness of the trail will be challenging in snow. With that said the season for Hope Mountain is primarily July to October, with potentially the end of June and early November an option also, depending on the year’s weather.
Top Tip
I’d definitely suggest combining Hope Mountain with Wells Peak to make for a longer outing. This will likely take 6 -9 hours depending on your speed.
Bugs can sometimes be rough in the early summer so bug spray is recommended.
Camping on the ridge is likely possible, with plenty of flat spots. Access to water, however, could be an issue in late summer. In early summer there will likely be snow around that could be used as a water source, as well as a creek running through the meadows.
Recent beta on the condition of the FSR would be worthwhile before heading out.
