E. C. Manning Provincial Park

Whatcom Trail

Rating: difficult hiking trail (no horses allowed)

Length: 13 km one way

Elevation Change: 1081 m

Time: six or seven hours

Definitions: Wilderness camp - unless otherwise noted includes toilet, fire ring and water; no horses allowed.

Whatcom Trail established 1858.

The trail commences at the Cascade Recreation Area parking lot (elevation 769 m) located 12 km east of the marmot carving at the west entrance to the park and ends at Snass View wilderness camp. The Cascade Recreation Area parking lot consists of a 20 vehicle parking area, 2 pit toilets and 3 hitching rails. With the exception of the first 200 m this trail is in the Cascade Recreation Area, adjacent to Manning Park. 

From the parking lot one follows the Dewdney Trail, on the west side of Snass Creek in a northerly direction. At the 2.5 km mark the Whatcom Trail veers off to the north-east and gains 800 metres of elevation in 6.5 km. 

The Divide, also known as Punch Bowl Pass, is the junction of the Tulameen River and Snass Creek and is the height of land at the 1850 m elevation level. A further 300 metres brings you to Punch Bowl at the 1650 m elevation. From Punch Bowl the trail continues downhill for 3 km to the west end of Paradise Valley where Snass View wilderness camp is located at the 2450 m elevation. Approximately 1 km before Snass View wilderness camp you leave Manning Park and enter the Cascade Recreation Area. 

At Snass View camp the trail joins the Dewdney Trail and one can either return the same way they came or via the Dewdney Trail or, you can continue on to Dick's Cabin by way of the Dewdney Trail. 

Snass View camp to the Cascade Recreation Parking lot via the Dewdney Trail is 12.6 km and Snass View camp to Dick's Cabin is 20 km.

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