Vancouver Island Alpine Guide Kings Peak - 2065m/6774'

FA: W.R.Kent, W.W.Urquhart; 1912

Kings Peak rises dramatically up from Highway 28 as it follow the Elk River on its way to Gold River.

Standard Route

Need new road and trail description, this is 13 years old and wrong! From the Elk River Trail parking lot drive east a long the logging road ???km. At this left curve a large log can be found that spans the Elk River. Cross the log and thrash through the bush to the over grown roads. Head east along these old roads taking the branch up to the right. This becomes badly over grown but leads up onto the power line. Hike east along the power line up onto the first ridge, and continue a further 50m or so east. Then south into the forest attempting to pick up a poorly flagged route. Initially this is hard to find but by ascending slightly to the left it can be found. The route climbs steeply up and over a few small bluffs but does not involve any serious climbing. When steep cliffs bar the way it traverse to the left and into a small hanging valley with a creek. At the back of the hanging valley meadows are reached and the creek forks. Take the left fork and work your way high up the gravel slopes to the left of the creek. This leads to a good campsite on a flat meadow just bellow the snow gully that leads to the glacier.

Early in the year it is possible to ascend the snow gully on the left side of the meadow directly to the glacier. Later this becomes impassible and it is necessary to scramble up the cliffs on the right. The glacier is easily ascended but is longer than it looks. This leads up to a col just west of the summit. An easy scramble leads to a large flat summit that is adorned by a Helipad and the obligatory BC phallus.