Elsay Lake Trail

General Route: Branches east off regular Mount Seymour trail and drops steeply into bowl above Gopher Lake, then swings around Elsay Peak to Elsay Creek and up to lake. Huge drop.

Elsay Lake Trail Description:  

To find the beginning of the trail, hike the Mount Seymour Trail to where it starts to swing around Pump Peak. Here you will find the well signed junction with the Elsay Lake trail at 1250m. The first part of the Elsay trail traverses an incredible ledge at 1200m, then switchbacks steeply down the slopes east of Pump Peak. This rocky basin is sometimes referred to as the "black hole". It then gradually drops as it traverses toward Canadian Pass (at 950m on maps, and then crosses the south branch of Elsay Creek, at about 860m. At this point there will be little lakes both above and below the trail. Beyond this, the flagged route stays level for a bit through an open bear garden then eventually drops steeply through some huge boulders to below 660m. Here it enters the old growth, and shortly afterward crosses Elsay Creek. Elsay Creek is a substantial size, and will usually require taking boots off. People have been known to turn back here, but it usually is no problem. Once across the creek, the trail climbs gradually up to the lake itself, at 758m.