Mount Steel Trail

Length:  3.4 km  
Condition: Steep but continuous beaten path.
General Route: Continues east from Edwards Lake cabin and climbs steeply to Mount Steele Cabin
How to Find: To find the trail, first hike to the Edwards Lake Cabin and continue just past it to the Steele creek crossing. A bit further is the Steele-McNair fork where the trail starts. Signposted.

Description: From the Edwards Lake cabin continue east. After several hundred meters, you'll cross a deep creek (Steele Creek). There may be no bridge, but you can climb down about 5 meters and step across the creek. Immediately after crossing Steele Creek, you'll come to the junction with the McNair trail. Continue straight (left). Soon you'll start to climb. Part way up the trail levels off in an open area, then climbs again to reach Hippo Col. At this point, you turn 90 degrees and head east up the steep open rocks. This can be icy in fall. After climbing another 100 meters you emerge onto a plateau, and you can see the Mount Steele Cabin off to your left (north). If your objective is a day trip up Steele, then continue southeast up the ridge to the south peak of Steele. Note that the highest point is the south peak, not where "Mount Steele" is printed on the 1:50k map.