Location: Mount Revelstoke National Park, Meadows in the Sky Parkway in British Columbia
Directions we followed:
We were able to find Meadows in the Sky Parkway pretty easily thanks to some easy-to-follow directions on the Parks Canada Website.
From the Trans-Canada Highway, drive the 26 km long Meadows in the Sky Parkway. The mountain road leads you up to the Mount Revelstoke Summit. Parking is available at the top of the summit at Balsam Lake, which is km 24 of the Meadows in the Sky Parkway.
From Balsam Lake, you'll be able to find several different trailheads for various hikes!
For information on the hikes available, visit the Parks Canada website here.
This summit is great for families and people of all ages because the views offered at 1,500 metres at Balsam Lake are easily accessible. Along the winding 26 km road there are viewpoints and subalpine wildflower meadows of Mount Revelstoke National Park which are breathtaking!
Once at the parking lot near Balsam Lake there is a summit shuttle bus offered to take you to the summit area. NOTE: The summit shuttle bus is only offered between July and September depending on how long the snow free season is. For updated information and times of the shuttle bus, please visit the Parks Canada website.
Meadows in the Sky Parkway offers easy walks to more challenging hikes starting at Balsam Lake as well as the summit area. We walked around Firetower Trail, Heather Lake and onto Upper Summit Trail. If you're looking for more challenging hikes, I would highly recommend Jade Lakes as it is on my to do list.
Firetower Trail is a super easy hike that is only 30 minutes in length. You'll get to experience the historic fire lookout that you can see on the summit. According to Parks Canada, it was built in 1927 and in operation until 1988. It's now a federal heritage building that has a viewing platform that provides amazing views of the mountains.
Heather Lake Trail is probably the easiest of them all. Just 10 minutes roundtrip, this short stroll takes you around a small lake. You'll also see three species of mountain heather that grow along the side of the trail.
Be prepared for an uphill walk if you're taking the Upper Summit Trail. It takes you through the upper subalpine forest area between Balsam and Heather Lake.
For more information on each hike, seeing as some were a lot shorter than others, please visit Parks Canada website for details.
Hike difficulty:
Firetower Trail: Easy
Heather Lake: Easy
Upper Summit Trail: Easy/Moderate
Distance: Please visit the Parks Canada website for details on each hike.
Attire needed:
Hiking shoes
Backpack with water/snacks
Whistle/bear spray/bear bell (I always have my bear bell on my pack just as a precaution)
I would highly recommend Meadows in the Sky Parkway at Mount Revelstoke National Park. There's a variety of hikes to choose from that beginner to experienced hikers will love, not to mention the amazing views and the colourful meadows.
I hope you enjoy the hikes as much as we did!
- Carlee Kish (Nature Jane)
Carlee Kish is a 23-year-old hiking enthusiast who has lived in Kelowna for two years now. Originally from Regina, Saskatchewan, Kish fell in love with the mountains and hiking during a family trip as a youngster. She has a passion for the wilderness and capturing it along the way with beautiful photos. Kish lives for the outdoors and you can follow her adventures as she relishes in moss during her captivating hikes and boundless adventures. Be sure to follow Carlee's adventures on Instagram @CarleeKish.
