Queest Mountain

Sicamous & East Shuswap

Trail Information

DistanceVarious km
Duration2+ Hours (one-way)
DifficultyMost DifficultMost Difficult
Geo Referenced PDFView Map
Access MapGoogle Maps
Latitude / Longitude50.96565371, -118.90690232
ActivitiesHikingMountain BikingViewpoint
Warnings:
These logging roads can be rough and may be actively used by logging trucks. 4WD vehicle recommended with good clearance. Be well prepared; this is remote backcountry with grizzly habitat.

About

Superb views, alpine meadows, avalanche slopes, wildflowers, and an alpine lake. Full day or overnight stay overnight at the South Queest rec site, there’s plenty to explore. Once up to South Queest Rec Site the track through the alpine can be followed to North Queest summit and Queest Lake. Check out the Eagle Valley Snowmobile Club’s emergency shelter on the west trail and look for the base of the old Queest Fire Lookout tower at the South Queest summit. The lookout tower was relocated in 2005 and can now be visited at RJ Haney Heritage Park in Salmon Arm. 

The summit of South Queest Mtn is 4.5 km (one-way) from the west trailhead or 5 km (one-way) from the east trailhead. The summit of North Queest Mtn is an additional 6.2 km (one-way) from the trail junction with the east trailhead trail. Another 4 km trail creates a loop down to Queest Lake. Be prepared, this is remote alpine wilderness requiring experience, preparation, and navigation skills.

ACCESS FROM SICAMOUS: Travel north off the Sicamous-Solsqua Rd. up the #1800 Queest Mountain FSR to just past the 14 km marker where there is a parking area and trail map to the right. A good place for cross country Mountain Bikers to start. The Snowmobile Club’s chalet is approx. 12 km from this point. The road to the old forest lookout is deactivated but accessible to 4WD vehicles.

ACCESS FROM MALAKWA:  Travel 17 km east of Sicamous on Hwy 1 and turn left (north) onto Malakwa Rd just past the Malakwa Café for approx. 1.5 km until it meets the railroad tracks. Turn left on Summerville Husted Rd, crossing the tracks and curving right, then left across the Eagle River bridge.  Continue straight ahead onto the deactivated Queest Mountain FSR (passing Mizon Rd is on the right). Stay on the main road for 10.5 km to a landing. Park here. There is a road to the right, but hikers should go straight ahead. Very shortly, a branch goes left. You want to stay on the old track to the right, climbing up past an obvious slide area. At the ridge saddle, follow the track left toward the communication towers and to the Queest Recreation Site.
 


Access

From Sicamous: On Hwy 1, just east of the Hwy 97A junction, turn north onto the Solsqua- Sicamous Rd. Travel approx. 1.4 km over the bridge and the railroad tracks to the start of the #1800 Queest Mountain Forest Service Rd on the left/north side. Stay on this main road until just past the 14 km marker where there is a parking area and trail map to the right. From Malakwa: Travel 17 km east of Sicamous on Hwy 1 and turn left/north onto Malakwa Rd just past the Malakwa Cafe. Follow this road for approx. 1.5 km until it meets the railroad tracks. Turn left on Summerville Husted Rd, crossing the tracks and curving right, then left across the Eagle River bridge. Continue straight onto the deactivated Queest Mountain Forest Service Rd directly ahead (Mizon Rd is on the right.) Driving a 4wd vehicle with good clearance, follow the road to the right, staying on the main road for 10.5 km straight through the next two junctions.


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