Trail Details:
Distance: 3km One-way
Elevation Gain: 200m
Difficulty: Moderate
Time: ~2hrs
Season: Year Round
Road Access: Easy, Off Highway
Parking: Lots, park at east end of lake
Located in Stagleap Provincial Park at the top of Kootenay Pass, Ripple Ridge Trail is a relatively short and accessible hike that guarantees breath-taking views of the Selkirk Mountain range and provides further access to the back-country, including Ripple Ridge & Lightning Strike Cabins.
To get here from Creston, drive approximately 30-45 minutes to West on highway 3 to Stagleap Provincial Park at the top of Kootenay Pass. Once here pull in to the main parking lot at Bridal Lake on the north side of the highway. From the parking area, cross the highway towards the south. The gravel road accessing the trail begins immediately to the right of the Highway's maintenance yard. Take this road 3.2 km to the top of the ridge where it levels off and before it drops into the next valley.
From here take the right hand trail signed “Ripple Ridge Trail.” Enjoy wild flowers such as bear grass, paintbrush, yarrow, bluebells and others as you make your way. A well-defined trail, it continues gaining elevation as Lightning Strike Ridge to the west comes into view then breaks out of the trees 600 meters from the trailhead transitioning to more open views as you pass large boulders and ghostly grey dead trees. A view of the Creston/Salmo highway appears as you continue up the trail.
At km 1.4 the trail becomes hard to see as it heads off across a large flat rock slab. Look for rock –with a little imagination heading south it can be picked up again. Pass through a large split boulder and you can see your destination. Continue along the sparsely treed ridge to the lookout area. On a clear day the peaks in Idaho are visible. 180 degrees from that are the near mountain ridges with telecommunication towers and further in the distance are the high peaks of the Selkirks (Columbia Mountains).
