Cliff Lake Trail (Cranbrook)

Site Description: The trail to Cliff Lake takes you past Lemon Lake. Lemon Lake is a short, easy day hike, suitable for families with small children. It is a beautiful little lake with good fishing and an impressive view of the 215m waterfall that tumbles out of Cliff Lake. Beyond Lemon Lake the trail gets significantly more difficult. A major part of the elevation is gained in a scramble up a steep gully with running water, then over and around rock ledges to the base of a rock cliff. Care should be taken as the rock ledges can be slippery when wet. From here the trail goes left through wildflower meadows. At the end of the meadows, another series of rock ledges take you to the outlet of Cliff Lake. Skilled route finders with topographic maps can continue past Cliff Lake, over Windy Pass and onto Tanglefoot Lake and other trails in the Steeples area.

Driving Directions: Access: Commencing at Fort Steele Historic Park, proceed north on Hwy 93/95 for 300 metres. Turn right onto the Wardner-Ft. Steele Road. Follow this road for 22 km to the Power Plant Road. Turn left onto this road and follow it over the bridge on the Bull River Canyon. On the east side of the canyon, you will find yourself at the 22 km road marker on the Bull River FSR. Turn left and continue following the Bull River FSR to the 32 km road marker, and the Van Creek Road. Turn left onto the Van Creek Road and follow this road to 200 metres past the 41 km road marker, on the north side of Van Creek. Park on the road at the trailhead.