Flower Ridge hike

From the parking area look out to the highway and see a sign pointing to the left (south) with “Flower Ridge Trail”. Cross the bridge over Henshaw Creek then find the trailhead to your left.

Over the initial 3.7mi of the Flower Ridge trail (roughly half of the way out) you will gain over 3281ft. This is along a well-maintained BC Parks trail, which has a number of well graded switchbacks. You will have several sporadic views along the way, typically to the west looking at the east aspect of Mt Myra.

Finally, after several false lips you will crest Flower Ridge and emerge from the trees. Beyond Myra, you will get views to the east looking at the mountains surrounding the Comox Glacier. More to the Northeast you can even see the tip of Albert Edward (another hike on this list) poking its head out.

Continue hiking along Flower Ridge for another 3.7mi, with the trail undulating up and down. The trail is at times hard to follow since the route along the ridge is not maintained by BC Parks. However simple intuition and watching out for cairns usually does the trick just fine.

As you progress south along Flower Ridge you will get some fantastic views of Mt Septimus and Rousseau directly to the south. Looming over Flower Ridge, these mountains provide a stunning ambiance. At the end of Flower Ridge, you can look down to the southwest across Cream Lake at the picturesque Nine Peaks in the distance, in between Septimus and Big Interior Mountain.

There is no official end to the Flower Ridge Trail, however BC Parks claims it ends after approximately 7.1mi. Simply find a good spot to sit with the classic view of Nine Peaks and call it a day! Then return the way you came.

Hiking Flower Ridge in 2024

If you’re hiking the Flower Ridge Trail in Strathcona Provincial Park you should be prepared for variable conditions, including potential for sun exposure and limited water sources along the ridge, especially in summer. For those planning a hike, it’s advisable to check the latest weather forecasts and trail conditions before heading out.