Circlet Lake

Park: Strathcona Provincial Park, Mt Washington Ski Resort

10.0 km one way.

Terrain: Intermediate

Elevations (in meters)

Start End Minimum Maximum Gain

770 1159 760 1160 400

Raven Lodge (Mt Washington) Trailhead: (250 km from Saanich Hall, 20k on logging roads, 4wd recommended). Take highway #1 north from Victoria to Naniamo. Stay on the main road, which becomes BC#19, and continue to to Courtney. Follow the signs to Mt Washington Ski Resort, park in the cross-country ski area (Nordic Lodge) parking lot.

Note, you can cut about .8km from the trip by dropping off your passengers at the Mt Washington day use parking area on the approach to Raven Lodge.

Facilities available at the trailhead include:

Emergency phone
Picnic tables
Shelter is available
Toilets and/or outhouses
Water is available

Uses

Backpack	Moderate.	4.5 hours one way.	Best from late June thru late September.
Dayhike	Moderate day hike .	4 hours one way.	Best from late June thru late September.

Description

Circlet Lake serves mainly as a base camp for the climb up Mt Albert Edward.

The first part of the trail is deceptively easy, boardwalked from very near the trailhead through Paradise Meadows to Lake Helen McKenzie. Once beyond this lake the trail is no longer boardwalk and can be quite muddy and the route covers much rougher terrian.

The lake itself is on a .6km branch trail from the main trail to Mt Albert Edward.

Features

This trail features fishing, flowers, forests, lakes, meadows, mountains and swimming.

Campsites along the trail

Kwai Lake	Approx7.8 km		Bear cache/wire Outhouse Tent pads	Water is available quality is fair. Kwai lake is the water source for the camp. Despite park signs asking people not to swim in the lake or allow their dogs to swim people are using the lake in this way. Make sure to filter all water!
	Reached via 1.5km side trail from junction just beyond Forbidden Plateau Ranger's Station
Circlet Lake	10.0 km	1191 meters	Bear cache/wire Fishing Outhouse Swimming Tent pads	Water is plentiful quality is good.
	Reached by .6 km side trail from route up Mt Albert Edward.

The following trails can be accessed from this trail:

Castle Craig
Mt Albert Edward

Last hiked:July 25, 2005

View trail condition reports for this trail.