The best walks and hikes around Clearwater County

There is ample parking at the base of the scramble, which you can access from a well-maintained gravel road off of Highway 11. The trail leads you around the perimeter of the transfer station as you make your way up the ridgeline.

The views from the false summit are as rewarding as from anywhere along the ridge. The glacial blue water of Abraham Lake bows out away from you on either side of the ridgeline, and Mount Michener towers up into the sky across the water. Dramatic cliffs and summits frame your view from every side.

The scramble starts fairly nontechnical, though it is definitely a quad buster, and requires more experience to navigate as you reach the false summit. You get stellar views of Abraham Lake from anywhere along the ascent, so you can turn around at any point as you climb.

The trail up Mount Ernest Ross wastes no time—within the first kilometre you’re already grinding up a brutally steep slope that touches a 37% incline, one of the sharpest starts in the David Thompson region. A short elevation break of about a kilometre or so gives your legs a chance to reset before the real climb begins. From here, the route launches into its steepest and longest ascent, pushing toward gradients of roughly 48% as it carries you onto the exposed ridge. It’s a demanding approach from the very first step, but the payoff arrives quickly in the form of wide-open views over Abraham Lake and the Kootenay Plains.

Mount Ernest Ross rises sharply above the Kootenay Plains, offering a steady ridge climb with big views long before you reach the top. The route gains elevation quickly from the Bridge Creek area, pulling you out of the forest and onto an open, rocky ridge with Abraham Lake glowing below. The upper section turns into loose, hands-on scrambling, and most hikers stop at the high point on the ridge rather than pushing to the true summit, which is more technical than it appears.

Stretching across the eastern slopes of the Canadian Rockies near Abraham Lake, the Kiska/Willson PLUZ is a vast multi-use backcountry area open to hikers, equestrians, and OHVs on designated trails. Dispersed camping is allowed with a Public Lands Camping Pass. With open foothills, forested valleys, and access to rugged mountain terrain, it’s an excellent base for exploring the David Thompson region.

This small dock extends into the lake and gives a close, unobstructed view of the water and surrounding treeline. It’s one of the nicest spots on the loop for photos or a short break, with calm reflections and easy access right off the shoreline path. A simple but scenic highlight on the Fish Lake circuit.

This lakeside viewpoint offers a wide, quiet look across the water toward dense forest on the far shore. It’s an easy stop along the Fish Lake loop, giving you one of the clearest open views on the route. A good place to pause, take in the reflections, or photograph the still water before continuing around the shoreline.