An alpine hiking challenge in the mountains around Wells, BC.
The Wells Seven Summits is a hiking challenge located in the area around Wells, British Columbia.
Complete seven summits over the course of the summer to get a fun pin and bragging rights!
Skip to: Island | Agnes | Slide | Murray | Patchett | Magnus | Two Sisters | Tinsdale | Guyet | Burdett
Choose your own adventure
There are ten summits around Wells with tins and punches. Find the tins on each summit and punch your card as proof.
It’s kind of like a coffee punch card. Reach seven different summits, collect seven punches, get bragging rights and a sweet pin!
Grab a punch card at the Frog on the Bog gift shop, in a summit tin, or by contacting us directly.
Use the hashtag #7summitswells on social media to share your photos with our hiking community.
Safety first! Fun, a close second.
The wilderness is beautiful and easily accessible from Wells, but please come prepared for the possibility of encountering wildlife, changing weather conditions, and lack of cell phone coverage. Check the weather forecast and BC Wildfire Service to know the conditions before you go. Always bring rain gear, a warm hat, and sturdy shoes or hiking boots. It can get quite chilly on the summits, and you will often encounter a bit of snow even into July!
You can buy bear spray and bells at the Frog on the Bog giftshop.
Difficulty
The difficulty level of these hikes vaires from easy to moderate. The shortest hike is about 1.5 hours round trip, while the longest ones can be up to 5-7 hours.
We recommend starting with Island Mountain or Mount Agnes first and progressing from there. However, the joy of this Hiking Challenge is you can do it in any order and at your own pace.
Many of the recommended hiking routes are described in Hiking in the Cariboo Goldfields by Edwards, Funk and Stoker and in Central Interior Hiking Guide Vol 1 by Dave King and Bob Nelson.
Do you GEOCACHE? Many of the summits are also geocaches!
What else is in Wells?
Grab a pre-hike snack at the Jack O’ Clubs General Store or BNC Mercantile. Stock up on bear spray and mosquito repellant at the Frog on the Bog gift shop.
Need dinner before heading home? Wells and Barkerville have amazing restaurants to refuel after a long hike. Or stay overnight at one of our hotels, vacation rentals or BnBs. What’s Up in Wells has all the information you need to find food, shopping and overnight stays.
If you’re staying for a few days, make sure you check out Barkerville Historic Town & Park, which is also the gateway to the Mount Agnes trail head.
Finished?
Contact us for your pin.
We are working to add more maps and information over the coming weeks, so stay tuned!
Summit #1 – Island Mountain
Trailhead: If you’re heading into Wells, take the first left on Pooley Street. At the museum, turn left onto Burnette Ave. Take your first left on Davies, and follow it up for a few minutes until you get to the gate (trailhead).
Distance: 7km roundtrip (~1.5-2 hours)
Map: Island Mountain
Summit #2 – Mount Agnes
Trailhead: At the end of the main road in Barkerville, head towards the Richfield courthouse and take the Cariboo Waggon road uphill towards Summit Rock.
Distance: 17km roundtrip (~3-4 hours). Elevation 410m (1350 ft).
Tin: At the cairn at the summit of Agnes, above Groundhog Lake. Best reached by the left side path after the cabin.
Tip: Grab dinner or a bite from the Barkerville Bakery on your way back!
Summit #3 – Slide Mountain
Trailhead: Head 10km down the Bowron Lake Road. If you see the avalanche gates, you just passed the trailhead. There is a pullout and sign in the trees.
Distance: 8km roundtrip (~3-4 hours)
Tin: At the second antenna tower
Maps: Slide Mountain | Trailhead
Summit #4 – Two Sisters
Trailhead: Head 17km down Bowron Lake Road, then turn left at Kechum Creek Road (2300). The trailhead is about 5km down and on the left.
Distance: 15km round trip
Tin: Turn left at the saddle. To the right is an emergency cabin; however, the punch is located on the more challenging south summit. Go left and prepare for a scramble.
Tip: The alpine lake at the base of the saddle is a refreshing dip, and the hillside is covered in huckleberries to fuel you when you walk back up.
Summit #5 – Mount Murray
Trailhead: Start at either the Yellowhawk or Jubilee trailheads – 3.5km and 6.3 km down Bowron Lake Road, respectively.
Distance: 4.5km up either trailhead (about 3-5 hours depending on your route). Elevation gain: 685 (2250ft)
Tin: At the cairn above the lake.
Tip: For a different adventure, consider leaving a car at each trailhead and completing this as a loop.
Summit #6 – Mount Patchett
Trailhead: Drive 8km down the 3100 Rd, then take a left onto the 1600 Rd to 1615. There is a grassy pullout marked with a yellow sign. You can park here or attempt to drive up the overgrown road to a pullout approx. 1 km up. Shares a trailhead with the Vinje Grind.
Distance: 14km roundtrip (about 5-7 hours)
Tin: At the cairn
Summit #7 Magnus/Vinje Grind
Trailhead: Trailhead is shared with Mount Patchett. Drive 8km down the 3100 Rd, then take a left onto the 1600 Rd to 1615. There is a grassy pullout marked with a yellow sign. You can park here or attempt to drive up the overgrown road to a pullout approx. 1 km up.
Start down the Mount Patchett trailhead. The trail splits approx. 1 km up. There is a yellow trail marker, a large rock, and a sign in the trees, but it’s always helpful to bring a buddy who has been there before.
Distance: 3km, but very steep and fairly challenging, with an elevation gain of 550 m (1800 ft)
Tin: At the cairn
Summit #8 Mount Guyet
Coming soon!
Summit #9 Tinsdale
Coming soon!
Summit #10 Burdett
Coming soon!