Dewar Creek Hotspring

20 kms
14hours
difficult
Hiking
Fall, Summer
Kimberley, BC

trailpeak

The trail begins 64km after leaving Hwy 95a at the signed Purcell Wilderness Conservancy Area. Use maps 82F16, 82F09 and 82G12 for the drive and 82F15 and 82F16 for the hike.

From the self registration box the rough and often muddy trail follows Dewar Creek for approximately 9km to the spring. At about the halfway point there is a signed "Y" intersection. Horses go left, hikers go right. The two trails will rejoin in a short time. At the next "Y" intersection you should stay left as the right fork leads to private cabins.

From the second intersection you are almost at the spring. One more climb will bring you out into an open, rocky and wet area that is the top of the spring. The water here emerges from the rock at about 85 degrees and flows over mineral deposits down into Dewar Creek. Most of the water here is way too hot for soaking but sometimes there are cooler pools built down by the rivers edge.

If you are camping, continue another .5km up the trail to Bugle Basin. Several scenic campsites are located in a wide meadow valley. There is also a plastic pit toilet or "loo with a view."

Directions:

From Kimberley, drive south on Hwy 95a and turn west on St Mary Road just before the town of Marysville. This road eventually turns to gravel and generally gets rougher the farther you go. You will need the topo maps listed above.