Semaphore Lakes

There was a washout in January 2024 on the Hurley FSR at about 7kms, be sure to check I Survived The Hurley before attempting to drive to the Semaphore Lakes Trailhead.

The hiking trail to Semaphore Lakes is located north of Pemberton, BC, and has incredible views of Face Mountain and Locomotive Mountain. There are several waterfalls that drop from the nearby mountains and from Train Glacier into the area near the three lakes, making for some beautiful alpine scenery.

The hike to Semaphore Lakes is relatively short and not a lot of elevation gain for an alpine hike as most of the elevation gained is done driving up the Hurley FSR to the start of the trail. There are three lakes that make up Semaphore Lakes and a longer hike / scramble can be done to Locomotive Mountain.

From the trailhead along the Hurley, drop down onto the trail and follow the markers through the trees. After a short distance, the trail begins to climb through the well defined route as you rapidly gain elevation. The trail briefly levels as you pass a meadow on the right.

As you continue your hike, the trees begin to thin while the trail continues to ascend. When the trail reaches a junction, go to the right as this route will wrap around the mountain and take you directly to the first lake, avoiding extra elevation gain.

The trail continues ascending at a gradual pace as you pass through alpine vegetation until you begin to see the view of the Semaphore Lakes area. The view at the first lake is awe inspiring with Locomotive Mountain towering high above on the other side of the valley.

Continue walking along the trail as it passes the second and third lakes, both with scenic views of their own. There are plenty of places to stop for lunch to enjoy the view but one of the areas that is beautiful is close to the river where you get a view of the mountains and can look down the valley.

After enjoying Semaphore Lakes, make your way back, passing each of the lakes and following the trail around the mountain until it reaches the junction. Go left and head downhill, passing the meadow, and carefully hiking back down the steeper section until you reach the trailhead where you began.