Summer & trails · Island Lake
Spineback Trail
7 km return · Climb through alpine meadows to the Three Bears.
Reach the signed junction from the Lake and Fir trails. The route climbs through subalpine meadows beside Spineback Ridge to a ridge-top bench, with a second bench another half-kilometre above among the Three Bears.
- Route type: Out-and-back
- Distance: 7 km return
- Estimated time: 3–4 hours
- Elevation gain: 430 m
Plan your trail day
The published trail guide is a planning reference. Allow for your group’s pace, changing weather and seasonal access. Difficult alpine routes require navigation skills and preparation.
View the summer trail map · Download the full trail guide · Summer questions
Trail guide
See the Spineback Trail route in 3D.
Spineback is the lodge's signature half-day climb. From the Lake and Fir trails you rise through subalpine meadows, past rock gardens and fossil beds, to the rocky spine of the ridge with the Three Bears spread out ahead. Seven kilometres return, three to four hours, about 430 metres of gain. The second bench sits half a kilometre past the first and makes a natural turnaround if you are short on time; it is also where the Goldilocks loop begins. Watch for moose near the mineral spring, and expect slippery footing after rain.
Elevation profile
- Mapped distance
- 3.5 km
- Climbing
- 590 m
- High point
- 1,914 m
Profile sampled from open elevation data along the mapped route; treat distances and climbing as approximate. Distances and times in the trail guide above are the published figures.
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