Jord's Hiking Blog: Skoki Valley

Dist: 46.6km Elev: 2100m Difficulty: 3/5

Day 1: 29.6km, 1585m Day 2: 17km, 515m

A return backcountry trip to the Skoki Valley with Byron. This is our first repeat trip together, but after reviewing the "Don't Waste your Time" hiking guidebook and realizing we had unknowing visited all the "don't waste your time" areas and overlooked the "don't miss" destinations in this area, we agreed it was worth a do-over.

DAY ONE: Deception Pass - Skoki Mountain - Merlin Lake

The long and viewless slog up the gravel Lake Louise service road at the beginning and end of a trail is the only catch to hiking in the Skoki area. If one is willing to grind through these sections, they will be amply rewarded. We opted for the most direct route to our Merlin Meadows campsite, passing Boulder Pass, Ptarmigan Lake, and Deception Pass along the way. Views were slightly inhibited from wildfire smoke, but it certainly could have been worse.

We were glad to unload our packs and set up camp before any additional exploring. An uninspiring lunch of granola bars and instant noodles while swatting away mosquitos and horseflies had Byron and I both questioning our choice of weekend entertainment. Thankfully, the best was still to come.

After lunch we opted for the easy scramble up Skoki Mountain, for some hands-on climbing and an aerial view of the region. The well-signed route started behind Skoki Lodge and was straightforward enough all the way up. On this summit is probably where we noticed the wildfire smoke the most, as views were quite limited and nothing like photos I have seen taken on clear days. Still, the vantage was impressive in its own way and we enjoyed exploring the summit ridge before descending the scree.

With a few hours of daylight left, we targeted a final and less ambitious trip to Merlin Lake to finish off the day. The trail starts at Skoki Lodge and gently climbs along a scenic route carved along the base of the towering Wall of Jericho, eventually requiring a steep but short ascent of the headwall guarding the lake. I was blown away by the beauty of Merlin Lake, its bright blue water beneath the massive glacier-encrusted Mount Richardson. Interestingly, I have read many trip reports of the Skoki area but none even mentioned Merlin Lake. A true hidden gem. My pictures don't do it justice but this was the trip highlight for me.

We returned back at camp just as the sun was setting, and enjoyed a well-earned meal of Pad Thai and other assorted goodies. I had packed in the mosquito lantern Melinda and I use on our deck at home, and Byron and I were the only group not ravaged by the hungry bugs in the area during mealtime. Well worth the extra few grams!

First views as we complete the gravel road grind.

Boulder Pass.

Looking back as we climb to Deception Pass.

Deception Pass.

Descending towards Skoki Lodge.

Upper Skoki Lake in the distance.

Skoki Lodge.

Sign for Skoki Mountain. Don't ask what the "peepipe" is - it was nasty.

Skoki mountain from treeline.

Nearing the summit. Oyster Peak in distance.

Summit posing.

Summit looking south. Fossil Peak in center.

Looking west. The Wall of Jericho divides Skoki Lakes (left) from Merlin Lake (right).

Views on descent. Next we went to Merlin Lake to the distant right.

Literal "fork" in the road. Left to Packer's Pass, right to Merlin Lake.

Merlin Lake trail.

Nearing the lake. Smaller Castilleja Lake below.

Almost there.

Merlin Lake.

Mount Richardson and the glacier that feeds the lake.

Heading back to camp. Castillaja Lake and distant Merlin Meadows.

Merlin Meadows campground from above.

Sunset from our tent at Merlin Meadows. Mt Richardson in far center.

DAY TWO: Skoki Lakes - Packer's Pass - Packer's Peak

Day two began with an early start and quick breakfast of instant oatmeal and coffee before beginning our exodus. We opted the return via the unofficial "Packer's Pass" route instead of repeating the climb over Deception Pass, which proved to be an excellent choice and much more interesting and scenic. The Skoki Lakes are every bit as beautiful as people claim and the quick burn up Packer's Pass provided a climactic panorama to cap off our trip.