Description:

This Red Mountain Cabin is located east of Prince George approximately 13 km above the community of Penny and the Fraser River. It is situated just below 5000 ft in the subalpine, just west of Red Mountain across Red Mountain Creek. The area offers excellent summer hiking and winter backcountry skiing opportunities. Winter skiing is especially superb with a range of terrain from beginner 700 ft runs near the cabin to expert 2000 ft alpine runs in steep, large mountain bowls.

The cabin was first built by residents of Penny, BC but was extensively renovated in 2005 by the PGBRS. The cabin is now operated by the PGRBS through a booking system in the winter, but summer use is currently on a first come, first served basis. A suggested $10 per person per night donation is the fee for overnight cabin use. All donations go to the maintenance of the cabin and the provision of fuel, firewood, and other necessities. Donations can be sent to the PGBRS. The cabin is managed and maintained by the PGBRS in cooperation with the Penny Historical Society, and the BC Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts.

The cabin was extensively renovated by the PGBRS in 2005. The cabin has beds, foamies, and bedding for 6 persons, the maximum. The cabin has a large wood stove and a supply of firewood. It is fully stocked with dishes and cooking and cleaning essentials. There is a three burner propane stove and propane lights. A small outhouse is a short distance away. Please contact the PGBRS for additional details.

Access:

To access the trailhead drive east on Highway #16 for 14.5 km (from the Yellowhead Bridge over the Fraser River) to the Upper Fraser Road. Turn left from Highway #16 onto the Upper Fraser Road and follow the road to a bridge over Willow River near the Town of Willow River. Turn right after crossing the bridge and follow this road past the town of Upper Fraser to the Hansard Bridge over the Fraser River. Driving time to this bridge is approximately 1 hour from Prince George.

Stay on the main road (turns right after the bridge) and continue past the old McGregor Camp and straight through the towns of Sinclair Mills and eventually Longworth. Longworth is 33.5 km from the Hansard Bridge. In Longworth you will come to a four-way intersection with the Longworth Community Centre building on the northwest corner. Continue straight for 2.5 km to a small signed road that turns left off the main road which veers to the right. Take this small road and continue for 15 km to Penny. This last leg can take anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes depending on road conditions.

You can also access the Red Mountain trailhead from the Penny Access Road, approximately 97 km from Prince George on Highway #16 (or 37km past Purden Ski Hill) on the north side of the highway. Drive 6 km down the gravel access road to the Fraser River and the parking lot. In summer, the Fraser River can be crossed by boat, but in the winter, if conditions allow, the river can be crossed on the ice.

You can also travel from Prince George to Penny on the train. You can ask to be dropped off and picked up at the first rail crossing in Penny by the "hot box detector". Check with Via Rail for current train schedules and other information.

Once in Penny, a small road crosses the railway tracks and curves left onto private property. Access to the start of the old trail is here and this is the recommended starting point in winter. A new trail has been constructed which bypasses private land and is more appropriate for summer use. To get to the new trailhead continue straight past the rail crossing for approximately 1 km to the signed trailhead on your left.

The trail is approximately 13 km long and gains just under 3000 ft in elevation. The trail follows the ridge above Red Mountain Creek after climbing gradually from the valley bottom. Approximately 1 km from the cabin, the trail ascends a short steep section and traverses just below a ridge on the north side before dropping slightly to the cabin. Allow four to five hours to hike the trail in summer and considerably more in winter depending on snow conditions. In winter, the last section of trail near the top of the ridge can be difficult to follow. It is best to travel with someone who knows the cabin location if this is your first trip. In winter, the cabin can barely be visible under the snow even when standing near it. The cabin is located in a small clearing at the coordinates UTM NAD27 10U 612707, 5973471.

**Note**

The PGBRS has reached a tentative agreement with the Ministry of Tourism, Sports, and the Arts and the Penny Historical Society regarding the management of the Red Mountain cabin. This agreement includes an official booking system and a nominal fee for all users of the cabin. We hope to complete this agreement by 2010, but in the interim, we ask that ALL users respect the intent of this agreement by making a $10 per person/per night donation until the final fee system is put in place. This will help the PGBRS to maintain the cabin which includes supplying propane, wood, and other supplies and making miscellaneous repairs.