Frosty Mountain in EC Manning Provincial Park is a great hike with stunning mountain views. One of the best times to do Frosty Mountain is when the larch trees are turning golden yellow.
The Frosty Mountain Manning Park larches hike is one of my most memorable hikes from 6 years of living and hiking all over BC and the Coastal mountains. It was one I’d wanted to do for years before I actually found the perfect time to do it and it definitely lived up to the hype.
However, it’s also extremely busy at this time too. Though busy in the summer too, it’ll be slightly less so compared to peak golden larch weekends!
Whatever time of year you plan to do the Frosty Mountain trail, you’re sure to enjoy the amazing views on one of the best hikes near Vancouver.
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Mt Frosty EC Manning Provincial Park
EC Manning Park is home to Manning Park resort and many different hiking and snowshoeing trails including Windy Joe which I snowshoed a few years prior to visiting Mt Frosty Manning Park.
Manning Park is also the terminus (or beginning) of the well-known Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) which runs from Mexico to Canada through California, Oregon, and Washington.
You’ll see a few signs as you hike around Manning Park and, depending on the time of year you visit, you may even see some hikers coming to the end of their PCT adventure of just starting out.
This is one of the best Manning Park hikes to do, especially in the autumn!
Trail Guide: Mt Frosty Hike
Here’s everything you need to know about hiking Frosty Mountain!
Frosty Mountain hike stats
These trail stats are for an out-and-back hike. You can make this longer by looping up with Windy Joe and returning that way. The Frosty Mountain loop trail map can be viewed here.
- Distance: 22 km
- Duration: 6-9 hours OR overnight by camping roughly halfway at Frosty Creek campground.
- Mt Frosty Elevation Gain: 1160 m
- Difficulty: Hard
- Trailhead: Lightning Lake Manning Park Parking Lot
- Frosty Mountain Larches Map
AllTrails is my go-to hiking app for finding, planning, and navigating while I’m out on the trails. With offline maps on AllTrails+ you can be confident you’re still on the right track, even without mobile signal.
Mt Frosty Trail Route
Park up at the Lightning Lake parking lot in Manning Park and head across the bridge to begin the trail. The bridge is towards the entrance point to the parking lot. If you’re doing this hike in the summer, Lightning Lake is perfect for a lake day!
Once over the other side of the bridge, look for a sign pointing you to the right into the forest.
This trail takes you uphill in a series of long switchbacks for around 5km. It’s never super steep (i.e. North Shore steep) at any point but may test some people.
A couple of kilometers in, there’s a small trail off to your right which you can follow to get a view of Lightning Lake from above and some of the surrounding mountains too.
As you come to the end of the switchbacks, the trail flattens out a little and takes you through the forest before arriving at Frosty Creek campground around 6.5-7km into the hike.
This campground is very basic and close to the trail (I can’t imagine it’s the quietest place to camp on a busy weekend!). There are very obvious camp spots, an outhouse, a bear cache area, and a shelter too. Depending on the time of year you visit there may be a small creek for water, but don’t rely on that being here in the summer.
After the campsite, you’ll soon come out into the open and get your first glimpse of the golden larch trees if you’re hiking in the fall!
Around 1.5 km past the Frosty Creek campsite, the trail flattens out more and you’ve arrived at the plateau (or the larch plateau). Here there’s a sign with information about the larch trees and what makes them special and, of course, lots of larch trees!
If you’ve only come to see the larches, you can turn around here (after some photos!). If you plan to summit Frosty Mountain, then continue as the trail begins to climb once again.
Passing the larches, the trail gets much steeper and rockier. The rocks can be a bit slippery and on a busy weekend, it can be difficult with the mass of people going up and down on a narrow, rocky trail.
The path is pretty easy to follow in terms of seeing where it goes as it’s well-worn. Take your time if you’re nervous about slipping – poles would be useful here to help with balance.
Soon, the trail comes to what looks like a dead-end but there’s a sign marking the junction to the Frosty Mountain summit, or down to the Pacific Crest Trail.
To summit Mt Frosty larches trail, make a right and walk along the Frosty Mountain ridge line. There’s one final climb before you top out Frosty Mountain, 2408m, marked by a sign.
Enjoy the views of both British Columbia and the USA (just 1 km away!), and follow the route you took up here to return to the car.
For Windy Joe to Frosty Mountain, see this map – you’ll just need to add a little extra to it.
What to know before hiking Frosty Mountain Manning Park
Here are some things you should know before ding the Frosty Mountain hike.
- Mt Frosty is a popular trail especially if you’re planning to see the Mt Frosty larch trees. Start early (e.g. before 8 am) and try and avoid weekends if possible for a more enjoyable hike.
- Always take your 10 essentials and bear spray when hiking!
- While there are sometimes some streams to provide water, this isn’t guaranteed, take plenty with you.
- Pack layers always, it’s often windy at the summit
- If hiking in spring or fall, take microspikes (I use Yaktracks) as there’s often some snow and/or ice at the higher elevations.
- Dogs are allowed on a leash
- Manning Park trail conditions are posted here.
- See this Manning Park map for other trails and activities.
Manning Park BC Camping
There is one campground, Frosty Creek campground, about half way along the Mount Frosty trail. There are no reservations that guarantee you a camping spot, but you must get a backcountry pass.
These cost $5 and are available at Camping.BCParks.ca. Make sure you select backcountry reservation when getting your pass for Frosty Mountain Larches camping.
Note: This campground is below the larches so it’s a good spot to unload your camping gear and set up camp before continuing on the trail.
Alternatively, you can camp at the campgrounds at the beginning of the Frosty Mountain hike within E.C Manning Park. These include Lightning Lake campground, Coldspring, Mule Deer, and Hampton campgrounds.
At the other Frosty Mountain camping options Lightning Lake campground is 100% reservable, Coldspring and Mule Deer are approximately 50% reservable, and 50% first-come, first-served sites. Hampton campground is 80% reservable and 20% first-come, first-served.
What to pack for the Mount Frosty Manning Park hike
Here’s a packing list for the Frosty Mountain larches hike in Manning Park. Remember to check the weather forecast for Manning Park before heading out and adjust your packing list accordingly.
- Moisture-wicking base layer: Suitable for varying temperatures.
- Insulating fleece or mid-layer: For warmth.
- Waterproof rain jacket: Frosty Mountain weather can change rapidly.
- Quick-drying hiking pants: Provides flexibility and protection.
- Wool or synthetic hiking socks: Keeps feet dry.
- Hiking boots: Preferably waterproof with good ankle support or trail running shoes.
- Beanie/toque: For cooler temperatures.
- Lightweight gloves.
- GPS device or hiking app: With the Frosty Mountain trail details.
- Fully charged phone: Emergency calls and photos.
- SOS Device: I use a Garmin InReach
- Backpack with rain cover: To protect contents from rain.
- At least 2 liters of water: Adjust based on weather and personal needs.
- Energy-rich snacks and lunch: Trail mix, energy bars, sandwiches.
- First aid kit: Tailored for hiking, including blister treatment.
- Multitool or knife: Various utility purposes.
- Whistle: For emergency signaling.
- Headlamp or flashlight: Unexpected delays might mean returning in dim light.
- Sunglasses: Protect eyes from UV rays.
- Sunscreen: SPF 30 or higher.
- Lip balm with SPF: Prevent chapped lips.
- Bug repellent: Especially important during warmer months.
- Bear spray: Familiarize yourself with usage before the hike.
- Hiking poles: Useful for stability and support.
- Camera/phone: Capture the golden larches and scenic beauty.
- Toilet paper and small shovel: Always bury human waste if facilities aren’t available. A Kula cloth is great to take too.
- Your camping permit if you’re planning to stay and do some EC Manning camping overnight.
FAQs about the Golden Larches Manning Park BC
How to get to Frosty Mountain golden larches
EC Manning Provincial Park is along Hwy 3, about an hour outside of Hope, BC. From Vancouver, it takes around 2.5 hours of driving on Hwy 1 through Abbotsford, Chilliwack, and Hope. Allow longer for weekends due to traffic or when it’s raining/snowing.
What is a larch hike?
A larch hike involves hiking in areas where larch trees grow, especially to view their golden fall foliage. Larches are conifers that uniquely shed their needles in autumn, creating vibrant landscapes in contrast to evergreens.
What is larch season?
Larch season refers to the brief period in autumn when larch needles turn brilliant gold before falling. It’s a coveted time for hikers, offering picturesque mountain landscapes, typically occurring in late September to early October in most regions
What are the yellow trees in Manning Park BC?
The yellow trees in Manning Park are larches, known for their bright golden needles in the autumn season.
How hard is Frosty Mountain?
Frosty Mountain is a challenging hike, with steep sections and an elevation gain, suitable for intermediate to experienced hikers.
What are the larches in the Frosty Mountain trail?
The larches on the Frosty Mountain trail are deciduous conifers that turn golden in the fall, creating a spectacular display against the alpine backdrop.
Where to see larches in BC?
In BC, larches are best viewed in the alpine regions of the Kootenays, Selkirks, and Purcells. Popular spots include Manning Park’s Frosty Mountain, Kootenay National Park’s Floe Lake, and Revelstoke’s Eva Lake.
What are golden larches?
Larch trees or alpine larches are super unique trees and their uniqueness is one of the reasons why people go crazy around late September/early October.
You may have heard of people getting ‘larch fever’ (not a real fever!) or going on a ‘larch march’ and this is the term given to going on a hike with the aim of seeing the larch trees as they turn golden.
Yes, these larch trees aren’t evergreen even though they’re coniferous!
Despite the fact that the larches live and grow up at high elevations in snowy and rocky conditions, they’re hardy and they can live for over 1,000 years!
The Frosty Mountain larches are some of the closest golden larch trees to Vancouver in the fall, with most other alpine larch trees being found in Eastern BC, or in the Rockies. Such as at Floe Lake which I hiked early one October and saw a few of the trees turning color.
Best time to see the Manning Park larches on Frosty Mountain?
The larch trees Manning Park usually turn golden from late September to early October (with Canadian Thanksgiving Weekend being a prime time to do this hike). However, it depends on the weather leading up to this time.
Sometimes you’ll get a good few weeks of snow-free hiking and golden larches, other times it’ll be more blink and you miss it!
Always make sure to check the trail conditions before heading up to Frosty Mountain BC. It’s not an easy hike and the conditions can make it treacherous despite the fact that it’s busy.
Be prepared and always hike with your 10 essentials.
Final thoughts on this Manning Park golden larches hike at Mount Frosty
The Frosty Mountain larches in Manning Park is the best trail and nearby places to see the Manning Park golden larches that turn yellow and gold in the fall. It’s the best option for larch hikes near Vancouver and in fact, it’s pretty much the only hike with larches near Vancouver too.
The season for viewing the larches on the Mount Frosty hike is pretty short – there’s a narrow gap between when the larch trees turn yellow and when the snow starts to fall – and so you must be prepared for all conditions during your Frosty Mountain larches hike.
This means packing your spikes (like Yaktrax) and plenty of layers to stay warm during your Manning Park Frosty Mountain hike.
If you’re looking for more hikes near Vancouver in the fall, I’ve got plenty. You should also check out the Goat Ridge trail in Chilliwack for nearby hikes or have a lake day in summer at Jones Lake not too far from Manning Park, or the Lindeman Lake hike for something easier.
Last Updated on August 22, 2023 by Hannah
Hannah started That Adventurer after graduating back in 2013 and has documented all of her adventures since then. From backpacking South America to city breaks in Europe, a 3 month road trip across the USA in a self-converted van and 6 years living in Canada, you’ll find posts on all of this.
Hannah specialises in active travel and on That Adventurer you’ll find hiking, walking, biking, skiing and all sorts of active travel guides to allow you to see a destination in an adventurous way.
Now back in Europe, you’ll find new guides as Hannah and her husband spend the next year ‘digital nomading’ from Norway to Portugal, Switzerland to Scotland and places in between.