Evans Valley

September 19, 2022

Distance: 10-10.5km round-trip

Elevation gain: 580m

Time required: 3.5-4 hours total

Evans Valley is a beautiful little-known valley within Golden Ears Provincial Park that features two very cool snow caves. The best time of year to visit is the late summer when Evans Creek is dried up and the overall water levels are low.

The trail starts from the West Canyon Parking lot. You take the West Canyon trail for about 1.5km before reaching a trail junction on the left-hand side that heads into the forest. The trail winds through the forest for a bit before leading to Evans Creek. At this time of year, the creek was bone dry. This was ideal as it is necessary to hike up Evans Creek to reach the snow caves.

After about half an hour, Evans Creek branches off. This is the location of the snow caves. The one on the left is the easiest to access, as you need only to climb up the still-dry Evans Creek.

Evans Creek snow cave

Evans Creek snow cave

From within Evans Creek snow cave

The snow cave on the right is located in a different creek bed that branches off from Evans Creek. To get to it, you have to climb up and over a large ridge on the right-hand bank.

Looking towards the second snow cave. Blanshard Peak looms directly above.

After a fun scramble figuring out the best way to get to the snow cave, I was greeted with a really cool sight.

Outside the snow cave

Within the snow cave

It felt like it was raining inside the snow cave due to the snow melt.

I was grateful to have the whole place to myself. Like I mentioned at the beginning, it's not a super well-known area. There are much more popular hikes in Golden Ears such Gold Creek Falls and Alouette Mountain. However, none of these destinations feature really neat snow caves.