Running Rain Lake Trail

Dogs Leashed

Features Lake · River/Creek · Wildflowers

The Running Rain Lake Trailhead is located ~10km south of Highwood Pass and is both unmarked and not directly adjacent to the nearest parking area. With two creek crossings, a boggy meadow, and a lake, you should expect your feet to get wet. Fishing is allowed at the lake, though most of the lake is very shallow.

If heading south, you'll cross over Storm Creek before finding some parking lanes on the side of the highway where you can park, or you can pull off ~500m further south onto the flat area as soon as the guardrail ends.

If heading north, the trailhead is ~10km north of the Pickle Jar Lakes Trailhead. You'll need to pull over as soon as you see the guardrail and parking area appear around the corner, or turn around to park if you missed it.

The trailhead disappears into the treeline and immediately descends steeply over a small cliff leading to the first creek, which can be crossed at a makeshift log bridge. Continuing, you'll reach another creek-crossing; it is possible to cross this one by working your way across the crude dams, but expect to get wet. The trail is unmarked and not apparent if crossing by the dam, but is easy to spot when you stumble across it.

The trail climbs fairly steeply at the start, eventually leveling out for much of the hike. There are smaller creek crossings, but they can be bridged or jumped easily. Eventually, you'll reach an area where the trail has been wiped out by a rock slide. There is a lower and upper trail on the other side of the clearing, both of which have been marked. The trail will eventually open up into a meadow; the ground may be completely water saturated even during dry periods, all the way up to the lake.