Ref: Alltrails
The trailhead is less than 1 km from the Zopkios Rest Area on the
Coquihalla Highway. Park at the rest
area and walk east along the highway for about 800 m. Once you reach
the cement barrier, count 5 lampposts. At the fifth lamppost look
left down the slope and you will see a cairn with some flagging tape.
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Yak Peak from the highway.
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Scramble:
RT 6.0; 2.5 up. While
driving the Trans Canada Highway, it's impossible to not notice the
impressive sheer granite slabs of Yak Peak. It's the highest peak on
Zopkios Ridge and it sits right next to the road. With no approach,
this objective is very popular with both climbers and hikers. It grants
great views with minimal effort. The well-trodden trail leads to the
slabs; if you're lucky, you might see climbers up high on the granite
face. It then skirts the base of the slabs and climbs towards
the Yak-Nak Col. Caution is required on some steep and slabby sections.
Just
before the saddle between Yak's north (true) and south summits, there's
a drift
snowpatch that could be interesting under certain conditions. Both
summits lie close to each other and deserve a visit. It is possible
to easily include an ascent of Nak Peak and even a further traverse to
Thar Peak. The 10-kilometer Yak-Nak-Thar Traverse is well documented on
the internet.
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Short well-trodden trail in the forest.
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Nearing the impressive granite slabs.
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Climbers are often seen on these sheer slabs.
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The trail follows the base of the slabs for a short distance.
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The south peak on the left and the north (true) peak.
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Looking back at typical slabby terrain near treeline.
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Almost at the saddle between the two peaks.
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To the west, an enjoyable ridgewalk over Zupjok and Llama Peaks leads to Alpaca Peak.
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Markhor and Needle Peaks with The Flatiron on the far right.
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Jim Kelly Peak and Coquihalla Mountain.
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Alpaca, Vicuna and Guanaco Peaks (L to R).
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Looking at the southern peak from the summit.
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Nak Peak to the east.
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Looking back at the true summit.
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The view across the highway is stunning.
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South-western view towards the North Cascades of Washington.
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