Mounts King Edward and Bryce access via Bush River Road          Click for Road Map of Bush River area

  NOTE: Watch for Logging Trucks! Check with Evans Products Mill in Golden B.C. for current road conditions and how far you can actually drive. Call 250-344-8800, ask for "Woodlands Division". Driveability of Bush River North road can change yearly. If the road has been "waterbarred" expect deep side-to-side ditches requiring a high clearance vehicle.

 - From Golden B.C. drive west on TransCanada Highway some 25 km towards Donald, B.C.  Either turn right onto the BIG BEND HIGHWAY or, at the Evans Products lumber mill at Donald, 2 km further. These two roads soon join to become the BUSH RIVER ROAD. If you miss the turnoff(s) you'll cross railway tracks and the Columbia River. Whoaaa, Nellie! Back up.

- From Donald, the remaining 100+ km drive is entirely gravel. It's a good gravel road but dusty when dry. There are no phones, garages or services so drive reliable vehicles with a GOOD spare tire, jack and a full gas tank. The road is okay for passenger cars; kilometre signs are posted along the way (distances are measured from mill in Golden). It takes about 2.5 hrs from Golden to King Edward approach.

NOTE:  The logging company recently (2002) changed distance markers by refrencing them all to a different starting point ( now from Donald instead of Golden I believe. Consequently, relative distances are correct, but absolutes are not: e.g Bush North is not at the 89km anymore...but if you know what km it is now pls tell me.

- It's important to stay straight ahead at 89 km marker and follow "Bush North" Road. Do not go left across Bush Arm of McNaughton Lake.This eventually goes to Sullivan River and Tsar Mountain. (Not bad for a wrong turn!) There is a free B.C. Forest Service campsite at km 96 (Valenciennes River). Keep following the road north, crossing the Bush River at km 101.5 then soon back to the east (right-hand) side again.

Mount Bryce approach

-For Mount Bryce, turn right at about 120 km onto Rice Brook main road and follow this as it switchbacks up a steep open hillside, then curves around the end of a ridge (GR759631) into Rice Brook. If the cable gate just before the end of the ridge is closed, it adds an hour's easy walk (and 4.2 km) to reach where the bridge crosses Rice Brook. Note that at the point where you drive around a steep hillside rockcut, large rocks periodically fall onto the road. There is definite potential for a boulder to fall and block off your exit after a downpour...

After descending a little and crossing a bridge over Rice Brook, notice a waterfall on the left. This comes from Mount Bryce' south glacier and cascades over cliffs on the north side of the road. We parked about here, at GR781620, walked 25 minutes further east on the road, and tramped north up a gravelly watercourse (GR785621) in the adjacent avalanche slope to easily get above treeline. Below the steep walls of Bryce, you then traverse west, cross the glacial stream (at about GR782632) which feeds the waterfall, now far below. Hike easily up to snout of the glacier. Allow 4 hours with a big pack from the roadside waterfall to the south glacier. There are a few decent bivy spots on bedrock just before the glacier at GR779639. The 35-40 degree snow gully (seen from road) from the glacier up to the pinnacle is not shown on the map, but heads towards GR776651. That's all I can tell you; the rest is up to you.

Mount King Edward approach

-For Mount King Edward, stay on Bush River Road as far as possible. The road ends at km126, but may not be driveable that far.(It was okay in Aug 2000). The last clearcut is at GR703688 on NTS map 83 C/3. At this final clearcut in 1991, Andy and I erected a crude sign saying "TRAIL". Hike north through semi-open forest, gradually angling up to the left to gain open meadows along the ridge. Continue towards the objective. Allow 4-5 hrs to edge of glacier; 1.5 hrs from edge of glacier to foot of Mt King Edward. The southwest side of Mount Columbia dominates the view. Unlike the glaciated east face, this side is all rock. (About 5.5 or so, apparently.)

- Reaching these peaks is a long, rattling drive which is at first dull, but improves to spectacular. Mountaineers will relish the views of the Adamant Range, glaciers, waterfalls, and peaks towering thousands of feet above.