Monarch Mountain Trail is a few kilometres south of Atlin, B.C. I hiked it on July 3, 2021.
I recorded a video that provides a good idea of what the hike entails (terrain, views, and such).
I arrived at the parking lot, next to Warm Bay Road, at around 11:15 a.m. I was a little surprised that I was the only person there at the time.
The trail starts across the road.
According to the provincial government, the hike is about three kilometres in length. There is an elevation gain of about 762 metres, making for a four-hour roundtrip.
Early into the hike, there is a gravel road to cross. A sign (pictured below) marks where the hike continues. Not long after, there is a driveway to cross.
The trail is well defined, and I can’t imagine many hikers getting lost on it. On my way back, I did get a little lost for a minute trying finding the trail, specifically that stretch after crossing the driveway again.
I met one hiker travelling with two dogs. One was hers, the other is apparently a local that is known to randomly join up with others on the trail.
I didn’t complete the entire hike. I got to an area known as the “false summit.”
Beyond that, there is a descent, a pond, and then another hill (pictured). It didn’t seem like the most worthwhile portion for me — the views were decent enough for me already — so I didn’t complete that last leg of the trail.
Speaking of the views, the hike offers satisfying views of Atlin, Atlin Lake, Atlin Mountain, and Teresa Island, among others.
I got back to my car at about 6:30 p.m., so that about was about seven-hour trip. I could have probably shaved two or three hours off that if I didn’t spend so much time taking photos and videos, talking with random people I met, and such.
As someone fairly out of shape and who had not hiked for months prior, I found the hike to be fairly gruelling. It was about as exhausting as Upper Dewey Lake.
My legs remembered this hike for a couple days.
The trail is exposed in many stretches. It’s also narrow and tree-lined in other areas, offering lots of shady spots to relax.
I didn’t see any bears or much wildlife on or near the trail. I did see a bear crossing a road near a gas station shortly before entering Atlin.
Several people told me that this hike is a must when visiting the Atlin area.
I explored the area a few days later (after my legs recovered), and the hike definitely was one of the most notable experiences there.