GDT

Distance:  Approx 7.5km from the trailhead to the GDT where it crosses the north fork; approx 8.5 km to a junction with the GDT on the south flank of Rye Ridge.  Elevation gain: 200m. 

Access:  Drive south on Hwy 940 from the junction with Hwy 541 at Highwood House.  After about 5.5km, turn right into the Etherington Creek campground.  Drive past the group campground to the Day Use parking area.  Park near the information sign.

This access has nicer walking (and is far shorter) than Cataract Creek, with better views than Baril Creek.   The trade off is unbridged three creek crossings - four if headed to Rye Ridge. 

Although you could walk through the campground, the meadow is nicer.  Take the gated road to the left of the information kiosk and head up the hill.  Turn right and walk straight across a meadow, past a group cooking shelter.  The road leaves the meadow on the far right side, beneath a turn left arrow. Walk around a gate. 

The road is easy going, and crosses the creek on an logging bridge, reaching a drift fence where the creek is pinched by ridges on either side. At 2.5km or so from the trailhead, arrive at a junction with signpost.  To the left is the Raspberry Pass snowmobile road.  To the right is a fork.  The road heading uphill leads to the Baril Loop snowmobile trail (and also Baril Creek), so take the left fork.  In the first of several meadows, the grassed over road is easy on the feet, with nice views of the mountains ahead.

 Baril Peak from the first meadow

Cross a bridge and enter the old sawmill site.  On the other side reach the first creek ford.  Flagging on the left suggested someone felt there was a better crossing, but it didn't seem that way to me.  Back on the north bank, the road continues its easy way to another junction with signpost, this one marking where the Baril Loop joins back in.  Keep left.  The road bends to the left then fords Etherington Creek twice separated by a couple hundred meters.  At the second crossing, the older ford to the left may be shallower.  At the top of the hill, a choice must be made.  

Left (requiring yet another creek crossing since the bridge has been removed) is the old (mid-90s) logging haul road. It climbs slightly then bends toward the mountains.  After admiring the fine views of the surrounding cutblocks, reach a junction.  The Rye Ridge snowmobile road climbs to the left.  The haul road continues west and at a spot difficult to identify, is crossed by the GDT.  Look for flagging and blazes.  The logging road continues, and can be admired from the Trail along the crest of Rye Ridge.

Back at the top of the hill, going straight leads up to the cutblocks on the north side of the valley. But since the trees below the road weren't harvested, there aren't many views as the road heads to the toe of the ridge on the right and bends in behind it.  Past some "Keep Right" signs, the road enters the valley of the north fork.  A few meters beyond the first pile of slash, the GDT comes in from the left at some flagging and a double blaze.