GDT

Hidden Creek Access

Distance: 8km to GDT at forks. Elevation gain: 120m. The access trail, on active logging and ATV trails, is not blazed or signposted.

Access: From the junction of Hwy 940 and the Oldman Recreation Area access road, drive 7km. Turn left into a meadow and park. Or drive slightly further and park near a gated logging bridge. Do not block the gate.

First, you must cross the Oldman River. At the moment (2011), there is a logging bridge but it will no doubt be removed once logging operations are complete. Slightly upstream of the bridge is a cutline, which is the usual ATV crossing point. Or, like me, you can ford the river from the meadow, just above the confluence with Hidden Creek.

If starting at the bridge or cutline, simply get on the logging road and start walking through the cutblock. If starting at the forks, push through the trees (game trails) to the cut block. Keep to the edge of the block and climb a ridge on a good trail. Upon reaching the logging road, turn left. The road climbs a hill to a cattle guard at a drift fence, then drops downward. At the next hill, keep left to avoid a steep descent on ATV tracks. Where the road goes left across Hidden Creek, turn right onto an older logging road (blue arrows on the trees).

It's not a very exciting road. Entertain yourself negotiating ATV-induced mudholes. A km after the turnoff, go past corrals in trees across the creek. At a road fork, go left to avoid hills. After about 6km reach a meadow with hunter camps. Immediately past the meadow, ford the creek, cross a very boggy meadow and then ford the creek again. In 2011, after heavy winter snows, these crossings were quite high.  It may be possible to by-pass on the right.

Now in dryer, willowy meadow, cross several empty stream beds. Reach the GDT at a T-junction beside a snowmobile sign reading "115". Go right for Cache Creek. Go left for Tornado Mountain. The bridge across Hidden Creek is downstream of the ford, and is itself rather hidden. This bridge is in poor condition.