GDT

Distance: 7.5 km from the bridge over the Oldman River to the Soda Creek access trail. Elevation gain: 350m. Elevation loss: 100m. Trail is marked with orange blazes and cairns. Two blazes indicate a change in direction.

For the first kilometre after the bridge, elevation is rapidly gained on good trail with two major boggy bits. Some reblazing and brush clearing was done on this section in 2009. Shortly after crossing a rushing stream, climb steeply and reach a T-junction. The GDT goes left, while a smaller trail goes right, leading in about 1km to beautiful Marmot Lake below the cliffs of Mt Lyall. This trail is popular with horse-riders and hikers from the Blue Bronna camp.

Lake below Mount Lyall (sidetrip)

Meanwhile, the GDT begins a 4.5km contouring traverse around the shoulder of Mt Lyall. The subalpine forest is pleasant, which is nice because that's all there is to see. Finally rounding the shoulder, the Trail descends to Lyall Creek. Cross on a bridge beside the horse ford. Now climb quite steeply up the south side of the valley to the south fork of the creek. Another steep climb takes you up into open larch country. Beehive Mountain dominates the view to the south. To the north, Mount Lyall lies slightly off to the west nearby, while in clear weather, the view to the north includes Mt Farquahar, the Cataract Plateau and even all the way to the Highwood range, 50km away.

Beehive Mountain from trail above Lyall Creek

The trail is now a series of ups and downs through open forest and across minor creekbeds. After the wooded traverse, you'll want to dawdle in this section, taking in the views. After rounding the shoulder of Beehive Mountain, greater views to the south also open up. Beneath the great east face of Beehive, at the bottom of a hollow over looking an ancient rockslide, a cairn and blue blazing on a dead tree indicate the turn off for the Soda Creek access trail.

About 1km down this trail, and after about 150m of elevation loss, is a grassy flat meadow beside an old rock slide. About another 50m east in the toe of the rock slide is a strong spring. However the game trail leading southeast from the meadow campsite does not go to the spring, so you will need to follow it a short distance, then listen.