Backpacking Mount MacFarlane in Chilliwack: A Complete Guide
Mount MacFarlane is one of my favorite backpacking trips near Vancouver. It’s a challenging hike but the views from the top make it one of the most beautiful alpine hikes in the Fraser Valley.
To reach Mount MacFarlane you need to follow the trail to Pierce Lake, where you can decide to either camp overnight or continue to Upper Pierce Lake.
Unlike other popular hikes near Vancouver, such as Joffre Lakes or Garibaldi Lake, that require advance reservation, you don’t need a permit to backpack Mount MacFarlane. This makes it an ideal option for a last-minute weekend trip.
Below, I’ll go over all the essential details for hiking Mount MacFarlane, including where to camp, how difficult the trail is, the best time to go, current trail conditions and more.
Key Stats and Trail Overview
How to Get to the Mount MacFarlane Trailhead
If you’re driving from Vancouver, you’ll reach the Mount MacFarlane trailhead in about 2 hours. Start by heading east on Highway 1 toward Chilliwack, then take the exit for Vedder Road.
From there, continue along Chilliwack Lake Road for approximately 22 km until you reach the parking lot for Pierce Lake and Mount MacFarlane. This is the starting point for the trail. If you continue driving a few more kilometers, you’ll also reach the trailheads for Lindeman Lake, Flora Peak, and Greendrop Lake.
The trailhead is located along a paved road and is accessible by any standard vehicle. Unlike Cheam Peak, you do not need a high-clearance vehicle to access the Mount MacFarlane trailhead.
Parking at Mount MacFarlane Trailhead
The parking lot for Pierce Lake and Mount MacFarlane is small and located directly off Chilliwack Lake Road. On summer weekends in particular, parking spots fill up quickly, so arriving early is highly recommended.
Best Time to Hike Mount MacFarlane
Mount MacFarlane is one of my favorite backcountry trips near Vancouver, but it’s also one of the hardest I’ve done. The first section of the hike is especially steep and physically demanding, which is why I don’t recommend attempting it in winter or during the shoulder season.
The best time to hike Mount MacFarlane is from July to September, when most of the snow has melted from the trail. In Canada, June is still considered shoulder season in the backcountry, and there’s a high chance of lingering snow at higher elevations.
That said, conditions can vary significantly from year to year. I highly recommend checking recent trail reports and current conditions before heading out.
Trail Conditions and What to Expect
Best Camping Spots on Mount MacFarlane Trail
There two main camping spots along the Mount MacFarlane trail.
1. Lower Pierce Lake
Lower Pierce Lake is a popular overnight camping area on the trail to Mount MacFarlane and we chose to camp here ourselves.
The campground is ideal for breaking the Mount MacFarlane hike into a two-day trip. If you’re carrying heavier gear, camping here saves some extra distance and elevation gain compared to pushing straight to the upper lake.
There aren’t many flat spots to pitch a tent along Lower Pierce Lake, as the shoreline is steep and forested. The main camping area is located on the right at the end of the forested trail, just as the lake comes into view through the trees.
2. Upper Pierce Lake
Although Upper Pierce Lake offers more open alpine views than Lower Pierce Lake, it’s also much more exposed to wind. You can find space for about 7–10 tents along the lake, giving more room compared to Lower Pierce Lake.
Upper Pierce Lake is a better choice if you want open alpine scenery, be closer to the Mount MacFarlane summit and are prepared to carry extra weight a bit further.
On our trip, we chose to day hike to Mount MacFarlane from Upper Pierce Lake on the second day.
Water Access Along Mount MacFarlane Trail
The first reliable water source on the Mount MacFarlane Trail, is a few km from the trailhead and at Pierce Creek, about 4 km from the trailhead. So make sure you’re carrying enough water to comfortably reach that point.
The next major water source is at Lower Pierce Lake. The water access is also one of the main reasons why this is a great camping spot.
If you continue towards Upper Pierce Lake, you’ll a few small water streams along the way. Just keep in mind that in late summer these can dry up. So, I’d recommend carrying enough water from Lower Pierce Lake to make it all the way up to Upper Pierce Lake.
Upper Pierce Lake is another major and reliable water source before pushing on toward the Mount MacFarlane summit.
As always, make sure to filter or treat any water you collect.
Section Breakdown to Mount MacFarlane
The hike to Mount MacFarlane can be split into three main sections.
The first section is the long and steep trail to Pierce Lake. This part gains most of the elevation early on and can feel relentless. But at least it’s shaded in the forest.
The second section continues from Lower Pierce Lake to Upper Pierce Lake. It’s still a steady climb but more manageable than the first section.
The final section is the push from Upper Pierce Lake to the Mount MacFarlane summit.
While the trail is technically the same, thinking of it in these three stages makes it much easier to understand and prepare for the overall difficulty.
1. Trailhead to Pierce Lake
From the parking lot, you’ll start climbing right away, following a steep forested trail toward Lower Pierce Lake. The first 2/3 of the hike are mostly in the trees. So views are limited. It’s definitely more of a grind than a scenic hike at this stage.
Before reaching Pierce Lake, you’ll pass two reliable water sources where you can refill your bottles. After that, a series of steady switchbacks leads you the rest of the way up to Lower Pierce Lake.
We decided to camp at Pierce Lake for the night and save Mount MacFarlane for a day hike the following morning. I highly recommend doing so if you want to break up the elevation gain.
We spent the afternoon relaxing on the dock, soaking in the mountain views and floating in the lake. It was the perfect way to recover from the climb.
Just keep in mind that camping space at Pierce Lake is limited, so if you’re planning a weekend backpacking trip near Vancouver, I’d suggest arriving early to secure a good spot.
2. From Lower Pierce Lake to Upper Pierce Lake
The trail from Pierce Lake to Upper Pierce Lake isn’t as steep as the first section, which is a nice change. There are a few short scrambling sections along the way, but nothing too technical.
There’s only one reliable water source on this stretch, and it’s closer to Upper Pierce Lake. Because of that, I’d recommend carrying enough water to get you through most of this section comfortably.
Upper Pierce Lake offers quite a bit more camping space compared to Lower Pierce Lake, but it’s also more popular. So it tends to feel busier, especially on summer weekends.
It’s also more exposed, which means it can get surprisingly cold at night, even in the middle of summer. That said, the views are unbeatable. The alpine lake has a deep, dark blue color and the viewpoints over the valley are absolutely incredible.
3. Upper Pierce Lake to Mount MacFarlane Summit
From Upper Pierce Lake, it takes about another hour to reach the Mount MacFarlane summit. This was easily my favorite section of the entire hike. No matter which direction you look the views are absolutely incredible the whole way up.
Because this hike is considered difficult, it doesn’t attract as many casual day hikers. That means the summit is often uncrowded.
At the top, you’re rewarded with incredible views of the Cascade Mountains, Pierce Lake below and the surrounding Fraser Valley. It’s the kind of summit where you’ll want to sit for a while and just take it all in.
Other Scenic Hikes in the Area
1. Cheam Peak
Cheam Peak is one of the most scenic fall hikes near Vancouver, when the meadows on the mountain slopes are covered in colorful flowers and foliage.
It’s not a difficult hike but the difficulty is in reaching the trailhead. The road up the mountain is not maintained and has many washouts. Therefore, if you care about your vehicle, I’d only recommend doing this hike in a high-clearance vehicle.
2. Flora Peak
Hiking to Flora Peak is a hard but rewarding hike. I did it as a backpacking trip to Flora Lake, where I spent the night, before ascending Flora Peak the next day.
3. Lindeman Lake
Lindeman Lake is an easy hike in the Chilliwack area. The trailhead is shared with 3 popular hikes, making it a busy area. But the alpine lake is crystal clear and you can even spend the night camping by the lake. For an extra challenge or a longer hike you can continue to Greendrop Lake or even Flora Lake.
