NOTE: above the first lake, there is no marked trail and routefinding skills are needed.
Synopsis: It can be confusing getting to the ridge, but the close-up views of southern Glacier National Park are worth it.
Access: From the lights in Golden, drive south on Highway 95 for 35 kilometres and turn right on the Parson River Crossing Road. Set your odometer to zero here. Cross the Columbia River and its back channels on the five bridges and head up the hill on the Spillimacheen FSR.
There are many branches off this road, but stay on the main road. At 17 km, take the north fork (straight ahead.) Past 57 km, cross the Spillimacheen River on a bridge. Stay left at the first junction immediately after the bridge at 57.4 km (don't go to Baird Lake). Stay right at 58.1 km. Stay left at 58.7 km. Stay right at 60.6 km (don't cross the creek). After 62.5, the road is quite rough. The road ends at 67.5 in a parking area, which is even rougher than the road.
Trailhead: There has never been a trailhead easier to find. Some hoe operator with way too much time on his hands has built two enormous cairns, one on each side of the trail at the south end of the parking area. There is also the old forest rec site sign leaning against the left hand cairn.
Trail: The trail is easy to follow. It follows the west bank of Caribou Creek for several hundred metres before turning right and climbing steeply up the hill. When the trail goes from steep to flat, turn right and follow the faint trail to a lovely little lake about 200 metres to the north. Skirt the lake on the right, cross the creek at the far end, and sit and enjoy the scenery for a while. That's the glacier on Silent Mountain you see beyond the lake.
The rest of this trip requires some routefinding, but the reward is well worth it. Head north from the end of the lake, and start angling to the left, towards the end of the rocky hill. There is no trail here, but you will soon come across an old campground, with some very old firewood stacked up between trees. (Ah, the late, great forestry recreation program.) Beyond the campground, you will find the beginnings of a trail that soon peters out. Again, head up the hill and slightly to the left. When you see a chance, cut straight up the hill. You actually need to cut back to the left a bit to get into the alpine bowl you are seeking. One thing to keep in mind is that you need to keep close to the outlet creek from the lakes above, although slightly to the right (north.) There is a lovely waterfall at the top of all that rock, if you persevere. From the waterfall, cross the creek and climb the steep grassy slope above, then cut right and enter a small, wet bowl. Cross the branches of the creek and climb the rocky slope on the right side to the top of the hill. From here, head left to a couple more little lakes, and then climb on the right side to another alpine bowl.
You can't see it, but there is a large lake at the back of this bowl, below the rocky hill behind. Head for the lake. Skirt it to the right, and climb the steep grassy ramp to the next level. Over the next ridge, there is yet another lake, and the easiest route is to head for the far end of the lake, and then climb up the rocky slope behind. This is one of those frustrating bowls where the next ridge is not the last, but keep going. Eventually, you will reach a ridge at the back of the bowl, and you can stop working and start gazing.
This ridge forms the eastern boundary of the southern end of Glacier National Park, and the view you are looking at is rarely seen. You are perched over the the upper Beaver River Valley, but it is the peaks and glaciers across the way that will grab your attention. From the left, you are looking at: Mount Duncan, Duncan Glacier, Beaver Mountain, Duncan Neve, Sugarloaf Mountain, Beaver Glacier, Grand Glacier, Grand Mountain, Deville Neve, and Mount Wheeler. The non-glaciated peak to the north is Beaver Overlook, and further north is Mount Topham, then the gap for Glacier Circle, a glimpse of the Illecillewaet Neve, and finally Mount Macoun.
Once you've absorbed all that, if you have the energy, climb the steep grassy slope to the north for the really great views. From this lofty point at 2500 metres, you can look all the way north to the Trans Canada Highway up the Beaver River, as well as way down south along the Duncan River. You also get a great view of the Battle Range. In fact, there isn't much you can't see from up here.
One the way down, if you keep right after the waterfall, you willl find yourself directly above the first lake. No problem. Keep heading to the right, work your way downhill to the left whenever you can, and you will hit the flat area just south of where the marked trail leads to your car.
Cautions: