Richardson Lake Trail

Richardson Lake Trail is a steep climb through the coastal mountains of the Sunshine Coast, BC, ending at the beautiful Richardson Lake. The trail consists of many different sections, each with its own challenges. Get ready for steep grades and numerous off-camber climbs caused by washouts. If you are traveling this trail in the summertime, be prepared for lots of dust—this is especially important to consider when traveling in a convoy. Washouts have created small depressions in the road that act like inverted speed bumps and can be hard to spot in certain lighting conditions. A steep, loose-gravel climb leads up the mountain toward the lake. You’ll encounter many loose rocks and some steep washouts. Overgrown shrubbery and trees make the trail quite narrow—BC pinstripes (scratches from vegetation) are unavoidable. Off-camber climbs combined with loose dirt and rocks make some sections tricky to navigate. The lake at the top of the trail is an excellent campsite, but space is very limited and cannot accommodate many groups at once. Be sure to leave the site as you found it—or better. A 4x4 vehicle is required, and at least 9" of ground clearance is recommended.