Start: Chain Lakes/Fowl Lake trailhead 1224m
Turnaround/Camp: Fowl Lake 1515m
Finish: Chain Lakes/Fowl Lake trailhead 1224m
Route: Chain Lakes/Fowl Lake Trail
Distance: 10.22 km return
Elevation Gain: 349m
Notables: Trailhead is off Owl Creek FSR just shy of a cutback where there’s a fork in the road and 10km signage. Parking available at switchback on road prior to trailhead but ensure you pass walking bridge to Little Owl Lake and signed trailhead for Owl Lake.
FSR is in good shape due to active logging but very steep. Low gearing and slow speeds. With an older vehicle we divide road into 2 legs with a break in between to cool engine and breaks. Looks like weather could easily impact conditions.
Trail is in good condition and in 1.71 km arrives at an intersection. L heads 3.4 km up to Fowl Lake and straight reveals the largest of the chain lakes (1281m) in less than 100m. Stay R heading to Chain Lake for a quality waterfront clearing rest option.
The Trail to Fowl lake climbs over 50m past the lake’s elevation before descending again. The last 1.5 km to the Lake meanders scenic sub-alpine terrain with numerous small lakes and ponds. Travel may be slowed navigating wet terrain which seems to braid traffic causing mild rout-finding challenges.
There is a quality, flagged campsite with great scenery and waterfront access but no outhouse or bear cache. Many running water options around the lake. The most substantial flows from upper Fowl Lake on the NW side of the lake just over 1km from camp.
Gen carried almost everything again like a champ without complaint.
I went slow, rested often and before needing to which allowed for decisive movement and control. Side-stepping side-hill terrain, walking backwards down steeper grades, as well as suffering are a few other handy strategies.
The first of Chain Lakes was larger and more scenic than anticipated.
Trail to Fowl gets steeper immediately thereafter but offers superb vantage overlooking chain lakes 1.3 km past the intersection.
Good footwear was appreciated nearing Fowl Lake as conditions are wetter here. Pink flagging helps route-finding a trail that generally keeps a consistent heading and is, at times, not visually obvious.
Fowl Lake was also larger and landscapes more impressive than anticipated.
Quality campsite in a sub-alpine meadow with plenty large trees surrounding for hanging food. Good waterfront access and swimming options.
Ample space in camp for multiple parties made it disappointing to see fire pits crafted elsewhere spreading impact.
Enjoyable lakeside trail enroute to drainage from Upper Fowl lake made for a great evening walk.
Would like more time to explore the ridge-lines surrounding the lake as well as do remaining traverse to Upper Fowl, Ogre, and finally Tenquille Lake.
Gave the vehicle an extra rest enroute down. Rewarded with fabulously shaded berries roadside which had not yet dried out.
Keep stoking the fire.
Stoking the fire 