Distance : 2.9km from Odegaard Falls Viewpoint trail head, 4km to Hammer Lake and an additional 2km to Iroquos Ridge lookout.
Elevation Gain : 130m from Odegaard Falls trailhead, 300m to Hammer Lake, 500m from Hammer Lake to War Drum Glacier viewpoint.
Difficulty : Moderate.
This trail route leads into the heart of the Coast Mountain wilderness through dense high elevation forest to more open sub-alpine parkland and then onto lushly-flowered alpine meadows that lead to imposing jagged peaks. The trail starts off through a subalpine forest of Englemann Spruce, Mountain Hemlock and Subalpine Fir where huckleberries are plentiful in season.
The trail can be quite wet at certain times of the year or during/after prolonged wet weather. There is a large section of boardwalk closer to the lakes where the trail opens up into subalpine meadows. The views of the surrounding mountains are impressive. Pearl Peak with its glacier plastered on the side can be seen beyond the meadows and lakes.
An alpine viewpoint is the final destination with amazing views of Iroquos Ridge and its glacier ice fall over the Noeick River. South-east is the route to Ape Lake and the peaks of the Monarch Icefield, including the looming pyramid of Mt. Jacobsen. Beyond the viewpoint the route to Ape Lake requires a map and compass and should only be attempted by experienced, well prepared hikers. There is no flagged trail yet.
How to get there
Start at the Odegaard Falls viewpoint trail parking lot, then drive an additional 2.9km. There are a couple of slide areas that are sometimes impassable due to snow and debris. If this is the case, you can park and walk to the Hammer Lakes trailhead. On your way, keep an eye out for mountain goats grazing on the slopes on the opposite side of the valley. Look for a sign marking the start of the trail above the road just before a bridge. Follow the easily discernable trail and boardwalks to the meadows where the lakes can be seen a few hundred meters below the trail. You can leave the main trail and take a swampy walk down to the lakes.
To get to the alpine viewpoint the trail stays left of the lakes and climbs through forest into an alpine bowl filled with wildflowers. Take note where the trail leaves the forest as it may be difficult to find on your return. Continue south diagolnally across and up the bowl towards the small notch along the ridge line. The viewpoins is located in the prominent boulder field.
