Hike Akamina Ridge

The trailhead to the Akamina Ridge is located along the Akamina Parkway, just about a mile before reaching Cameron Lake. The trailhead is to your right while heading toward Cameron Lake, and the trailhead sign says "Akamina."

The typical route for this hike is to take the first junction up to Forum Lake (after passing into British Columbia), and then hiking the ridge line east to west, before dropping down to Wall Lake and returning back on the initial trail you hiked in on.

Getting to Forum Lake is relatively easy. The 1.0 mile out to the junction provides a wide trail (used for horse traffic as well). Once the turnoff is taken, and after taking a quick look at Forum Falls, the trail begins to gain some good elevation for the next 1.5 miles up to Forum Lake.

Upon reaching Forum Lake you will find and follow the sign that says "Akamina Ridge." The trail along the west side of Forum Lake is the steepest and most challenging climb of the hike. It will continue to gain in vertical elevation as you get further from Forum Lake and closer to the north-south running bluff. After about 1.0 mile, the trail literally starts to head straight up the east side of the bluff through rocky cliffs. This is the most difficult part of the trail because there is a little scrambling involved as you work your way through the rocky cliffs (scattered rock cairns lead to the path of least resistance). Be sure to stop every once in a while to enjoy the incredible views back on Forum Lake.

Once you've hiked up the bluff and have turned to the east-west segment, you will have reached the "Akamina Ridge." You traverse this ridge for nearly the next 6 miles. As the trail takes you westward along the amazing Akamina Ridge, the views seem to get more and more incredible, especially to the south as you will gaze into the remote Northern Wilderness of Glacier National Park. The worn trail leads to the south side of a few of the ridge bumps, but you will be led to the middle/tallest bump if you just stay on the worn trail (reaching a small cairn at the peak of the ridge). The views to the south into Glacier National Park (U.S.A.) are absolutely amazing. Be sure to identify and admire gigantic Kintla Peak and towering Kinnerly Peak, as well as Upper Kintla Lake (with it's extremely blue waters) and the massive Agassiz Glacier to the east.

Running the Akamina Ridge line along the US/Canada border is exhilarating, as you take in the views on both sides, with sheer cliff drop-offs. As you come around Wall Lake on the ridge line, it turns to the north once again (following cairns along the way), until you reach the tree line and the trail starts its descent down to Wall Lake (about 1.0 west of the lake). The climb down goes through a tamarack forest into an open basin, all the while being dwarfed by the huge walls around Wall Lake.

Wall Lake is the refreshment you will need after conquering such an amazing feat - stripping down to our skivvies and jumping into the glacial runoff was epic. After such an incredible hike/run, the cold temps won't even matter. Take your time to enjoy this scenery...it truly was one of the best lake backdrops we've ever seen.

The trail from Wall Lake back to the car is roughly 3.0 miles, taking you through a forest and then eventually back to the main trail when the Forum Lake turnoff was.