On June 22nd, 2024 I finally tackled a beautiful but relentlessly steep trail in Chilliwack, BC, Goat Ridge Trail. Thankfully it was a mild day out weather wise, as it would have been tougher in the summer heat. Especially since there are no water sources on this trail. This trail is definitely not for the faint of heart, but if you are able to, I would highly recommend doing this trail at least once!
How to Get There
To get to the trailhead you need to drive almost all the way down Chilliwack Lake Road until you get to the Lindeman Lake parking lot. I recommend parking here. Some people park along the road right before Lindeman Lake parking as this is where the trailhead starts. The trailhead is on the same side of the road as the Lindeman Lake parking lot. Since it’s so close to the parking lot I just prefer to be in an actual parking lot.
You can download the offline Goat Ridge AllTrails Map (if you have a membership) and it will show you exactly where the trailhead starts. The trail is pretty well marked and straight forward but because this trail does continue on to summit Goat Mountain, the map is also helpful for knowing when you’ve reached the end of the ridge.
Trail Details
The trail starts out with a brief flat section. Quickly, you are greeted with the first, of many, rope sections. The second rope section is the longest, and to me, the most sketchy section. If you get past this section then you should be fine the rest of the trail, other than having to endure more steep terrain all throughout the trail. The other tricky thing to navigate on this trail is loose dirt, this is particularly challenging on the way down. I normally hike faster on the way down but I was definitely slowed down by this as I was concerned about slipping.
This trail is definitely not for beginners. You need to be in good hiking shape. Be sure to carry plenty of water (at least 2L or more on a hot day) and have the rest of the 10 essentials. Wear proper grippy hiking boots as well. I hike regularly and this trail was rough for me.
Your first viewpoint is a stunning view up above Lindeman lake. As you climb up higher you begin to get views of Chilliwack Lake, plus the views of all the surrounding mountains in the area. We did not go all the way to the end of the ridge because we weren’t expecting the views to change much by continuing on.
Final Thoughts
I am glad I finally checked Goat Ridge Trail off the list but it’s a one and done trail for me! What makes this trail worth it is the views of course. It doesn’t take long before you start reaching the multiple viewpoints on this trail. That’s what kept me going for sure. If I did convince myself to go back then my goal would be to carry on to Goat Mountain summit. For more ideas for trails in Chilliwack check out the Chilliwack Hikes List here.
After we got back down from the hike we went over to Chilliwack Lake to have dinner and take a dip in the lake. You get very dusty and sweaty on this hike so I highly recommend doing that!
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