Mother’s Day Hill (East Kootenay BC)

Welcome to Mother’s Day Hill in the East Kootenay region of BC and out near Cranbrook. It’s an easy trek up the top of this little hump and while the summit is treed, there’s a superb viewpoint later on. You can gaze down at the St Mary River below and off in the distance to a great wall of rock called the Steeples. The grade is pretty moderate and most of hike is along old roads.

It begins along St Mary River Forest Service Road (South St Mary’s Creek Road on Google) off the Perry Creek Road, just a little west of Wycliffe. Go just about two clicks down the gravel, and park at a widening near the cattle guard. The trail is quite obvious and can be seen heading off into the bush on your left.

Expect to share the trail with motorized equipment and in our case, one group passed by near the viewpoint. We heard them coming and we made ourselves obvious so as not to startle. Otherwise we had the trail pretty much to ourselves and saw only one other hiker. Based on droppings seen, equestrian riders (coming in from the nearby Three Bars Guest Ranch?) also use the trail.

Head up the road, which soon bends left and maintains a steady but never too steep ascent angle. There’s some loose material underfoot at times, and ATVs have chewed it up in places, but otherwise nothing of note. There’s the occasional meadow to break the monotony of the forest and stop and take in some giants along the trail. If these ancient trees could speak, what amazing things they could share. Look for strawberries, if in season, off to the side of the road. We heard many grouse, but they kept hidden from view.

Balsam Root clumps grow well in grassy spots and are lovely when in flower, but that shipped had sailed by the time we visited. Note how well the lichen grows in these parts and some tree trunks were coloured a bright green. Look down for patches of stonecrop and their little clusters of yellow flowers.

There’s the occasional offshoot trail, but just look for the most well used path to keep on track. You’ll be always heading up for the most part and if you find yourself dropping down quickly, or attacking a steep and loose slope made by ATVs head on means you’ve likely gone astray. The summit is on the eastern side of the hill, and you’re presently south of it, and keep this mind as you go.

Mother’s Day Hill isn’t that big, in any sense, but with Connie’s ongoing health problems, presented a real challenge. Cheer her on and know that the issue’s been addressed and hopefully not permanent. It’s transient side effects from post Cancer treatment and makes walking extremely difficult at times.

Do a large sweeping curve and continue eastward-ish now, right at a large meadow, then soon after turn left (north-ish) and it’s back in to the trees. Where they thin again, note a singletrack trail heading off to your right. This is the way to the viewpoint and I guess you could make it your singular goal, but we like to summit. Just because. Haha, summit – that’s what you call it on this little hill? Trees block view up there for the most part, but it’s still a worthwhile destination – to say you did it.

Bend right (east-ish again) and enter another meadow, then it’s back into the trees and soon after arrive at a small rock outcropping that marks the top of Mother’s Day Hill. Here’s a nice lunch spot and sit back for a while to enjoy the peace and quiet. There’s some limited views to the southeast but better ones to come, so we’ll chat about the scenery then. There’s wine to drink, after all, and we’ll raise a toast and offer up a high five for a certain brave person.

Retrace your steps and then take the spur trail described earlier heading east-ish. It rises and falls with the land and emerges atop a little bench above a minor cliffband. It’s completely wide open to the east and south. The car, as the crow flies, is not far away, but hundreds of metres lower.

Look across the Rocky Mountain Trench and take in the Steeples, a range of mountains looking as though a wall. Fisher Peak is the highest of them all. Below, it’s the St Mary River and note the prominent bluffs on its east bank. To the south, Mount Baker is most notable, but nothing compared to the precipitous Steeples. Cranbrook is not far away in that direction, but blocked from view by a low ridge. This is a beautiful scene and we could stay all day.

The little community of Wycliffe is not far away, there’s pastures and if you look close, the Kimberley to Cranbrook highway can be spotted. It’s busy with traffic, but here you’ll be far removed from all the chaos. Where are they all going, and for what reason, and why the hurry, guys? Vast swaths of forest to the south are broken by the occasion cutblock here and there.

Mother’s Day Hill is accessible all year round and wouldn’t make for a bad bike ride either.

What’s in a name? Mother’s Day Hill is unofficial, but why it was given this title and by who is a bit of a mystery. I’m sure there’s a good story here.

Once ready (no one really wants to leave such a wonderful spot, right?) retrace your steps to the last junction and once hooked up with the old road, follow it down to your car. We noted in some trip reports that people have bushwhacked it down, for variety.

Arriving…damn, the BIGDoer-mobile’s still there. Should have left it open and running but even then no one will touch it. Bwahaha – zip ties! I guess we should splurge and buy a new wheel cover. Setting up a Go-Fund-Me as we speak!

On the way out, we stop in Wycliffe Regional Park and play a little disc golf (thanks Sonny Bou for the idea). That is one challenging course (for us neophytes), with extra long fairways and difficult lines. It ate us up, spit out and left us licking our wounds. The final tally was so far over par that we don’t dare mention the numbers for fear of embarrassment, but we’d do well if style points were considered. Anyway, we’re not very good at it and the sore arms that came this, a reminder for days.

Know more (new tab): East Kootenay BC Hiking and Wycliffe Regional Park.

They’re saying…

”You guys are awesome sauce!” Peter Schoenfelder. (Our most favourite comment ever!)

Moderate bumps with nice views…
Devil’s Hole (East Kootenay BC) and it’s actually a heavenly hike.
Eagle Hill via Seventy Buck Valley.
Strawberry Hills.

If you wish more information about this route or if you love to chat don’t hesitate to contact us!

Date of adventure: July, 2022.
Location: Near Cranbrook BC.
Distance: 8km total.
Height gain maximum: 330m.
Height gain cumulative: 430m.
NOTE: all distances and heights are approximate and may differ slightly from other trip reports (including our own).

Mother’s Day Hill: it begins!

It’s an old road and easy going.

A break in the trees.

Tiny but bursting with flavour.

Some giants along the trail.

There’s meadows along the way.

Looking south-ish.

Right at this junction – Balsam Root clumps line the trail.

Big and dead.

Not far to go to now.

A reward awaits…

High fives!

And summit wine!

Here’s the view.

Connie deserves a cheer – read the post to know more.

On to the viewpoint.

Passed by a group of motorcyclists.

Lichens grow well in the area.

Mount Baker in back.

The car, as the crow flies, is not far away.

The viewpoint is just a little lower than the summit.

St Mary River below and the Steeples far in back.

Patches of stonecrop here and there.

Dropping down.

Back at St Mary River Forest Service Road.

Bwahaha!

Winding down with a little disc golf in Wycliffe.

The Mother’s Day Hill Route – lower stub lead to viewpoint.