Mount Laughington

Mount Laughington is one of those Chilliwack hikes that flies under the radar but delivers way more than you’d expect. The official Mount Laughington trail is about 12.9 km out and back with roughly 854 m of gain to around 1772 m, usually tagged as “challenging,” but most locals find it more long than brutal. The real grind is often the access, not the climb.

Once you’re actually on the Mount Laughington trail, the grade is steady and not especially steep, winding through forest with plenty of shade before opening to wide views of the Cheam Range from a different angle than the busier Chilliwack classics. On clear days you get big valley views and rolling ridgelines, and in winter and spring it turns into a mellow snowshoe plod if you pick the safer line. Dogs can handle it, and you’re unlikely to be jostling for space with crowds.

Current reports are all about the road and brush: Airplane Creek FSR is rough, with washouts, alder “tunnels,” and tight spots where anything wider than an ATV or high-clearance 4x4 will struggle or not be able to turn around. Many hikers are now parking lower and walking an extra 4 km each way, which pushes the day over 20 km and into 9–11 hour territory. Expect overgrown sections, fresh flagging in spots, aggressive mosquitoes in summer, lingering snow and slick travel in spring, and bring spikes or snowshoes if you’re going early season; late June through fall is the most straightforward window for Mount Laughington near Chilliwack.