Lone Goat Mountain from Gibson Pass

Lone Goat Mountain from Gibson Pass is one of the big leg-burners in E.C. Manning Park, and it earns every step. This 21.7 km out-and-back climbs about 1,168 m to just under 2,000 m, so expect a full day out and a solid workout. It’s rated difficult for a reason, but if you’re fit and patient, the ridge and summit views make the grind worthwhile.

The trail from Gibson Pass climbs steadily through forest for the first 6–8 km with not much to look at besides trees and roots, so settle into a rhythm and don’t expect early payoffs. Once you pop onto the ridge near Snow Camp Mountain, Manning Park finally opens up: long valleys, rolling ridgelines, and in summer, wildflowers lining the path and the summit slopes. The final 500 m up Lone Goat Mountain is very steep and exposed, but the top gives wide open views in all directions, with that classic feeling of seeing the tiny trail you just walked along the neighbouring ridge.

As of late June 2025, the Lone Goat Mountain from Gibson Pass trail is snow-free, dry, and recently cleared of deadfall, with wildflowers just starting and bugs more annoying than vicious. The catch is water: there are only a few small streamlets in the first 4 km, and they dry up quickly, so carry more than you think you need. Weather in Manning Park turns fast, with thunder, hail, and smoke all possible in a single day, so pack layers and a shell, start early, and aim to hike this route from roughly July through early fall when access and conditions are most reliable.