Mount St. Benedict Loop

Mount St. Benedict Loop in Mission is one of those hikes that looks reasonable on paper and then humbles you in real life. At 12.6 km with about 1,010 m of gain and a high point around 1,277 m, this is a solid, leg-burning day out that usually takes around 5.5 to 6 hours. It’s classed as difficult for a reason: long logging road grinds, a steep push to the summit, and some route-finding thrown in for good measure.

The loop starts with forested switchbacks before spitting you onto classic BC logging road, exposed and a bit of a slog on hot days. McKay Lake is the first real reward, a great early-season swim spot before it shrinks later in summer. From there, the climb to Mount St. Benedict’s summit ramps up quickly, but the payoff is big wide views of nearby Cascade peaks, plus a paragliding launch area and open ridges that make the effort feel worth it.

Right now, locals are saying to hike Mount St. Benedict Loop counterclockwise if you do the full loop, but many actually prefer going up via McKay Lake and returning the same way to avoid the long, boring logging road section. Expect overgrown stretches on the east side, some downed trees near the top, lingering snow at higher elevations, and a lot of bugs around the peak once things warm up. Have a GPS track handy, avoid this one in heavy rain when the snow is slick, and aim for a clear day between late spring and fall to get the most out of the views.