Alouette Mountain via Eric Dunning Trail

Alouette Mountain via Eric Dunning Trail is a long, grindy day out in Golden Ears Provincial Park near Maple Ridge, with a reputation for big views and tired legs. The stats tell the story: about 20 km out and back, roughly 1,188 m of gain, topping out around 1,357 m. It’s classed as difficult for a reason, and most locals are taking 8–10 hours return, not the 2-hour fantasy you’ll sometimes see on apps.

The first stretch from the Mike Lake side and along the Eric Dunning Trail feels friendly enough, mixing old logging road, rail grade, and well-marked singletrack up to the Beautiful Lake Y junction. After that, the character changes: more roots, more water on the trail, a few downed trees, and some sketchy old bridges and slick planks that demand attention, especially in the wet or with a dog. On a clear day, the summit of Alouette Mountain delivers wide-open 360-degree views over Maple Ridge, Golden Ears, Mount Baker, and out toward Vancouver Island, which is why people still slog through the rougher upper section.

Recent hikers report the trail in “okay but neglected” shape: some bridges have been replaced, but others are rotted or missing, and there are muddy stretches with water running right down the path. Expect bugs in summer, minimal water after the first couple of kilometres, and a distance that often records closer to 23–25 km than the posted 20. Snow typically starts somewhere between 800–1,100 m in the colder months, with microspikes helpful early season and snowshoes needed when it piles up to 2–4 feet near the top. This is not a first-big-hike objective; go in with solid fitness, a full day, traction in shoulder season, and a backup plan if cloud or fog rolls in and hides the payoff.