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The Cottonwood Trail is an 83 km ¾ loop that can be started at either Kathleen Lake or the Mush Lake Road. The trail varies from 4-wheel drive road to single track; it passes through stands of spruce and poplar; crosses two mountain passes, and follows through open meadows. For the adrenalin thirsty, the highlight of this trail may be the adventurous creek crossings. A variety of wildlife including Dhal sheep, mountain goat, grizzly and black bear, ptarmigan, owl, moose and others inhabit the area. The trail is marked with km posts in most areas, and is relatively easy to follow. There are few bridges on this trail so hikers must be prepared to wade creeks in order to cross. During high water, it is recommended that people leave from the Kathleen Lake side of the loop, as Victoria Creek can be challenging and sometimes impassable. This hike requires 4-6 days to complete, but longer trips are possible. The Cottonwood Trail can commonly be hiked from June to early September.
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