The Slesse Memorial Trail is nestled in the Cascade Mountains near the town of Chilliwack, BC. It is famous for its huge Northeast Buttress that can be climbed. It is a very special place to hike, as the trail passes a memorial plaque and crash site, remembering one of Canada’s worst aviation disasters that happened on December 9, 1956.
On this day, a Trans-Canada Airlines plane, destined for Calgary from Vancouver, crashed into the east face of the mountain and killing all 62 people on-board. This was, at the time, the worst airline crash in Canadian history. The plane also was carrying five CFL football players (Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Saskatchewan Roughriders) on board who were heading back East after the East-West All-Star game in Vancouver.
The crash site was not discovered until May of the following year by some mountaineers. Immediately a recovery effort was started to bring home the bodies of those who had perished. However, the crash was too high on the mountain’s sheer rock face, so instead 582 hectares on the East face of the mountain were designated a protected memorial site.
After the memorial plaque, the hiking trail continues up the to the base of Mount Slesse, also known as the propeller cairn, where a piece from one of the propellers from the plane is propped up and surrounded by other artifacts. Be sure that you are respectful of those who lost their lives and do not touch anything at the crash site. We felt very priviledged to be able to walk this trek. It truly is a mass grave in a very beautiful setting. It is very humbling when you get to the memorial cairn and consider what happened at that mountain; the sudden and catastrophic loss of life.
The 360 degree views from the propeller cairn is absolutely spectacular. As you stand in front of the humbling Mount Slesse, you can also see across the valley to Mount Rexford and the international mountains in Washington state.
Be aware that there is a lot of rock there. Rocks fall down the steep parts of the mountain frequently. We could hear the rock coming down.
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The hike took us three hours at a steady pace to reach the top, and two hours to make it back down. That does not include time we spent stopping eat lunch, fly the drone, or take photos. Allow extra time for yourself, and time to relax up top with the views. We found a lot of varying trail distances online; the trail is around 14.5km (out and back).
We were lucky with the mostly clear views during this hike as the smoky skies were rolling in from all of the horrible wildfires our US neighbours are battling.
Follow our journey up to the base of Mt Slesse:
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The Drone Views
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How to get to the Slesse Memorial Trail:
Follow Highway #1 (Trans-Canada Highway) to Chilliwack. Take exit #119 South. Follow Vedder Road until a round-about just before a bridge crossing the Vedder River. Go left onto Chilliwack Lake Road. After almost 30Km, turn right onto Nesakwatch Creek Forest Service Road. 400 meters after turning onto the service road, turn right at the t-junction. Follow this road for 5km to the trailhead. HOWEVER, you will need a 4×4 vehicle, or one with high clearance as you will be driving through many water bars (ditches). Otherwise, you could get stuck and damage your vehicle. Some drive in as far as they can, leave their vehicle on the side of the road and walk the rest of the way to the trailhead, which would add at least an hour each way.
Know before you go:
- You will not have cell service on this hike. Expect to lose cell service when you turn onto Chilliwack Lake Road.
- Dress in layers for changes in weather.
- Hiking boots recommended.
- Do not attempt the service road without a 4×4/high clearance vehicle.