Swansea Mountain Road

Trail Overview

This gravel trail is fun but steep! This is a fairly well-maintained road with switchbacks up the mountain. Depending on your vehicle, don't be surprised if you have to pull over and let your transmission cool down, as it is just that steep in sections. You are surrounded by forest all the way up, with minimal views until you reach the summit. Once at the parking lot at the top, it is a short .8km hike (also steep) up to the summit of the mountain and an incredible view of the valley.

Photos of Swansea Mountain Road

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Difficulty

This road is one to two lanes wide, depending on location. There are some very steep sections, but otherwise, it is an easy road!

History

Mount Swansea near Windermere, BC, has a rich history dating back to the early 1900s when copper was mined near the present-day parking area. Established as a BC Forest Service fire lookout in 1924, it served as a critical watchpoint from 1952 to 1992. Since the 1970s, the mountain has gained international fame as a premier hang gliding and paragliding launch site, with H. Portman being the first to take flight from its slopes.

Technical Rating