About This Trail
The Crater Lake Trail begins from the parking area on the Hudson Bay Mountain ski road and climbs steeply through forest and sub-alpine meadow before entering rugged alpine terrain. As you approach the lake, the route traverses open scree slopes and a broad ridge with wide views over the Bulkley Valley and surrounding peaks. At the top, Crater Lake nestles beneath sheer rocky walls and lingering snow patches, creating a dramatic and remote alpine setting. Wildflowers fill the meadows in summer, and the lake serves as a rewarding destination, or a jumping-off point for a longer traverse toward the mountain summit.
Responsible Adventure
This trail supports sustainable tourism and local communities. Please follow Leave No Trace principles and respect the natural environment.
Trail Highlights
Crater Lake is a striking alpine tarn nestled in a glacial-carved cirque on the slopes of Hudson Bay Mountain. The lake sits beneath steep rock walls and often still holds patches of snow late into summer. The water reflects the surrounding cliffs and alpine terrain, creating a dramatic scene.
The lake is a popular destination for hikers and offers a tranquil, high-alpine setting with minimal human infrastructure, a true mountain gem near Smithers. The surrounding terrain mixes rock, scree slopes, and open alpine, which gives Crater Lake its special remote feel.
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Hudson Bay Mountain Prairie
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The prairie above Crater Lake on Hudson Bay Mountain is one of the most beautiful alpine meadows in the Smithers area.
It spreads out just before you reach the final climb to the lake a wide, gently sloping subalpine plateau filled with grasses, dwarf willow, and colourful wildflowers in mid-summer. Small creeks wind through patches of heather and moss, and the open terrain provides sweeping views of the Bulkley Valley, Hudson Bay Mountain’s ridges, and the Babine Range in the distance.
Early in the season, snowmelt creates shimmering pools and soft ground; by August, the meadow is alive with lupine, paintbrush, and arnica. In autumn, the whole prairie turns gold and orange as the alpine plants shift into their fall colours.
It’s a peaceful, wind-swept landscape where you can often see marmots basking on rocks and hear nothing but the mountain breeze. The prairie marks the transition from forest to alpine the last gentle stretch before the rugged climb to Crater Lake itself.
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Sunset on Hudson Bay Mountain Prairie
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High above Smithers, BC the sun sets over the alpine prairie of Hudson Bay Mountain, where colours melt from gold to deep orange and the shadows stretch across the meadows. My FPV drone glides through the still air, tracing the last light as it brushes the ridges, the wildflowers, and the distant Bulkley Valley.
Filmed on the Crater Lake Trail, this spot, known locally as “the prairie” captures the quiet magic that happens when the mountain exhales at the end of the day. No music, no rush, just the wind, the light, and the feeling of standing where earth meets sky.
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Interactive Trail Map
3D terrain available
Elevation Profile