The Sutton Range is a group of mountains on northern Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. The Sutton Range is a subrange of the Vancouver Island Ranges that form the greater Insular Mountains. With an area of 448 km² (172 mi²), it stretches from Nimpkish River to White River. Ten mountains sit within the Sutton Range, and the most prominent and the highest peak is Sutton Peak, with an elevation of 1865 m (6118 ft.).
The Sutton Range is known for its steep basalt formation and jagged mountains. The amazing rock formation and alpine scale make the mountains within the Sutton Range perfect for climbing. Sutton Peak lies approximately 6 km (3.7 miles) west of Victoria Peak and 20 km (12.4 miles) northwest the Gold River village. While you're atop Sutton Peak, Victoria Peak, Warden Peak, and mainland coast mountains are within your sight.
Victoria peak is another prominent mountain in the Sutton Range lying on White River Valley with no comparable mountain nearby. Victoria mountain glacier offers a perfect ski tour with long descents on valleys filled with a splendid forest. Up at Victoria Peak, you may have Campbell River city and the Discovery Islands sights on a clear day.
Upper branches of Gold River, Waring Creek, and Oktwanch River, Holiday Creek, form the Sutton Range's southern boundary. Visitors will experience a perfect hike, mostly indirect routes that need mountaineering skills and shouldn't be taken lightly.
Ascending the mountains within the Sutton Range would be an enriching experience, through the beautiful environment with magnificent surrounding mountains passing beautiful lakes and tarns with opportunities for seeing various wildlife and beautiful vagrant birds. The high quality of hiking is approaching the top of the mountains, with spectacular sights of valley and hills wrapped in trees with the vista of enclosed jagged peaks poking out of clouds in winters.
The Sutton Range is a chain of jagged mountains with steep basalt formations located in the regional district of Mount Waddington, between headwaters of the Nimpkish River and White River. South of the range's boundary is formed by Holiday Creek and Waring Creek that are upper branches of Oktwanch River and Gold River. Oktwanch River is the Muchalat River's tributary near which Gold Muchalat Provincial Park is located.
Gold Muchalat Provincial Park is a pristine wilderness park that offers perfect rustic hiking, wildlife viewing, and fishing. The park is home to old-growth Douglas fir, western hemlock, and wildlife species such as blacktail deer and Roosevelt elk. To the north of the Sutton Range, there is a wilderness park within which boundaries are beautiful meadows, small lakes, old-growth forests garnished with birds, and a variety of fishes, deer, and Roosevelt elk habitat.
The beautiful Vernon Lake, southwest of the Sutton Range, offers several recreations as fishing and canoeing as well as campsites to stroll along the lake with breathtaking views of mountains and hills filled with trees.
Take a visit to Klaklakama Lakes, northwest of the Sutton Range, and have a perfect time camping on two recreational sites provided at the lakes featuring boat launches to get the opportunity for perfect fishing as trout and dolly varden. Klaklakama Lakes, upper Klaklakama Lake, and lower Klaklakama Lake are worthy of visiting due to the well-looked campsites, gorgeous lakes with pleasant atmosphere, and chances for seeing various colourful birds and wildlife creatures as deer, elk, cougar. The lakes are accessible by car, and part of the trip is getting the sight of the incredible mountains as you drive to the Klaklakama Lakes.
The city of Campbell River is to the southeast of the Sutton Range, and Gold River is south of the range. Villages of Tahsis and Zeballos are to the west and Woss to the northwest of the Sutton Range.
From Nanaimo:
Getting to the Sutton Range from Nanaimo is via BC-19 N. It is a 262 km (162.7 miles) route that takes about 3 hours and 10 minutes.
Take Third St to BC-19 N for 3.3 km (2 miles). Turn right onto BC-19 N (signs for Campbell R) and drive 215 km (133.5 miles). Take F Branch Rd for 43.8 km (27.2 miles) to your destination.
From Victoria:
Getting to the Sutton Range from Victoria is via Trans-Canada Hwy/BC-1 N and BC-19 N. It is a 372 km (231.1 miles) route that takes almost 4 hours and 50 minutes.
Take Government St to Trans-Canada Hwy/BC-1 N for 1.2 km (0.7 miles). Go on BC-19 N and continue for 327 km (203.1 miles) to Sayward Rd in Comox-Strathcona H. Take F Branch Rd and drive 43.8 km (27.2 miles) to your destination.
There is no designated hiking trail to reach the Sutton Range.
The Sutton Range area is home to the traditional territory of the people of Mowachaht/Muchalaht. These people's legends and culture are rooted in the mountains within the Sutton Range and areas around mostly Gold River and Nootka Island.
Visiting the Sutton Range would be fascinating while hiking the area with indirect routes through forested hills with gnarled and gorgeous trees dotted with beautiful tarns and lakes. Mountaineers will experience perfect climbing up the jagged and steep basalt mountains with a vista of the valley and hills covered with trees. You can also expect views of Campbell River and Gold River with surrounding mountains.
Outdoor enthusiasts will have several recreation opportunities at nearby lakes and provincial parks. Visitors would have peace and quiet camping at Schoen Lake Provincial Park in Nimpkish Valley with chances for hiking in the wilderness as well as other activities as boating, fishing, and swimming. The undeveloped rugged Gold Muchulat Provincial Park offers rustic hiking and fishing of a variety of species as Rainbow trout, Sockeye salmon, steelhead, and coho in both the Muchalat River and Gold River that run through the park. The Gold Muchalat Provincial Park and Schoen Lake Provincial Park are home to old-growth forests with beautiful wildlife species as deer, Roosevelt elk.
By visiting Klaklakama Lakes, visitors will have an excellent time camping at two well-looked recreation sites at upper Klaklakama Lake and lower Klaklakama Lake. They offer a pleasant ambiance of mountains wrapped in lush forests. You can find opportunities to catch a variety of fish species and see various wildlife as cougars, wolves, deer, elk, black bears, and birds.
To the southwest side of Sutton Range, south of the Klaklakama Lakes, you would have fun camping in the pleasant atmosphere of the beautiful Vernon Lake. Enjoy outdoor recreations as fishing and swimming or spend an afternoon canoeing in the lake's freshwaters.
The Sutton Range is a group of mountains and a subrange of the Vancouver Island Ranges that form the greater Insular Mountains. The amazing rock formation and alpine scale make the mountains within the range perfect for climbing. While you're atop Sutton Peak, Victoria Peak, Warden Peak, and mainland coast mountains are within your sight.
The Prince of Wales Range is a subrange of the Vancouver Island Ranges, and the highest summit is Hkusam Mountain. Hiking up to the magnificent mountain peaks within the Prince of Wales Range offers astonishing views of surrounded peaks with a 180-degree view of the Johnstone Strait from south to north and Sayward Valley as your backdrop.
The Halifax Range is a small mountain range consists of hills covered by gorgeous trees. The area is ornamented with wildlife like elk, dear, bear, and many bird species. While ascending the mountain, mountaineers will be refreshed by the Halifax Range's pleasant ambiance overlooking the Johnstone Strait. McCreight Lake and Pye Lake are nearby suitable for camping with facilities.
The Franklin Range is a subrange of Vancouver Island, perfect for mountain climbing. It is located southwest of the Johnstone Strait and Robson Bight. Start a fantastic adventure by launching a boat at Telegraph Cove, having pleasant hiking through gorgeous forest, and step into the breathtaking ambiance of Franklin Range shrouded with clouds and covered by trees.
The Bonanza Range is a small mountain range. While approaching the Bonanza Range, you will experience a beautiful wilderness passing through the Tsitika River and Bonanza Lake. The area is a paradise dotted with gorgeous lakes and tarns winding through alpine and subalpine mountain forests having spectacular views of incredible snow-capped mountains.
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Hiking on the Mount Menzies Access Road through a logging road and having a forest walk is a challenge you can take near the Campbell River. The trail and the view from the lookout are incredible in colours. Get away from the humans by going on a beautiful trail which is nice and quiet!
Mount Cain is one of the pioneer points for snowmobiling in Vancouver Island for modern snowmobile engines. The good news is that snowmobiling in Mount Cain full of endless excitement, and you can enjoy the rare beauty of its nature while surfing the snow.
Mount Cain Ski Resort is a snow-capped location on the northern part of Vancouver Island, in which you can experience a new sense of winter activities, snowboarding in particular. It boasts a wide range of snowboarding facilities, and skis, poles, helmets and boots are rented near Mount Cain and are available at nearby ski shops.
Mount Cain ski resort is a suitable place for snowshoeing and a renowned destination for snowshoeing followers. Take the risk of exploring a non-patrolled wilderness area and enjoy the spectacular surroundings and natural habitat. Mount Cain has the highest base elevation of any coastal ski resort in British Columbia, Alaska, and Washington.
As the only community-owned and operated ski resort, Mount Cain has heavy snowfall in winter, making it an ideal place to experience winter activities. The breathtaking slopes of Mount Cain, besides various trails and logging roads, multiply the skiing attractiveness in this location. The drier snow condition of Mount Cain makes it a better place for spring skiing.
Sayward Valley is located in northern Vancouver Island. Mount H'Kusam, the Salmon River and Kelsey Bay are the hit in Sayward, what you shouldn't miss. Natural surroundings and access to the waterways and Mount H'Kusam, allowing opportunities like bird watching, kayaking, canoeing, caving, hiking, camping, horseback riding, hunting, wildlife viewing and photography.
The Sutton Range is a group of mountains and a subrange of the Vancouver Island Ranges that form the greater Insular Mountains. The amazing rock formation and alpine scale make the mountains within the range perfect for climbing. While you're atop Sutton Peak, Victoria Peak, Warden Peak, and mainland coast mountains are within your sight.
Located north of Woss, Mount Elliot Ecological Reserve has about 324 hectares (800 acres) area. It was established in 1989 to preserve representative old-growth montane forests and a small self-contained subalpine drainage, including Tsitika Lake, in its natural state. Nature observation, hiking and photography are permitted in Mount Elliot Ecological Reserve.
The Prince of Wales Range is a subrange of the Vancouver Island Ranges, and the highest summit is Hkusam Mountain. Hiking up to the magnificent mountain peaks within the Prince of Wales Range offers astonishing views of surrounded peaks with a 180-degree view of the Johnstone Strait from south to north and Sayward Valley as your backdrop.
The Halifax Range is a small mountain range consists of hills covered by gorgeous trees. The area is ornamented with wildlife like elk, dear, bear, and many bird species. While ascending the mountain, mountaineers will be refreshed by the Halifax Range's pleasant ambiance overlooking the Johnstone Strait. McCreight Lake and Pye Lake are nearby suitable for camping with facilities.
The Franklin Range is a subrange of Vancouver Island, perfect for mountain climbing. It is located southwest of the Johnstone Strait and Robson Bight. Start a fantastic adventure by launching a boat at Telegraph Cove, having pleasant hiking through gorgeous forest, and step into the breathtaking ambiance of Franklin Range shrouded with clouds and covered by trees.
The Bonanza Range is a small mountain range. While approaching the Bonanza Range, you will experience a beautiful wilderness passing through the Tsitika River and Bonanza Lake. The area is a paradise dotted with gorgeous lakes and tarns winding through alpine and subalpine mountain forests having spectacular views of incredible snow-capped mountains.
The first step to find happiness in nature is to get connected with it. An outdoor adventure can be found anywhere, but for relaxation, rest, and tranquillity, don't skip Brewster Lake. This serene lake with mountain views is the right place for canoeing, paddle-boarding, kayaking, power-boating, or anything you expect from a beautiful lake.