With winter just around the corner this week's trek to Livingstone Springs can be hiked as a late fall trip or as a winter ski or snowshoe adventure. The cold springs are not warm enough to soak in, but warm enough to keep the water flowing year round.
It is worthwhile to visit the springs any time of year, but for a spectacular sight, make the trip during a very cold winter day when the steam and frosty banches turn the area into a winter wonderland.
The plant life in the springs is very unique and flourishes year round with lush green vegetation.
Directions
From the corner of Chief Lake Road and Highway 97 in Prince George, drive north 62 kilometres. Turn left into the Crooked River Provincial Park, park at the entrance, or continue on to day use parking or the second parking area.
Trail Description
From the parking lot at the park entrance, it is 450 metres along the road to a side trail on the right. The side trail is just to the right of the park toll booth. The second trailhead is accessed by driving or hiking 1.1 kilometre past the toll booth to a parking lot on the right side of the road.
There is a trail that leaves just to the right of the toll booth and winds through a pine stand for 300 metres where it joins the park service road. Follow the service road for 1.4 kilometres to a junction where there are side trails to the right and left. The trail to the right leads 100 metres down to Squaw Lake.
There is a 1.6 km trail loop around the lake.
The side trail to the left heads back 800 metres past Skeleton Lake to the second parking lot. There is another trail at the junction that heads off at a 45-degree angle to the left. This trail leads to a viewpoint over the Crooked River after 800 metres. It then heads to the left to loop back near Skeleton Lake.
Continuing straight ahead at the junction, another 960 metres down the road, there is a small trail off to the right. This trail heads to Livingstone Springs. Continuing straight ahead on the service road leads to a private cabin.
This junction can be easily missed, so watch for a small sign on a tree on the right side of the road that reads Livingstone Springs. The trail from here to the springs winds through a pine stand for 1.7 kilometres. It is very easy to get disoriented on this section as it is flat and everything looks very similar. Watch for the orange trail markers on the trees. The last 100 metres descends down to the springs where a trappers' cabin is situated.
The cabin is small and in poor shape. The springs flow out of the ground about 80 metres upstream from the cabin. The flow of water is quite large as the springs are about 20 metres across.
The springs flow for about 200 metres further down stream where they enter into the Crooked River. It is not uncommon to see trumpeter swans in the springs during winter as they can access the ice free water.
For more information on this hike including airphotos, maps, GPS co-ordinates and trail photos refer the book Hiking Central BC which is available at local bookstores.
