This week we head to EC Manning Provincial Park of BC Canada to walk the Cambie Creek Loop in the middle of winter. The trail is well marked and features a longer loop of 5km or a shorter fork with only 2.5km distance. We picked the shorter loop because we wanted to check out the frozen Lightning Lake after the walk.

On our drive to the trailhead, it was foggy and eventually started to rain. We were concerned that we will be walking in the rain again. But as we drove closer to Manning Park, the elevation turned the rain to snow and the surrounding quickly turned into winter wonderland. When we arrived, there were only about three other cars at the parking lot. We parked our car and took our time to gear up before starting the walk. It was snowing throughout our walk, but I personally feel being snowed on beats being rained on one hundred percent of the time. The trail was easy without much elevation gain. Most of the trail traverses through the forest, and does pass over a bridge to cross Cambie Creek.

Weather was not looking promising on the drive there. We thought it was going to rain.

Instead, we were greeted by snow. It's much better to be snowed on than be rained on.

Geared up and ready to go.

Fork where the loop begins. We took the left fork and eventually returned from the right fork.

Most of the trail traverses through the forest.

Trail was clearly marked.

More trail signs with map.

Bridge crossing Cambie Creek.

Going over the bridge.

Cambie Creek.

It was snowing throughout our walk.

I like this shot. My kids are much taller now.

More traversing through the forest.

Another spot with the view of Cambie Creek. A large part of the creek is covered by snow, but you can see spots of flowing water.

After finishing our walk, we got back to our car and drove to Lightning Lake. We had been to this lake in the summer before during which we walked the trail around the lake and also rented a canoe to canoe on the lake. It was nice to see the contrast of the same place between summer and winter. We also found a hill (which is the trailhead to Frosty Mountain #346354) where we had a ton fun sledding, before taking the long drive home.

These huts are washrooms and changing rooms.

Info board with Lightning Lake behind it. People are cross country skiing on or around the lake. The hut with the yellow canoe on top of it is a boat rental place during spring, summer, and autumn.

Lightning Lake completely frozen and covered in snow during winter.

Nice sledding spot. The ledge where the kids are sitting is actually the beginning part of the Frosty Mountain Trail #346354.

Check out my previous hikes: