E.C. Manning Park
E.C. Manning Park is in the heart of Cascade Mountains, within a 3 hours drive from Vancouver, BC, Canada. It is named after Ernest Callaway Manning, a former Premier of Alberta.
Manning Park is a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts. It offers a wide range of recreational activities throughout the year. In the summer, visitors can enjoy hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, fishing, and camping. There are numerous trails within the park, ranging from easy strolls to challenging hikes. The trails provide opportunities to explore the park’s natural beauty.
During the winter months, Manning Park transforms into a winter wonderland, attracting skiers, snowboarders, and snowshoers.
Windy Joe Mountain
Windy Joe Mountain Trail is one of the hiking trails in Manning Park. It is an intermediate level trail that covers a round-trip distance of 17 km and has an elevation gain of 680 m. Some online trail map indicates the elevation gain is over 1,000 m which might be incorrect. The trail is mostly wide and not technical, although there may be some downed trees along the way since it is not regularly maintained. It’s basically steady incline with a few switch backs. At the summit of Windy Joe Mountain, there is an obsolete fire watchtower, which provides a 360-degree view of the surrounding mountains and land. The trail is named after a fire observer who established many hiking trails on this mountain. I hiked this trail in mid-May 2023, and there were still some patches of snow on the trail close to the top.
