The S2SADV Triple Crown Challenge 

Goal

Successfully complete the ascent and descent of three Fire Towers in the Fraser Canyon Area, all on the same day.

Challenge

Depending on where you start and finish, this could be 1,000km in a day.  Mike Barnett did this in the summer of 2022 by himself, and clocked an insane amount of distance when he started from his house in Port Coquitlam and returned the same day.

The S2SADV Challenge is not concerned where you start or stop, or which order the Fire Tower ascents are completed.  All we care about is that you can prove that you have reached the top of each tower, in a single 24-hour period (proven by photos with time/date/location information).

Club Recognition

Once the challenger has submitted their proof of completion, the rider shall be granted an exclusive S2SADV Triple Crown T-shirt and bragging rights within the group. 

Fire Towers 

1. Jesmond Fire Tower
2. Cornwall Summit Fire Towner
3. Nahatlatch Fire Tower

The History

1.   Jesmond Fire Tower

Built in the early 1970’s, the Jesmond Fire Lookout was staffed with a park ranger from early May to late September during wildfire season. The “observer” was posted for 3 weeks at a time and lived inside the green and white lookout with a wraparound deck for unapparelled views of the iconic Fraser River, Camelsfoot and Shulaps Mountain Ranges and the snowcapped Mount Bowman.

This fire lookout which was built on a very exposed ridge at an elevation of 1,980 metres (6,495 ft) is extremely windy with gusts clocked in excess of 120 km/hour. The fire lookout was officially decommissioned in 1999. Access to the trailhead is along rough, bumpy four-wheel drive roads, so be prepared. From Clinton, head southwest on Kelly Lake Road towards Kelly Lake.

Travel approximately 16 km and turn right/north onto the Jesmond / Big Bar Ferry Road. Follow the Jesmond Road for about 37 km, and then turn right onto the Jesmond Lookout Forest Service Road. 

2.   Cornwall Summit Fire Tower

There’s plenty of different options for riding in this area but if you have two vehicles and can use one as a shuttle, this makes a nice 54 km (34 mi) one-way ride with an elevation gain of approximately 1,500 m (4,920 ft).

Exiting Highway 1 near the Red Hill Rest Area at the Oregon-Jack Creek Forest Service Road, head west to the Cornwall Hills Lookout Road, then head north climbing to the lookout. From here, riders can retrace their route or continue north to the Cornwall Creek FSR and head east back to Highway 1 just south of Cache Creek. For a longer ride skipping the fire tower lookout, stay on the Oregon-Jack Creek Road to the Hat Creek Road and head north to the Cornwall Creek Road. 

3.   Nahatlatch Fire Tower

In the fall of 2013, the Nahatlatch Lookout was formally established as a recreation site. The Four Wheel Drive Association of BC has entered into a partnership agreement with RSTBC to manage and maintain the site. Some of the many recreational opportunities include: high elevation hiking, breathtaking views of the Nahatlatch Valley and local mountains, distant views of the historical Fraser Canyon, abundant wildlife such as black bears and deer, beautiful alpine meadows, and an extensive network of old mining and forestry roads available for exploring by four-wheel drive vehicles and ATVs.

The drive to the Nahatlatch Lookout is very scenic. From the town of Boston Bar, turn west (at the gas station) onto the North Bend Ferry Road and follow it across the bridge over the Fraser River to the small community of North Bend. Stay on the main road through North Bend which is called Chaumox Road. Follow Chaumox Road in a northerly direction for about 6.0 km on paved road and another 3.0 km on gravel until you reach the yellow kilometre signs. At the 0 km sign, take the left fork to stay on the main road which is the beginning of the Nahatlatch Forest Service Road.

Carry on to the 3.0 km sign and take the right fork in the road. Continue on until the road crosses a high bridge over the Nahatlatch River at approximately 4.7 km. After another 1.5 km, turn right onto the road leading to the Nahatlatch Lookout.

This is a private road for the first 3.0 km and should be respected as such. Travel up the road for approximately 2.0 km and take the left fork at that point, keeping to the left at all subsequent forks in the road for the remaining 7.0 km to the lookout tower. While the initial section of the road to the lookout does not appear too difficult, it quickly turns into a steep, switch-backed road with water bars and should only be attempted with four-wheel drive vehicles.