Tonquin Valley - Astoria River Trail

Astoria River Trail is the first section on the Tonquin Valley Trail loop that begins at Mt. Edith Clavell. Traveling the entire loop from Astoria to Portal is a 3 or 4-day hike. Just as we did on Friday, we only went the first day distance; today that was over 8 km, or 11.12 miles out and back, according to the Fitbit.

The first 4.7 km are a novelty for the beginning of a hike. The trail descends gradually along the Astoria River. (We prefer the climb to come at the beginning of the hike, which means that when we turn around to come back, it's all downhill.) 

The trailhead just below Mt. Edith Cavell which is wearing a crown of rain clouds.

Red mushroom with rain.

Looking across the Astoria River valley in the rain.

Along today's trail, and the one we took on Friday, horses leave their calling card.

Now who left this saddle on the trail? (It was not there on our return trip. Someone must have come and claimed it.)

The trail had beautiful vistas of the surrounding mountain peaks.

Chak Peak

At a bridge crossing the Astoria River, Throne Mountain looms.

A deep glacial cirque between the two north-east-trending ridges creates the mountain's "arm rests" and "seat".

Our lunch spot at Astoria Campground with the Astoria River below and Chak Peak across the river.

Switchback Campground junction, our turn-around spot, with trails going in many directions.

One way toward Amethyst Lake, the prize of the Tonquin Valley hike; or the Alpine Hut run by the ACC, Alpine Club of Canada.

At one of the bridge crossing, on the way back, there were these three beautiful view - one...

two, and...

three.

On the way back, the weather had cleared across the Astoria River Valley (see 4th picture above), and we were able to see waterfalls and really clear views with blue shy in the background.

But, just a mile or so along the trail, back at the trailhead, we were once again in the rain.