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Malkow Lookout
Smithers, B.C.
August 7, 2026
Distance: 6.1 km (3.8 mi)
Cumulative Elevation Gain: 246 m (807 ft)
Ten minutes northeast of Smithers, an easy hike runs through an aspen forest and crosses meadows before climbing Malkow Lookout. Buildings and trees on top limit views, but far-ranging scenes can be found on the summit as well as along the trail.
The trail begins at a gate, the first of three as the trail crosses private property. After crossing a glade, Dinah and I entered the forest. Lush vegetation crowded the trail until we turned onto a gravel road going to the lookout.
As we hiked, we were mindful of the bear warning at the trailhead. Hikers coming down said they saw a bear in a meadow, but it posed no threat. We arrived at the meadow a few minutes later, but must have just missed it.
After the meadow, the broad trail winds up to the lookout. A few shortcuts cut through switchbacks, but we
ignored the shortcuts except for one coming down from the top. Hudson Bay Mountain dominates the view; other
peaks were too distant and hazy to discern clearly. After lingering on top, we headed back down. The bear was
still nowhere to be seen.
Malkow Lookout trailhead
Least flycatcher
The trail runs through an aspen forest
The trail hits the lookout road
The last gate before the lookout
The trail passes large meadows. Malkow Lookout
appears in the centre.
The trail begins climbing to the lookout
The views opened up as we climbed
Hudson Bay Mountain lies west
The trail heads back into the trees on the summit
Standing at the top
Heading back down. Big Onion Mountain and Little
Onion Mountain on the skyline (mouse over for a close-up).
