Babine Mountains FSR to Cronin Creek Summit — Smithers Backcountry

The Babine Mountains sit directly east of Smithers and they are the kind of terrain that makes you glad you brought a spare. The Cronin Creek FSR punches up through dense boreal spruce and quickly turns hostile — steep grades, tight switchbacks on loose shale, and sections of exposed bedrock that demand proper line selection. The Cronin Creek drainage was heavily prospected for silver and copper in the early 20th century, and you’ll pass the ruins of an old drill shack somewhere around kilometre 18 if you’re paying attention. The summit ridge opens to sweeping views of the Babine Range and on a clear day you can pick out Hudson Bay Mountain and the Telkwa Range to the south — the kind of panorama that earns its elevation.

This is not a casual run. Lockers front and rear are strongly recommended above the 1,500-metre mark, and the road has not been graded recently — blow-down and rockfall are legitimate hazards in early season. The route is typically accessible July through September; the Babines dump early snow. Fuel in Smithers before you go and carry a minimum 20-litre Jerry can — the FSR network up here can turn a day trip into an overnight real fast. No permit needed, dispersed camping on the lower benches. InReach or SPOT is mandatory; Smithers SAR gets called up here more than they’d like to admit.