Brian Waddington Hut

Summer access: 2.5 hrs
Winter access: 6 hrs
Location: 50.63059, -122.67985
Hut fee: $15 per person per night

About Brian Waddington Hut
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About Brian Waddington Hut

Built in 1998, this spacious hut sits in a subalpine basin at 1715 m beside Long Lake. It sleeps more than 25 people. The hut is open to non-motorized, non-commercial users. The VOC discourages visits to the area between August 15th and October 15th, when it is sensitive habitat for grizzly bears.

Backcountry skiers visit the hut for dry snow and challenging runs. In summer, Mt. Gandalf, Mt. Aragorn, and Mt. Shadowfax are fun scrambling destinations.

The hut has a wood stove (winter use only) and an outhouse. Firewood should be used sparingly, because it is carried in by volunteers. A creek south of the hut is open year-round for drinking water. For more information, see the VOC Wiki.

How to get there

Blackwater Creek FSR is ploughed in winter up to the start of Phelix Creek FSR near km 13 (2WD accessible with low clearance). This is the winter parking lot. In summer (outside of provincial wildlife closure, read more below), drive 4.4 km up Phelix Creek FSR to the barricades at the second bridge and park (2WD accessible with moderate clearance; keep left at the fork before the bridge). Walk up the road through a few cutblocks until the road becomes a trail and climbs through mature forest to Long Lake. If the lake is not frozen, walk around the north side to the hut. The total distance is 5.5 km and 600 m elevation gain (9.9 km and 1090 m in winter). In winter and especially in spring, there is overhead hazard along Phelix Creek FSR from large avalanche paths.

The Phelix Creek FSR is closed to motorized traffic under the provincial Wildlife Act from April 1st to June 15th; during this time users must park at the winter lot and walk to the trailhead.

2021 Phelix GPS track

Last updated: Feb. 14, 2025

Conditions reports
New report
Continuous snow starts at around 1500 meters.  Ondrej Peresini 

Hut in a good shape, 3 wood logs remaining. Continuous snow starts at around 1500 meters.
May 4, 2025

Bring snowshoes, be prepared  Randy Zhu 

Hut condition is good. Tinder material available, everything is in good condition. Trail consists of soft snow that’s easy to fall through with tree wells. Requires snowshoes to get up safely. We had some close calls getting up and down.
May 1, 2025

Definitely Spring  Vanessa Y 

Snow on the trail is melting fast/gone in parts, skiing by hut is ok. Not a lot of wood left but should be enough used sparingly for a few more nights.
April 1, 2025

15-16 March  Sam Newmark 

Enjoyable trip to Waddington Hut. Hut and trail were in good condition, thanks to the group before us who broke trail through deep snow.

41 people were registered for Saturday night, but only 15 of us were there in reality. I'd encourage groups to update registrations if their plans change!
March 15, 2025