McMURDO CABIN

This rustic Forest Service cabin is located near the top end of McMurdo Creek.  Set in a small meadow and spruce forest, it was used for the nearby mining operation decades ago.   This cabin serves as a comfortable base for hiking and ski-touring.  A ski zone has been established for all areas south of the cabin, including Spillimacheen Glacier, and snowmobiling is prohibited.  For the experienced hiker and skier, cross-country excursions include the divide above International Basin and east of David Peak, the old mine site to the south, and high level cross-overs to Silent Lake at Silent Pass.  The pass is a scenic panorama of lake, glaciers and alpine meadows.  Accessible to the average hiker from the 58.5 km trailhead at the end of the McMurdo Forest Service road.

McMurdo Cabin

Summer Access:

Drive west from highway 95 at Parson on the Spillimacheen-North Fork and turn onto the McMurdo road at km 45.8.  Low clearance vehicles should park at km 56.7 for either the cabin or Silent Pass Recreation Trail access.  High clearance vehicles can continue left at km 57, up a steep narrow dirt road (questionable use if wet) for 800 metres to meadow-edge parking.  The cabin is a 600 metre walk further south.  Note: The meadow is wet throughout the summer and is closed to vehicles and ATVs.

Winter Access:

The Spillimacheen road is usually ploughed to the McMurdo road until mid December after which snowmobile staging/parking is either at km 27 or 21 for the duration of the winter.  This access over 30 kms of unploughed road, negates any possibility of skiing in; travel by helicopter from Golden (20 minutes) is possible.  The Spillimacheen road is a high use, timber haul road and the recreationalist must use caution when driving throughout  the year.