Smutwood Peak & Smut Pass

Waterfall from Commonwealth Creek.

Waterfall from Commonwealth Creek.

The trail along Commonwealth Creek

The trail along Commonwealth Creek

Wednesday August 19th 2015

Smutwood Peak is the unofficial name of a ridge and a peak overlooking Birdwood Lakes. The Birdwood Lakes are just below Smuts Pass. Smuts Pass is reached from the trail along Commonwealth Creek. The trail head is found by turning at the Mt Shark Road at Engadine lodge off the Smith Dorrien Hwy 742. Go over the bridge and first left into the parking area. Follow the old logging road passed the Tryst lake trail and keeping right at the  ” y ” junction. The trail narrows and starts through trees to the waterfall. Winding through the trees until the open meadow of Commonwealth Creek. Now walking past the Mt Fist avalanche slopes with Mt Smuts ahead on the right. The trail takes a turn up between Mt Birdwood and Mt Smuts to the Smuts Pass. This is a very steep trail poorly constructed without any winding sections. This small section is a shame as it  can put off a lot of hikers who would otherwise enjoy the beauty of the lakes.  After this part the trail to the pass is a better grade. At the col the first view of Lower Birdwood Lake is seen. We followed the trail across to the left not losing any elevation on the way to the top of the next col overlooking into the Palliser Pass Trail Valley and Leman Lake. This is also the start of the ridge to Smutwood Peak on the right. As you gain elevation along the ridge views of the Upper  and Lower Birdwood Lakes come into view. The alp type lands can be seen between Mt Birdwood and Snow Peak  through to Burstall Pass. We added onto the trip by coming down to Upper Birdwood Lake and then continuing up the green ridge between the two lakes. Next down to the Lower lake and back to Smuts Pass col.

Approaching the Birdwood Lake Col

Approaching the Birdwood Lake Col

Lower Birdwood Lake from the col. Smutwood

Lower Birdwood Lake from the col. Smutwood

Another look at the Lower lake from higher up.

Another look at the Lower lake from higher up.

From Smutswood Ridge of both lakes

From Smutswood Ridge of both lakes

Smutswood Peak trail visable

Mt Smutswood trail visable

The last rubble section to the summit

The last rubble section to the summit

Mt Birdwood Lft Robertson with glacier. Burstall Passover ridge center

Mt Birdwood Left Robertson with glacier. Burstall Passover ridge center

Mt Birwood with the two Birdwood Lakes

Mt Birdwood with the two Birdwood Lakes

SmutwoodPeak Map

SmutwoodPeak

 

 

 

 

 

Distance return 19.5 km Time return 8 hrs ( inc 30 min lunch ) Elevation Accumulated gain 770 m Elevation to Summit 1050 m Summit height 2699 m

Note…. These numbers include a trip down to lakes.

GPS Download

Google Earth – KML

Approaching the Birdwood Lake Col

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Approaching the Birdwood Lake Col

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