July Mountain is located in the Coquihalla Summit Area, north of the core peaks accessible from the Coquihalla Highway.    The trailhead now has some access problems.    We used to take the Juliet Creek turnoff, following the road west, then we turned to cross a bridge and followed the rough July Mountain Road up to a parking spot.     The road was really a 4WD access and was grown in, but we could go slowly and park lower if we found the road too challenging.    Then, the July Mountain Fire burned the whole access area and the bridge went with it.    Access to the trailhead now requires a much longer route.     The extended access to the mountain would be suitable for a long day hike or a backpack to Drum Lake.      On our last hike up the mountain, we drove close to the trailhead, then hiked up the road, then up the single track trail to the summit.

The trail goes through the forest, then starts to climb through scree slopes up to alpine meadows.

Drum Lake lies below the alpine ridges near the summit.    There is a small backcountry campsite on the lake.

The route to the top goes up steep scree slopes to the top of the ridge, then traverses south to the summit.

From the summit are wide views of the Coquihalla Summit area and many peaks in the distance to the south and west.    Guanco, Vicuna, and Llama Peaks are directly south (we have hiked these).

We have hiked July Mountain three times, all in the summer.    On the last trip the lakes and ponds were full, the meadows were wet, and there were many wildflowers in bloom.   The return hike was 9.5 km, but with the bridges out, the hike could be as much as 18 km return.    We had heard that it could be hiked from the Mine Creek Road, but we have seen no reports of a successful ascent.   We would return to hike the mountain again, but 18 km may be too far, especially since other peaks in the Coquihalla are only half (or less) that distance.

• Trailhead – N49.71682 W121.05679