Stage 4 of the Wonderland Trail covers 15.3 km from Golden Lakes to Mowich Lake, with 769 m of ascent and 774 m of descent. The highest point is 1,522 m. Allow about 6 hours of walking, plus breaks.
Distance, climb and elevation come from the Outest route data. Difficulty and time are estimates from distance and climb; your pace will vary with heat, pack weight and photo stops.
Primitive walk-in camp at 1,505 m (4,939 ft) on the shore of Mowich Lake with 13 tent pads, vault toilets and no potable water (treat lake water). A wilderness permit is required; in 2025-2026 it can only be reached on foot from the Wonderland Trail because the SR 165 Fairfax Bridge is closed, so there is no road access and no food cache.
Valley-floor camp at 853 m (2,798 ft) beside the braided South Mowich River, with 3 individual sites and 1 group site. No water at camp: get it just south of the river.
Checked online in October 2026. Places marked "not confirmed by the operator" are listed on OpenStreetMap or in guides but could not be checked on an official page. On the Wonderland Trail you may camp only at the designated camp written on your wilderness permit for that night. Book the permit on Recreation.gov (Early Access Lottery in February, general sale from April 25) or try for a walk-up permit the day before.
Emergency: call 911. Little signal: carry a PLB. Emergency & health guide
Pharmacies, ATMs, shops and stops: © OpenStreetMap contributors. Hospitals and health centres checked online.
The full stage works offline in Outest, with the route, elevation, water and village points, and a trail guide you can ask about conditions and the next place to sleep.