The Helm Creek crossover trail is a pristine and alluring approach to the north side of Garibaldi Provincial Park. It has beautiful flora and fauna: pikas, golden eagles, Canadian jays, ptarmigans, hares and marmots abound. Its sparse but stunning volcanic landscape is also lightly travelled. And if you are geologically minded, you will be sure to have a ball on the cinder flats.
The stream crossing near Helm Creek headwaters, although fairly wide, is quite doable if you are agile and sure-footed. On the way up to Panorama Ridge, we could have saved one km of meandering if we had veered off trail and went straight up over Cinder Cone - which we happily did on the way back. The long bum slide coming off the top of Panorama was marvelous!
We really enjoyed the unspoiled wilderness and gorgeous vistas offered by this "the path less travelled" - there is just so much to see and explore. And no thronging hordes overcrowding the trails!
Access to Cheakamus parking lot is by a 8-km gravel road that is a little rough at times, and you will need to add a half hour or so for the drive (compared to Rubble Creek access). The turnoff is a spur hidden on the left about half a km off the highway at Function Junction.