Mara Mountain – Mara Lookout FSR

Summary of Route

Type: Out and back; alpine meadows and views

Rating: 5/5

Season: Late Summer

Length: 31km one way from the start of gravel road

Vehicle suitability: Stock 4x4

The Route

The Mara Mountain - Mara Lookout FSR route is a moderately challenging overland route that presents the opportunity to drive beside alpine meadows and gain sweeping views of the surrounding area. Those completing this route must stay on established routes or alpine vehicle options like this will be decommissioned. This route should only be attempted by 4x4 vehicles. Larger tires and decent clearance are recommended.

The Mara Mountain - Mara Lookout FSR overland route begins approximately 30 km’s east of Enderby, British Columbia, exiting off of Mabel Lake Road onto Three Valley Mabel FSR at 50.60872, -118.78776. We recommend topping up your fuel in Enderby as the gravel portion of this route takes approximately 2 hours each way, with extended periods in 4-high and portions in 4-low. Google maps does not lead you the correct way on Mara Fire Lookout searches; however, searching GPS coordinates 50.76475, -118.84289 in Google maps appears to result in the correct route.

Once off of Mabel Lake Road and onto the gravel section of this overland route, directions are relatively straightforward. Three Valley Mabel FSR is a well groomed FSR and you will make good time travelling the 11.7 km’s until turning left/west onto Mara Lookout FSR at 50.69703,-118.75008. You will follow Mara Lookout FSR for the remainder of this drive. Along Mara Lookout FSR numerous spurs intersect with the main FSR; however, stay on the most well travelled path (excepting those that are bearing obvious signs of current logging) and you will stay on the correct FSR.

Mara Lookout FSR is initially an excellent conditions FSR. At the 4 km mark (15km from the start of this route) conditions begin to deteriorate. At the 8 km mark, the 4x4 portion of this track begins (50.72645, -118.81194). You will notice the change in road conditions as you approach and there is a spur that on some maps appears to loop around this section. While this spur dead-ends, it does provide an excellent spot to park your vehicle and consider the section ahead. If you are uncomfortable with this section, we recommend that you do not continue as the road conditions only become worse and turnaround sections are limited for extended periods.

Once on the 4x4 portion of this overland route, boulder fields abound. For the most part, these are easily navigated but require slow going. After travelling 14 km’s on Mara Lookout FSR, you begin to enter the meadows . While each year will vary somewhat, we found that late July was excellent timing for this route with wildflowers in full bloom and the route entirely clear of snow. Bugs were particularly noteworthy.

Once in the meadows, the Mara Lookout FSR overland route becomes substantially smoother, though you will likely remain in 4-high. There are some small tarns in this upcoming section and small water crossings/puddles that, at the time of our completion, reached approximately 3/4 of the way up our 33” tires.

At the 16 km mark you encounter what is arguably the crux of this route, though with decent line choice it is manageable without engaging a rear-locker. Note that there is a decent incline off the driver’s side, adding an element of risk if you choose the left line.

After this obstacle, the route becomes smoother once again and views continue. At the 18km mark the best sized lake on this route can be found.

Shortly thereafter, the incline starts to increase dramatically, though road conditions are relatively good. At the 19 km mark you will begin a series of switchbacks that have hair pin corners. While we have heard reports of full size vehicles completing this section, we were required to complete multi-point turns in our short-box tacoma. As this section has a steep drop off, be sure to have a spotter or high-trust in your back up camera as you complete your multi-point turns.

These switchbacks lead you to the Mara Fire Lookout Tower and sweeping views in all directions.

Looking for other vehicle accessible fire towers? Consider our Greenstone Mountain overland route!