Northville–Placid Trail — Section 5: West Canada Lakes to Wakely Dam
~2 days · 15.9 mi · easy · Point-to-point
Quick facts
What the Northville–Placid Trail — Section 5: West Canada Lakes to Wakely Dam is known for
Section 5 of Northville–Placid Trail is an official 26.41 km point-to-point section from West Canada Lakes (West Lake Trail junction) to Wakely Dam (ranger station).
Elevation profile
Elevation ranges from 6,877 ft to 8,793 ft over 15.9 mi. Measured from OSM geometry (approximate).
- Uphill 6.3 mi · 40%
- Downhill 7.1 mi · 45%
- Flat 2.4 mi · 15%
Ridgefold breaks every route into uphill, downhill, and flat — see the full per-day breakdown in the app.
How hard is the Northville–Placid Trail — Section 5: West Canada Lakes to Wakely Dam?
On the Ridgefold Difficulty Index, the Northville–Placid Trail — Section 5: West Canada Lakes to Wakely Dam scores 9/100, a relative rating across the 1,243 trails we've mapped, blending distance, elevation gain, and steepness. It is a comparison within our set, not an official rating.
Frequently asked questions
How many days does the Northville–Placid Trail — Section 5: West Canada Lakes to Wakely Dam take?
Most backpackers hike the Northville–Placid Trail — Section 5: West Canada Lakes to Wakely Dam in about 2 days (1 nights out) over its 15.9 miles, though pace varies with fitness and conditions.
How much elevation gain is on the Northville–Placid Trail — Section 5: West Canada Lakes to Wakely Dam?
The Northville–Placid Trail — Section 5: West Canada Lakes to Wakely Dam climbs roughly 1,339 ft total — about 84 ft per mile, topping out near 2,680 ft.
Related trails
Sources & attribution
Route geometry from OpenStreetMap, © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 — source relation. Stats are approximate and may differ from official surveys; permit rules and conditions change — verify with the managing authority before your trip. Last reviewed July 2026.