Trip Report – Open Bay and Crikey Creeks – 26 Aug 2026

Posted on August 28, 2026 by qioutdoorclub

Five of us took these two short hikes on a beautiful, mild day. It had been a few years since the Club had done this trip. We changed it around a bit from the original trip description and liked the improvements. We started walking a short way down the Open Bay Main logging road and then turned uphill on the Crikey Crekk mountain bike trail. This trail is now very well established and used. The forest is mature with a largely open understory. The moss was still amazingly green for the end of a dry August. Once at the top of the trail, we followed a short logging spur and descended on 7th Heaven, not joing up with the old Rio trail. The recent logging has altered the trails and usage in this area. This trail is not as well constructed or used as Crikey Creek trail.

We returned back to the Bold Point Road and crossed to the trail which follows the Open Bay Creek downstream. This is a lovely, meandering trail with great views of the Creek, often from quite high bluffs. The forest and the trail were a pleasure. We stopped for lunch at the junction of Open Bay Creek and the stream from Beaver Lake, which was essentially dry. However, Open Bay Creek had good water flow providing a very relaxing sound and atmosphere. This beautiful stream sustains salmon spawning in the fall, when chum and coho migrate up from Open Bay.

We decided not to return by the logging road which parallels the trail, but instead we hiked a short way up the trail along the stream from Beaver Lake. The waterfalls were non-existant. We turned north onto a very old logging road with a trail enclosed by small trees, which emerges onto a logging road grown over with grass. We followed this open and sunny route back to the vehicles. This was a perfect, easy hike for a late summer day. (7.3km, 3 hours, 335m elevation gain)

Debbie

Click to enlarge the photos

: Crikey Creek trail

: Filmy Dome Spider web

: Devil’s Club

: Horsetails

: Open Bay Stream

: Water Strider

Hiking – Open Bay and Crikey Creeks – 26 August 2026

Trip Report – Impromptu Paddle to Shellaligan Pass – 21 Aug 2026

Posted on August 27, 2026 by qioutdoorclub

This impromptu paddle attracted four paddlers on a day’s notice and we enjoyed a great outing on a perfect summer day.

We managed to launch across a not too big tidal flat from Len Road and were on the water at about 10:00. We crossed the mouth of Hyacinthe Bay, and stayed close to the shoreline as we rounded Hyacinthe Pt. and on to Open Bay. On calm seas we crossed Open Bay and wove our way through the rocks near the Valdez shore access. The rock formations in this area are always fascinating to see close up. We continued on into Moulds Bay and a rest stop at a gravelly beach below a rustic cabin. This became our lunch stop and we found a bit of shade to relax in.

From Moulds Bay, three of us continued on into Shellaligan Pass to get a good view up Hoskyn Channel, and made our turn at the last rock before Village Bay while one paddler headed back to Hyacinthe Point to try his luck fishing. We headed south towards the main Breton Island and around a rocky island to point ourselves back towards the takeout. We picked up Tak, the fisher, who had caught a couple, and headed to our destination and an easy takeout. (12.8 km, 4.25 hours)

Vic

(click on photos to enlarge)

Hiking – Heron Point and Mt. Sweat – 3 Sept 2026

Posted on August 23, 2026 by qioutdoorclub

Activity	Hiking
Destination	Heron Pt and Mt. Sweat loop
Date	3 Sept, Thursday
Trip Coordinator	Debbie Quigg
Contact Info	dmquigg@gmail.com or 3710 Please contact the coordinator by Tuesday night.
Description	We will park on Kolker Main. After briefly follow a logging road, a short connector and a mossy bluff we will arrive at Heron Point for great views of Hyacinthe Bay and the Chinese Mtn area. From there we will take a cairned route through undulating forest trails and rocky bluffs to Mt. Sweat. We descend to Kolker Main through an open, forested slope and return to the vehicles on Kolker Main. This is a view hike and will not be done in poor weather. About 4 km; 2½ hours.
Meeting Place	Community Centre parking lot. We will drive out in a group.
Departure Time	10:00 or earlier if it’s hot
Difficulty	Mostly moderate, except some undulating and steep places on Mt. Sweat.
Costs	None
Trip limits	10
Dogs?	No, some of this will be on private property.
Notes:	Some of this trip is on private property and we thank Heather Kellerhals for allowing our visit to Chauntaluf Farm. Bring gear appropriate for the weather and trail conditions, as well as lunch.

Hiking – Open Bay & Crikey Creeks – 26 Aug 2026

Posted on August 23, 2026 by qioutdoorclub

Activity	Hiking
Destination	Open Bay and Crikey Creeks
Date	26 Aug 2026, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator	Debbie Quigg
Contact Info	dmquigg@gmail.com or 3710. Please contact the coordinator prior to the trip departure.
Description	We plan to walk a figure-of-eight loop starting on the trail along the Open Bay Creek, then circling back on a logging road. After a short walk down Open Bay Main we will hike up the Rio mountain bike trail and down Crikey Creek. There has been re-routing of the trails around Crikey Creek, since we last did this trip, due to road building and logging. About 6km and two hours walking time.
Meeting Place	Community Centre parking lot for car pooling
Departure Time	10:00
Difficulty	Open Bay Creek is easy. Crikey Creek is steep, but hopefully the bike trail is in good condition.
Costs	None
Trip limits	10

Notes:	Bring lunch or a snack and appropriate gear and clothing.

Trip Report – Kay Dubois Loop – 30 July 2026

Posted on August 12, 2026 by qioutdoorclub

Four hikers enjoyed a lovely early morning walk along the venerable Kay Dubois Trail on July 30. This is probably the first trail I hiked on Quadra, it has retained the wonderful essence of Quadra, forest and ocean . Recent improvements by the Trail Committee volunteers (especially Carrie and Stephen) are amazing, gone are the sketchy muddy swamp sections, replaced with culverts and sensible re-routings where needed. The wonderful old spruce is still there, a tour of Quadra’s magnificent old trees would be a fun winter outing. We had planned on walking to the end, return to the spruce and go uphill to Fox Road. However, thanks to the greatly improved trail we reached the end very quickly and opted to go uphill to Sutil Road, returning via the logging road, Fox, and downhill to our cars. In retrospect, we decided that we would have preferred to turn back on the logging road to the downhill trail to the spruce and then back to our cars to avoid the boring stretch along paved roads. With all the improvements, as an “out and back” on the flat, or a round trip with the uphill options, this is an a great trail for new hikers, visitors, and especially for families of all age… short, easy, in the forest and ocean access. Maybe even hear/see whales! We didn’t but a heron let us know he was there on the beach as we passed. About 2 hours, 5 km. A lovely early morning stretch with some uphill cardio.

Valerie van Veen

Click on photos to enlarge

Hiking – Kay Dubois Loop – 30 July 2026

Kayaking – Heriot Bay & Hyacinthe Bay – 6 Aug 2026

Posted on August 1, 2026 by qioutdoorclub

Activity	Kayaking
Destination	Heriot Bay and Hyacinthe Bay
Date:	6 Aug, Thursday
Trip Coordinator	Vic Gladish
Contact Info	vicgladish@gmail.com; 250-285-2111 or 250-287-0459 (text)
Description	We will take advantage of a high water day and put in at Esplanade Park for a sunset paddle. We will work our way out to Hyacinthe Bay and, depending on the group’s motivation, to Hyacinthe Pt, take a peak into Open Bay and then beeline back to Esplanade Park/Gov’t Dock. Once on shore and packed up, head to the HBI for beverages (and food if we make it before the kitchen closes at 9:00pm).
Meeting Place	Esplanade Park (Antler Rd)
Departure Time	1800 ON THE WATER
Difficulty	Easy if the weather is benign
Costs	Parking?
Trip limits	The more the merrier
Dogs?	No
Notes:	Have an early supper at home and/or bring a snack. The aim is to be on the water at 6:00 pm. Sunset is at 8:55 pm. We will put in at low tide (3.5 m) which isn’t very low and take out on a rising tide. Shore access should be easier than a normal low tide.

Hiking – Maud Island – 11 Aug 2026

Posted on July 27, 2026 by qioutdoorclub

This trip has been cancelled.

Activity	Hiking
Destination	Maud Island
Date	11 Aug, Tuesday
Trip Coordinator	Les Hand
Contact info	lhquadra@gmail.com or 250-285-2029
Description	I am going to make this into a longer trip but with a car shuffle so as not to be too long. We will hike around Morte Lake on the north side and then take the old trail over to the Maude Island Trail. From there, we will take the lower route out to Maude Island and then on the way back if it does not get too warm go up over Mount Lolo. There will be a Max Flood of 14.1 at 2:03 PM that we will be trying to match and should be impressive. There will be a short break on the way out, but trying to get out there and have a long lunch watching the current. I think it will take about 3 1/2 – 4 hours to go out but will park the one vehicle where it should only be about two hours to come back. This is approximate, so be prepared for a longer hike of about 12 to 13 km.
Meeting Place	Morte Lake parking lot
Departure Time	10:00
Difficulty	Moderate
Costs	None
Trip limits	10
Dogs?	No, as there are two places that are hard for dogs.
Notes	Bring plenty of water, lunch and hiking poles if you use them. You must sign up by the evening of August 9 as I have to set up the car shuffle. I hope to have it done by the time everyone meets at Morte Lake parking lot.

Trip Report – Newton Lake, Small Inlet and Waiatt Bay- 21 July 2026

Posted on July 24, 2026 by qioutdoorclub

Due to unanticipated events, changes were made to the plans for the hike to Newton Lake, Small Inlet and Waiatt Bay. The hike started about 9:45 and ended about 3:00. It was a beautiful hike for a hot, sunny day as it was shaded throughout. The rocks on the trail became increasingly wet as the hike proceeded, likely from condensation.

There were numerous groups of hikers on the trail from Waiatt Bay to Newton for a swim. We snacked at Waiatt at noon upon arrival. To suggest it was muggy would be an understatement. There was mist in the trees during multiple parts of the hike. It was surprisingly pleasant feeling for 30 degrees out, but there was much moisture in the air and on the hikers. Short breaks and a casual pace throughout made for a very nice hike in weather that could have humbled us if overly ambitious. (12.8 km, 4 hrs 41 minutes)

Jim

Hiking – Newton Lake-Small Inlet-Waiatt Bay – 22 July 2026

Hiking – Newton Lake – Small Inlet-Waiatt Bay – 6 Aug 2026