Category Archives: day-trip

Trip Report – Trout Creek Falls – 6 May 2026

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On a overcast day, six people drove out to the start of the trail on Menzie’s Main. There is a easy place to park just before and after the bridge over Mohun Creek, which used to be called Trout Creek. The first of three waterfalls is just a short walk. The creek was much lower than when we did this hike last year, even though it is the same time of year. The trail has lots of rocks and roots in it so you must be careful not to trip. The trail is in good shape and has had a lot of traffic this spring. As you hike up the trail, there are many pools and rapid areas that are very picturesque. The second waterfall is the highest and very impressive. The trail was quite dry, which made it loose and you had to watch your step as this is a steep area. The third waterfall is short but very unique as it drops over a rock face and then makes a sharp right down a rocky ravine before it drops more. As the water level was quite low, you can see many more of the logs that have been left in the ravine. We carried on and had lunch on the rock bluff above the waterfall. After lunch we hiked out to the old logging road, stopped briefly at Mary Lake and then returned to the vehicles.
7 km and about three hours moving time

Les
 
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Hiking – Trout Creek Falls Loop – 6 May 2026

Hiking – Surge Narrows Trail – 13 May 2026

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Activity Hiking
Destination Surge Narrows Trail
Date 13 June 2026, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Valerie van Veen
Contact Info vvv@qisland.ca, 250 285 2329, cell: 778 242 5774
Description This trail affords spectacular views of the infamous Surge Narrows rapids, especially when the current is running strong. The trail follows the coastline going north/northeast and steeply undulating. The first, shorter section to a rocky viewpoint is well used, the longer section beyond to an even better viewpoint is more challenging, narrow, generally rougher. Altogether not a long hike. On May 13, Surge Narrows will be in flood, 7.4 knots, at 11:44, so we should have some good views of the rapids in action.
Meeting Place Community Centre parking lot at 10 am; carpool in vehicles suitable for the gravel road north of the Valdes turnoff; Village Bay Lakes boat launch parking lot at 10:20 am (approx.) where I will meet the group.
Meeting Time 10:00
Difficulty Moderate
Costs None
Trip limits 10
Dogs? Must be in control, especially along the second section where the narrow trail hugs the hillside.
Please note that the FMCBC has a new policy where dogs are explicitly exclude from liability insurance and owners need to sign a waiver of understanding.
Notes This trip is only worth the effort of the long drive on the unpaved road if the weather is pleasant and trail conditions are dry . An alternative hike will be offered if the weather does not justify the effort. Bring lunch, poles if used. Participants MUST register by Monday evening, March 11. Only registered participants will be advised of any changes in plans. Contact the coordinator if you have any questions.

Kayaking – Main Lakes Provincial Park – 21 May 2026

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Activity Kayaking
Destination Main Lake Provincial Park
Date 21 May, Thursday
Trip Coordinator Les Hand
Contact Info 285-2029 or lhquadra@gmail.com
Description We will meet at Mine Lake boat launch at about 9:30 to get ready to leave at 10. We will paddle out to from Mine Lake to Main Lake and to the far campground. Then walk across to Yeatman Bay to stretch our legs and have lunch. After lunch, we will walk back to the kayaks and make a decision if we just go back to Mine or paddle a bit farther. The route may depend on wind conditions.
Meeting Place Mine Lake boat launch
Departure Time Leave at 10:00
Difficulty
 Easy; depending on wind.
Costs None
Trip limits 10
Dogs? No
Notes: Bring full paddling gear, lunch, and clothes for changing weather.

Hiking – Trout Creek Falls – 6 May 2026

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Activity Hiking
Destination Trout Creek Falls
Date 6 May, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Les Hand
Contact Info lhquadra@gmail.com or 285-2029
Description We will leave on the 10:00 ferry so be sure to be there early enough. We will then drive out Menzie’s Main to the trailhead. This is a basic trail, with a few steep sections and three waterfalls. We will do a circle route coming back on a logging road and going to Mary Lake. This is about 5 km and 2½ hours so it will not be a long hike.
Meeting Place QCove ferry terminal
Departure Time 10:00 ferry
Difficulty
 Moderate
Costs Ferry
Trip limits 10
Dogs? No
Notes: Be sure to contact the coordinator by Monday night as we need to arrange carpooling; also, so I may contact you if the hike is postponed. Dress for the weather and bring a lunch.

Trip Report – Rousseau Ridge Loop – 15 Apr 2026

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Eight of us hiked this loop starting from North Gowlland Road.  Part of the reason for choosing this hike was the recent trail work on the west end of the North Gowlland trail.  The work has been extensive by widening the trail, draining wet areas and putting in culverts.  Thanks, as always, to our wonderful Trail Committee volunteers.

We hiked North Gowlland Trail up to Rousseau Ridge with a short break to enjoy the view though there were some very low, wet clouds around.  We back-tracked to the North Gowlland trail and continued more-or-less easterly until we joined the Thompson and then the B&B Trail.  Unfortunately there were multiple issues once we followed the B&B trail.  First, we had some quite hard, cold and wetting hail, and the B&B trail has been abandoned, so the deadfall and  salal had overwhelmed the trail.  This section was quite brief however, and once we reached the logging roads, walking was very easy.  We hiked up a mossy bluff for lunch and then continued along the logging road toward the North Gowlland Road.  This area is quite changed from recent logging including new roads, which made it trickier to find the intended connection back to the North Gowlland trail.  However, we achieved the same objective by simply following the logging roads, making the loop slightly longer. 

In spite of the hail and threatening showers, it was a lovely spring day for this hike to some areas we had not visited for quite a while.  The improved trail will be reason to hike here more often.   (7.8 km; 3⅓ hours)

Debbie
 

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Hiking – Rousseau Ridge Loop – 15 Apr 2026

Trip Report – Quinsam River Trails – 8 April 2026

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Six of us hiked some of the trails on the east side of the Quinsam River, starting at the Boneyard Bypass trail head. We followed mountain bike trails through the forest and ravines down to the river on a lovely day.  The spring flowers were just emerging: trillium, pink fawn lilies, wild bleeding heart, wild current, and yellow violets. We stopped briefly at a viewpoint of some of the high, snow-covered mountains before descending to the river.  We followed the river upstream to a bend with a view and a bench in the sunshine where we stopped for lunch.  There were Kingfisher, Mergansers, and a river otter at the river, and lots of bird song in the forest.  After the lunch break, we climbed back up to the high bank and meandered through the forest on bluffs and around ravines before completing the loop and heading back to the vehicles.  It was a beautiful, spring day for this highly varied walk.  (10.9 km; 4 hours)

Debbie
 

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Hiking – Quinsam River Trails – 8 April 2026

Hiking – Rousseau Ridge – 15 Apr 2026

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Activity Hiking
Destination Rousseau Ridge Loop
Date 15 Apr, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Debbie Quigg
Contact Info dmquigg@gmail.com, 3710 or 250-850-9848; please contact the coordinator iby Monday
Description We will start from the North Gowlland road and hike the Gowlland Harbour trail to Rousseau Ridge.  We will probably continue on short sections of the North Gowlland, Thompson and B&B trails, and logging roads to make a loop.  There has been recent trail work on the North Gowlland trail.
Meeting Place Community Centre parking lot to arrange carpools
Departure Time 10:00
Difficulty
 Moderate
Costs None
Trip limits 10
Dogs?
Notes: Bring lunch and bring hiking poles if you use them.

Trip Report – Blenkin Park Loop – 2 April 2026

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This walk around Blenkin Park was postponed one day and we were rewarded for it. It turned out to be a calm, sunny, warm day for a casual walk in the woods. We did a zigzag path so as to cover all trails in the park without having to do one twice except in two short areas. The sun was glorious shining through the trees, and especially through the long hanging moss. We took a short side trip out to the edge of the low wetlands before we headed up to the big old Maple at the Homestead. After this we wandered to the fire hall and back before continuing on our zigzag path. We wandered down Homestead Trail, and then took a side trip on Swale Trail before going back to the tennis courts. Many trees had come down in this area from the heavy snowfall and high winds. They have all been cut back now, though, and the trail is open. (7.4 km and 2 hours)

Les

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Hiking – Blenkin Park Loop – 1 April 2026

Hiking – Quinsam River Trails – 8 April 2026

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Activity Hiking
Destination Quinsam River Trails
Date 8 Apr, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Debbie Quigg
Contact Info dmquigg@gmail.com; 3710; 250-850-9848  Please contact the coordinator by Monday evening.
Description We will hike along the east side of the Quinsam River, using mountain bike trails and logging roads.  This follows a variety of terrain down to the river and then follow the river upstream and loop back through the forest and ravines. There may be muddy sections.  Ideally there would be spring flowers.  About 11 km; 4 hours
Meeting Place QCove ferry terminal;  after exiting the ferry, we will drive to the parking area together.  Parking is limited and not very conveniently located.
Departure Time 9:30 ferry
Difficulty
 Moderate
Costs Ferry
Trip limits 10
Dogs?
Notes:

Trip Report – Rebecca Spit – Heriot Bay Walk – 11 Mar 2026

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Three hikers, and one honorary member, were able to participate in a last-minute posting for a
ramble around Heriot Bay. Braving very inclement weather, we set off at 10:10 am from the Boat Ramp parking lot to walk out to the end of Rebecca Spit, with the intention of making a go/no-go decision when we got back to our vehicles. The immediate hailstorm and blustery winds were not auspicious for a longer outing. However, by the time we got back to our cars, the skies had lightened, the wind dropped, and a light rain was falling so we decided to continue with the trip plan. We walked through the campground, turned south onto Heriot Bay Road then soon crossed over to the trails in IR 9. We followed a northerly route to eventually come out onto Hooley Road, then Buker to Heriot Bay Road. At this junction, Georgia, with her low slung carriage and bare feet, was quite cold and wet so she took her human back to Rebecca Spit to their warm, and dry, truck, meeting up with the rest of the group at Java Bay Café in Heriot Bay.

The remaining hikers walked along the water-side of Heriot Bay Road up to Pilot, up Pilot onto
Schooner, Schooner to West Road to the mall and Java Bay Café for very welcome
refreshments, and were soon joined by our third hiker. Having endured continual bouts of heavy rain and hail throughout the ramble, we gratefully accepted the offer of a drive back to our vehicle at Rebecca Spit. 3 hours including Café stop. 8 km walking; 2.5 driving

This Ramble is a great winter hike when wilderness trails are too wet/icy/snowy . The Café
break is a very welcome bonus. The route allows for several go/no go decision points, and
having one car parked at the Café is suggested in really bad weather.

Valerie van Veen

Thanks to Valerie for the photos

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Hiking – Rebecca Spit – Heriot Bay Ramble – 11 Mar 2026