Category Archives: Hiking

Hiking – Maud Island – 15 Oct 2026

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Activity Hiking
Destination Maud Island
Date 15 Aug, Thursday
Trip Coordinator Les Hand
Contact info lhquadra@gmail.com or 250-202-4455
Description We will do the standard route and possibly go over Mount Lolo on the way out, depending on the group and the weather. The current is not very high, but it’s still 7.8 Knots at 12:27pm.
Meeting Place Community Centre parking lot
Departure Time 10:00
Difficulty Moderate
Costs None
Trip limits 10
Dogs? No, as there are a couple narrow spots.
Notes Note that this is a Thursday.
Please sign up two days before and we will carpool from the community center. Dress for the weather and bring poles if you would like to go over Lolo.

Hiking – Forbidden Plateau Loop – 7 Oct 2026

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Activity Hiking
Destination Strathcona Park trails, from Paradise Meadows
Date 7 October 2026, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Valerie van Veen
Contact Info 250 285 2329; vvv@qisland.ca; (cell) 778 242 5774
Description We will do the classic route (14 km) counter-clockwise, south to Lake Helen Mackenzie, on to Kwai Lake, turning north to return via Lady, Kooso, and Battleship Lakes. While a long hike, some is on boardwalk and all is on established trails which can be rooty in some places. A shorter route (8 km) is an alternative, depending on the group and the weather.
Meeting Place Ferry parking lot on Quadra Island for car pooling
Departure Time 8:30 ferry
Difficulty Moderate, some rough sections
Costs Ferry and carpooling costs
Trip limits 10
Dogs? No
Notes: It has been a few years since I have been up in Strathcona and I look forwards to seeing this beautiful sub-alpine environment again. This hike will be moderately paced, an early start will allow us to take time to enjoy being up in the mountains. Bring lunch and all gear needed for hiking in the mountains. Heads up… I will make a short stop at the Starbucks on the highway to get my coffee fix. This hike will only take place if weather is good; an alternative on Quadra will be offered if needed. MUST register with coordinator by Monday evening October 5.

 

Trip Report – Heron Pt. and Mt. Sweat – 13 Sept 2026

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This hike had been postponed for better weather and we were rewarded with a beautiful, warm day for this short walk with great views. Four of us started from Kolker Main and walked up an old logging spur.  After pushing through a bit of brush we walked the short distance on open bluffs to Heron Point for our first viewpoint extending from Hyacinthe Bay to the Chinese Mountains.  We followed the path into Chauntaluf farm and continued on their roads and trails up to the Mt. Sweat access.  We climbed steeply up to the first bluff and followed the cairns over the undulating bluffs and up to the Mt. Sweat viewpoint for lunch.  On this day, Mt. Sweat seemed aptly named as the climb was quite warm. We cooled down taking in the 180° views of Quadra and the Salish Sea, with the mainland and Vancouver Island mountains.  We descended to the north, following flagging back to Kolker Main and from there to the vehicles.  Thanks to Heather Kellerhals for letting the Outdoor Club use the Chauntaluf farm trails to make this loop.  3.7 km, 3 hours, 180m ascent.

Debbie
 

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Hiking – Heron Point and Mt. Sweat – 13 Sept 2026

Trip Report – South Morte Lake Trails – 3 Sept 2026

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This hike was a substitute for a trip to Heron Point and Mt. Sweat, which we put off because the weather was not quite good enough.  Five of us started from the east end of Reed Lake and followed along the north shore of Reed, continued up Ridge and Lost Rider to Upper Deadfish and the viewpoint looking toward the Morte Lake bluff and beyond. It was a mild, humid, partly overcast day, but fine for a hike. Although it rained in the parking lot when we met, the sun was coming out when we reached the viewpoint. The forest was still very green from the canopy to the moss. We descended Seven Sins to Nirvana and then followed the classic shore trail to the sandy beach at the south end of the Lake. We stopped for lunch before continuing on the South Connector through Tripod and back along the north shore of Mud and Reed Lakes to the vehicles. It was a very good, short walk for the day. (About 7 km and 3 hours).
 
Debbie
 

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

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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

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Hiking – Open Bay and Crikey Creeks – 26 August 2026

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

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Probably rescheduled to Sunday, September 13.  Contact the coordinator.

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

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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

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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
 
 
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Hiking – Maud Island – 11 Aug 2026

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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

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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