Category Archives: Hiking

Trip Report – Main Lake and Yeatman Bay – 30 July 2025

Posted on by
Reply

It was a beautiful, but hot day for our hike into Main Lake Provincial Park and down to the Lake.  We started an hour earlier than originally scheduled due to the heat.  The eight of us hiked down through the beautiful forest, with green mossy understory in spite of the drought. The campground at East Beach was empty on arrival.  It was too early for lunch or even a swim, so we continued on, crossing the new skookum bridge over the creek, to admire the view from the swim rock, and then walk over to Yeatman Bay.  A large kayak group had pulled-up on shore just as we arrived.  After a short break we headed back to the campground for lunch.  The bay was very busy with three groups of visitors for the day.  About half of our group swam before heading back up the hill to Surge Narrow Rd and the cars.  It was a classic summer day for a wonderfully varied hike.  (9.7 km; 315m ascent; 4½ hours)  

Debbie
 

(click on photos to enlarge)

Hiking – Main Lake and Yeatman Bay – 30 July 2025

Reconnaissance Report – Raft Cove Provincial Park – 22-24 July 2025

Posted on by
Reply

We had wanted to visit Raft Cove by boat from the Mackjack River for at least a decade.  The combination of adequate information, timing and weather never worked out until July 2025.

The launch site is now well known and quite popular.  After the short, gravel path, access to the river is down a wooden ladder.  We thought the shore would be muddy, but it’s more like sand.  It works best to depart just as the tide in the river peaks and turns to ebb. This allows the boats to go with the current and float over the fallen trees.  The paddle down the river was lovely and makes clear that we are in a temperate rainforest.  It was mostly sunny and very quiet except for the Kingfisher.  The weather at the beach was “coastal” – warm with soft clouds and not too windy.  We set up our tents on the beach.  There were quite a few others camping in the park, but the area is large and absorbs many.  The park infrastructure of tent pads, outhouses and food caches was quite good for a remote park.

We had no particular agenda for our middle day.  The morning cloud/fog lifted to a brilliant, sunny day.  We relaxed in camp and walked a lot on the long, sandy beach, visiting the arch and sea stack.  We walked the hiking trail to the parking lot.  This was not exactly part of the plan, but the recent drought and the trail upgrade in 2009-2010 made this a reasonable walk instead of a gymnastic exercise climbing over fallen trees and through mud pits.

We packed up on the third morning and paddled across the river to briefly explore the south side of the park.  Although it was a bit early for the rising tide, we went with the flood tide back up the river returning to the launch site and the vehicles.  There were a few hurdles, but we arrived before two canoes launched and six paddle boards arrived after us.  This is a beautiful, wild area, but at least in the summer, it isn’t complete wilderness and solitude.

Debbie

(click on photos to enlarge)

Trip Report – Newton Lake and Small Inlet – 23 July 2025

Posted on by
Reply

A small group of four hikers undertook our “annual” midsummer trek to Newton Lake and Small Inlet. Being a hotter day we passed on the Waiatt Bay leg and allowed more swimming time.  It was shady and cool to start the hike so we arrived at Newton Lake in pretty good time. There was a solitary Common Loon to check on while we had a short drink break and then we headed to the Inlet.

Just under an hour later we were on the tidal flat of Small Inlet. The tide was flooding but still low enough to allow us to trek across to the spring and the trail to Waiatt Bay. The group decided to take the first turn off and headed back towards the lake. We crossed paths with a few boaters on their way to and/or from Newton Lake as we made the slow climb up the switchbacks with visions of lunch and a swim motivating a pretty steady pace.

We had the swim rock to ourselves and enjoyed a great swim on a beautiful summer day! The water was clear and not cold, the air warming towards mid-20s.  The shady trail down from the Lake made for an enjoyable walk out to the trailhead. (We were spared any attacks by wasps despite the warning sign posted by a hiker earlier this week).  (Length: 12.6 km, Time: 4 hrs 41 minutes)

Vic Gladish

Thanks to Jim, Louise and Vic for the photos

(Click to enlarge)

Hiking – Newton Lake and Small Inlet – 23 July 2025

Hiking – Manzanita Bluff – 8 Aug 2025

Posted on by
1

Change of date to 8 Aug due to weather.

Activity Hiking
Destination Manzanita Bluff
Date 8 6 Aug, Friday
Trip Coordinator Louise Squire
Contact Info lsquire@sasktel.net or 306-539-3813
Description Manzanita Bluff is an amazing viewpoint toward the north end of Discovery Passage. It’s quite a long drive on logging roads and about 250m uphill without a trail, but the view is worth it. The best route is through relatively open forest with some mature Douglas fir. We will make the side trip to Darkwater Lake after the hike and swimming is an option. About 5.6 km; 4¾ hours.
Meeting Place Quadra Legion parking lot
Departure Time 8:30
Difficulty
 Moderate
Costs None
Trip limits 10
Dogs? No
Notes: It is quite a long drive up to the trailhead on logging roads. Best to carpool to limit number of vehicles. Swimming opportunity at the end at Darkwater Lake.

Trip Report – Mt. Kitchener – 16 July 2025

Posted on by
Reply

Because of the hot weather, we decided on an early start.  We caught the 7am ferry and drove to the Big Tree turnoff, then up the logging road to the trailhead.  We started hiking at 9 am.  The first half hour is a well-worn trail up through the forest, with some blow-down at the edge of the clear cut.  Then there is a rock band, with a short scrambling section.  From then on, it’s all open terrain, alpine or sub-alpine with amazing views.  We decided to do Mt. Kitchener first.  We had an early lunch and lingered there.  Initially there were clouds in the valleys to the north, and it gradually cleared.  Other than that, clear and cloudless, with some haze to the south.  We were amazed that we could see whitecaps in Johnstone Strait, more than 1,400 metres below us. and Mt. Waddington, about 125 km to the north.  After that we visited Mt. McCreight, and then descended to the vehicles.

(4.3 km; 5 hours; 450 m elevation gain)

Norris 

Thanks to Les and Norris for the photos

(click on photos to view larger)

Hiking – Mt. Kitchener – 16 July 2025

Hiking – Main Lake and Yeatman Bay – 30 July 2025

Posted on by
2

The start time has been changed to 8:30!  

Activity Hiking
Destination Main Lake and Yeatman Bay from Surge Narrows Rd
Date 30 July 2025
Trip Coordinator Debbie Quigg
Contact Info dmquigg@gmail.com or 3710; Please contact the coordinator by Monday night.
Description This moderate hike starts from Surge Narrows Road through a beautiful old forest, passing by a lake and along a creek, to the east end of Main Lake. Those that want to will continue on the portage track to Yeatman Bay or wait at Main Lake.  The campground will be busy in mid-summer.  About 10 km, 4 hours on a good trail.
Meeting Place Community Centre Parking lot or by arrangement
Departure Time Meet at 9:30  8:30
Difficulty Moderate
Costs none
Trip limits 12
Dogs? Must not run through group.
Notes: Come prepared for the weather

Trip Report – Woss Lookout and Little Huson Caves – 9-11 July 2025

Posted on by
Reply

Five campers moved the trip dates forward one day due to rain forecast. This turned out to work very well as we only had showers one day and in the nighttime. We were going to camp at Woss Lake, but decided to check out Klaklakama Lake on the way and were very fortunate in getting the first place we stopped. After setting up camps, we had lunch and then proceeded to the Little Huson Caves. Atluck Creek has carved many sculpted images in complex shapes while running through Quatsino limestone. We first took a short walk and descended down the steep stairs to look at the River Cave from the north. The rocks were very slippery from the rain so we were not able to go below the platform and look into the cave. We then took the trail back up to the south opening where you could get down and look through the cave the opposite way. There are many places to explore here along the creek with beautifully shaped limestone. We also visited the Bridge Cave and then walked to Little Huson Lake. We then proceeded back to the campsite to have dinner and visit around the campfire.

(click on photos to view larger)

The next morning, we had a communal breakfast with blueberry pancakes, bacon, and devilled eggs. What a great way to start the day and fuel up for the hard hike up to Woss Lookout. From the parking area, we walked up the old logging road that is steep and has many loose rocks to the trailhead. This is a short steep hike with many ropes to help you up and over the rocks and roots. It was definitely a challenge to navigate up and even worse, coming back down due to the slick roots and rocks. At the summit, we enjoyed excellent views from the old restored lookout tower. You’re able to look up five different valleys from the top so you can see why this was such a good place for a fire tower. After descending, we drove back to camp to have another quiet evening by the lake.  (4.4 km, 3 hours, 375 m elevation gain, 35% in incline in the steep section)

Before heading home the next day, we visited the Upper Klaklakama rec site and walked the short nature loop with many fine old growth trees and some unusual trees like Pacific Yew and Amabilis fir.

Les

Thanks to Les, Jim and Norris for the photos

Multi-day Hiking – Woss Area – 8-10 July 2025

Trip Report – Heron Pt. and Mt. Sweat – 3 July 2025

Posted on by
Reply

Ten of us had a lovely day for this short hike with great views.  We started from Kolker Main and walked up an old logging spur.  We were amazed at how the brush had grown up this spring, obscuring fairly well used paths.  We quickly arrived at Heron Point for our first viewpoint extending from Hyacinthe Bay to the Chinese Mountains.  We continued on into Chauntaluf farm and followed  their 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.  The 180° view takes in 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, 2½ hours, 180m ascent.

Debbie
 
Thanks to Carrie and Norris for the photos
 

(click on photos to enlarge)

Hiking – Heron Point and Mt. Sweat – 3 July 2025

Hiking – Nighthawk Lake – 9 July 2025

Posted on by
Reply

This trip has been postponed indefinitely.

Activity Hiking
Destination Nighthawk Lake
Date 9 July 2025, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Valerie van Veen
Contact Info vvv@qisland.ca, 250 285 2329, 778 242 5774
Description For those not going on the July 8-10 camp. This will be a moderately paced hike, making a loop on moderate trails with one uphill of note. Bring a snack. With the early start we will be finished before lunch. This will be cancelled for extreme temperatures or deluging. Contact coordinator by Monday evening.
Meeting Place Pull off on Walcan Road across from Mud Lake
Departure Time 9:00
Difficulty
 Moderate
Costs None
Trip limits 10
Dogs? Under control
Notes:

Trip Report – Morte Lake (Originally Plumber Bay) – 25 June 2025

Posted on by
Reply
The heavily loaded logging truck barrelling along the Walcan Road meant business as we manoeuvred our two cars, with four hikers and three dogs, as close to the road edge as possible. We soon realized that these trucks were coming from our eventual destination, the Maud Island / Plumper Bay trailhead. A quick but necessary change of plans and smart u-turn and we were back at our starting point, the Morte Lake parking lot. As this was billed as a low-key hike, we saw no reason to change that as well. We headed towards Morte Lake along the pleasant Deadfish trail, taking the bridge across the creek to connect to the main trail. We had a short, early lunch at the small north beach. It was still too chilly to swim, but at least no more rain after an earlier downpour. We took the main trail back to our cars, noting the improvements to divert runoff. Altogether a pleasant hike with a lake rather than ocean view for our break. (6.3 km 2.5 hours)

Valerie

(click on photos to enlarge)

Hiking – Plumper Bay – 25 June 2025