Category Archives: Hiking

Paddling/Hiking/Camping – Main Lakes Provincial Park – 10-12 June 2025

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Cancelled due to wind forecast.

Activity Multi-day paddling/hiking/camping
Destination Main Lake Provincial Park
Date 10-12 June, Tuesday to Thursday
Trip Coordinator Vic Gladish
Contact Info vicgladish@gmail.com; 250-287-0459
Description We will set up camp at Main Lake and spend three days exploring by hiking and paddling. Destinations can vary with the group’s interests. Possibilities include a paddle into Little Main, Paddle to Village Bay Lake, hike to Yeatman Bay and/or Surge Narrows.
Meeting Place Mine Lake boat launch
Departure Time On the water by 10:30
Difficulty
 Easy; moderate if paddling in windy conditions
Costs $5/night/person
Trip limits 8
Dogs? No
Notes: This multi-day trip is relatively easy on these small lakes but requires good paddling skills, Coast Guard required safety gear and your own camping gear. Bring footwear suitable for hiking (easy). Each participant is responsible for their own camping gear and meals. Tent and/or meal sharing can be arranged if you buddy up with someone.
Carpooling will make parking easier.
Please sign up no later than FRIDAY, JUNE 6th. A final weather decision will be made by 8:00 PM, Sunday, June 8th.
Ask coordinator about joining for just 1 or 2 days if you have a schedule conflict.
Visit the BC Parks Camping website after May 28th to register and pay for camping. https//:camping.bcparks.ca under “Backcountry” ;l “Backcountry Registration” ; “Main Lake”

Hiking – Eagle Ridge and Blindman’s Bluff – 30 April 2025

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Activity Hiking
Destination Eagle Ridge and Blindman’s Bluff
Date 30 April 2025
Trip Coordinator Les Hand
Contact Info 250-285-2029 or lhquadra@gmail.com
Description After meeting at the community center, we will carpool out to Copperhead Road parking then hike Blindman’s Bluff and up Eagle Ridge. This is not a hard hike, but you might want to bring poles if you use them as we are on some rocks.
Meeting Place Community Centre Parking lot
Departure Time 10:00
Difficulty
 Moderate
Costs None
Trip limits 10
Dogs? OK but must be under control and on a leash if not kept in front of the group
Notes: Bring water and a lunch or snack

Trip Report – Canyon View and Elk Falls – 23 Apr 2025

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Five Club members and one of the four-legged persuasion took full advantage of a beautiful, uncrowded spring day to enjoy the many signs of spring bursting all around us on this hike. While the actual hike, Canyon View Trail to Millenium Trail to Elk Falls Provincial Park, and return, is guaranteed to give a good workout, the bonus was the opportunity to enjoy so much else this local treasure has to offer.

We were quickly delighted to find that the pink fawn lilies were still in bloom, and, in fact abundant, along both sides of the Canyon View Trail, as well as wild bleeding hearts, trilliums, and yellow violets, and few other unnamed wild flowers. The salmonberries are just beginning to flower, along with the elderberry bushes.

Our knowledgeable birder’s identifications began at QCove then along the Campbell River, sightings included Yellowlegs, Eagle, Killdeer, Pine Siskins, and Mergansers.

Apart from Nature’s offerings, this trail is also a fascinating engineering study. Watching the progress since initiation, in 2014, of the new generating plant, the seismic upgrades and restoration work on the John Hart Dam has been most interesting. The former penstock valley is now being regraded and restored, completion projected for 2030. As this trail was new to two of our members, we all enjoyed the opportunity to read the excellent signage explaining this massive project.

The north side of the Canyon View Trail has just been reopened following improvements made to the upper end. We followed a diversion through alder scrub out to the beaver ponds and spawning channels to the north of the river, these quiet channels would be great swimming holes in the summer. Rejoining the main trail, we were impressed with the new boardwalks in the hilly, muddy areas, providing much more secure footing and preventing further erosion.

Once in Elk Falls Park, we enjoyed lunch warmed by the sunshine pouring into the picnic area, then followed the outer loop to the river. All along this hike we marvelled at the old growth trees, mostly spruce, some fir and cedar. We stopped at the Dolphin Pool to gawk at the changes, yet again, to the Dam and seismic infrastructure visible across the pool. Further on, one of our hikers took full advantage of a small riverside pool to cool off.

A trip over the suspension bridge is mandatory on this hike, its construction was another source of examination and discussion. This suspension bridge is certainly more secure than the wood slats (always some missing) and wire ropes of the old Lyn Valley bridge (North Vancouver) of my youth, but not as thrilling.

We returned on the south side of the river, again reconstruction and restoration of the trail up to the Highway bridge was noted. After crossing the bridge, the trail is still a rough, woodlands trail following the river. Altogether a beautiful hike offering many added delights. (12.5 km; 4 ¾ hours)

Valerie van Veen

Thanks to Valerie for the photos

(click on photos to view larger)

Hiking – Canyon View and Elk Falls – 23 Apr 2025

Trip Report – Beech’s Mountain – 16 Apr 2025

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Ten hikers set out from the Chinese mountain parking lot on a beautiful sunny spring day. The trail was dry and in excellent condition. It has been a while since we have had this nice of weather and we were certainly enjoying it. We stopped at many of the open large rock outcrops to look out over Quadra and to the snow on the mountains on Vancouver Island. As we approached the pond, where the trail forks to go to Beech’s or Chinese mountain, there was a huge uproar of thousands of frogs croaking. Often at the first sound of people talking they will stop croaking, but they did not seem to mind us at all and just kept going. We proceeded on up to the large open rock face and decided to have lunch here as we enjoyed the views to the south and east. After we hiked on to the top of Beech’s where we unrolled a large Canadian flag that Val had brought. She took a group photo of us with the flag to send into Global TV. It will be interesting to see if it gets used on the evening news.
With the top and picture accomplished, we took a leisurely pace back down the hill to our vehicles. (7km, 4½ hours, 350m elevation)

Les

Thanks to Carrie and Les for the photos.

(click on photos to view larger)

Hiking – Beech’s Mtn  – 16 Apr 2025

Hiking – Trout Creek Falls – 7 May 2025

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Activity Hiking
Destination Trout Creek Falls
Date 7 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 the short distance 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. 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
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 – Nugedzi Lakes Traverse – 9 Apr 2025

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In order to do a Nugedzi Lake traverse we positioned two vehicles at the start of the Mount Seymour Trail. Then eight hikers met at the Nugedzi Lake Trail parking area. After the heavy rainfall the day before we anticipated much water. The creeks were running hard, but there was not too much water on the trails. The loose rocks were wet and slippery though, as we started the long climb uphill. After about an hour, we stopped at a viewpoint by the trail in order to view the mountains to the east and a brief rest. It was nice to get off of the old road’s loose rocks and onto a good hiking trail. The trail was in good condition with only the odd tree down. We continued on through the Cedar Grove Valley, over the ridge and down to Nugedzi Lake. The lake was beautiful on this partially sunny afternoon. There was a brisk cold breeze coming off the lake though, so we decided to go toward the viewpoint for lunch. Near the top we stopped in the trees for a well-deserved break and lunch. It was a beautiful mossy area and out of the wind.

After lunch, we continued to the top of the ridge and then down to the open view point. Here you can look down towards Browns Bay or north up Discovery Passage, There are also great views to the mountains on Vancouver Island. We then started downhill and went around Little Nugedzi Lake on the old boardwalks which some of the group had never been on before. From here, it was all downhill which we enjoyed in the pleasant weather. Canyon Creek was a bit of a challenge to cross, as it was quite high, but other than that, it was a easy walk back to the vehicles. (9.2 km, 4½ hours, 540 m ascent)

Les

Thanks to Jim and Norris for the photos

(click on photos to view larger)

Hiking – Nugedzi Lakes Traverse – 9 Apr 2025

Hiking – Canyon View and Elk Falls – 23 April 2025

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Activity Hiking
Destination Canyon View Trail and Elk Falls, Campbell River
Date 23 April, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Valerie van Veen
Contact Info 250 285 2329 vvv@qisland.ca (cell) 778 242 5774
Description Hopefully we will still see some spring flowers along this lovely, newly refurbished trail that follows the Campbell River. Weather permitting, we will then head uphill to the Elk Falls Park. Lunch at Elk Falls, return on River Trail. We will start from the parking lot on the north side of the river across the “log” bridge.
Meeting Place Q Cove Ferry terminal.
Departure Time 10:00 ferry
Difficulty
 Moderate
Costs Ferry
Trip limits None
Dogs? On leash; warning.. the ramps and bridge at Elk Falls are made of metal grids that are hard on dogs’ feet
Notes: Bring lunch. We will hike at a leisurely pace to really enjoy this beautiful area. Unless extreme weather, we will at least do the Canyon View Trail. About 2 – 4 hours, 5 – 10 km depending on route. Carpool from ferry if wanted.

Hiking – Beech’s Mountain – 16 April 2025

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Activity Hiking
Destination Beech’s Mountain
Date 16 April, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Les Hand
Contact Info 285-2029 or lhquadra@gmail.com
Description This will be a hike up to the second highest peak on Quadra with some magnificent views. We will be going up and back unless there are enough people that want to go over South Chinese on the way back. Wear good footwear and bring your hiking poles if you use them.
Meeting Place Community Centre parking lot
Departure Time 10:00
Difficulty Moderate but some steep rocky areas
Costs None
Trip limits 10
Dogs? No
Notes: Please sign up at least two days before as will be canceled or postponed if heavy rain.

Trip Report – Yellow Mud Loop – 26 March 2025

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Seven hikers enjoyed an 8 km, 3 hour hike in the area south of Walcan Road, starting at the pullout at Reed Lake. The weather was great for March – cloudy but with no rain, no wind and a pleasant 8° C. We headed south on Straight-as-a-Dime Trail, following a combination of newer bike trail sections and old logging roads. Turning east onto Backdoor Trail, we hiked over vibrant green moss-covered rock bluffs and through a pine forest. We continued on to Dick’s Ride and eventually ended back on Yellow Mud where we had lunch at the beaver dam before continuing on the last stretch of the trail. We heard many birds and were happy to listen to the croaking of the frogs. We continued northwest down Yellow Mud Trail through lush sword fern, hemlock and a Douglas fir forest.  Much work has been done on this part of the trail and the trail has been renamed Rob’s Ride in memory of Rob McKerracher. (8.2 km and 3 hours)

Louise

Thanks to Carrie, Les, Jim and Norris for the photos

(click on photos to enlarge)

Hiking – Yellow Mud Loop – 26 Mar 2025

Trip Report – Powell River – 21-24 Mar 2025

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The 2025 multi-day hike in Powell River was exceptional based on the weather forecast predicting rain, rain and more rain. Yet, seven enthusiastic hikers deciding to go regardless of the forecast and we were rewarded with three great days of hiking.

Friday: The group travelled to Powell River on the 10am ferry and wasted no time in exploring the trails.  On day one of a three-day hiking getaway in Powell River seven of us hiked the Lost Lake Loop which is accessed from Inland Lake Provincial Park. The loop is a small part of the Sunshine Coast Trail, which winds for 185 km and can be accessed via potholed logging roads in many locations. The hike was 8 km through a lovely sun dappled mossy forest with amazing cedar trees, and nice lake views. The trail was easy on the knees and soft on the feet, and the lake showed evidence of a healthy beaver population.

(click on photos to view larger)

Saturday – Our second day had the best weather forecast, so we planned TWO hikes. The first was Scout Mountain. We started on Sutherland Avenue to get to the Sunshine Coast Trail, and then we went southeast. It was a gentle climb through mossy trees and some open views until we reached the summit trail. We went counterclockwise and we’re so glad we did! There’s a steep climb before the summit. There was a bench to sit on at the top, and we were rewarded with amazing views in the sunshine. From the top, you can see wide-open views of Georgia Strait north and south, as well as Powell Lake. After a short break, we descended and took in more inspiring scenery. It was 5.5 km and 2¾ hours.

Next, after lunch, we explored Stillwater Bluffs, which is all on private land. The start of this trail is at a private residence, so you need to park back by the mailboxes. This is a gentle walk through the forest to the ocean. Here you can enjoy the ocean views before continuing on to the many open bluffs and breathtaking views north and south, or west to Texada Island. Partway there is a stone throne to sit on and enjoy the views. You go up and down many times on large rock formations along the coast, and then you return through the trees. It was 4 km and 1¾ hours.

Sunday – Day three we explored Blackwater Creek Trail which was a well groomed, excellently marked, beautiful forest hike to Kelly and David Lam Falls. There are gentle inclines and declines along this shaded hike. The trail features flush creeks, greenery, and a few picnic tables as well as a wooden observation deck at the waterfall. Part of the trail is called Green Road with is amply named for the lush moss, trees and undergrowth. We decided to start our hike in the early afternoon to allow the weather pattern to pass, and were rewarded with only a slight mist. Overall, we travelled 6.5 km and 2½ hrs on this creek trail.

The multi-day trip was a success thanks to everyone in the group that either helped with planning the hikes, connecting with the information center, taking pictures, prepping meals, creating parts of the trip report, but most importantly working together as a coherent group.

Louise and the team

Thanks to Jim, Carrie, Les, Norris and passing strangers for the photos

Multi-day Hiking – Powell River – 21-24 Mar 2025