Category Archives: moderate

Multi-day Kayaking and Camping – Kanish Bay and Beyond – 9-11 Sept 2025

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Activity Kayaking and camping
Destination Kanish Bay and beyond
Date 9-11 Sept 2025, Tuesday to Thursday
Trip Coordinator Debbie Quigg and Louise Squire
Contact Info dmquigg@gmail.com or 3710.  Please register well in advance of the event.
Description This will be a two night, multi-day paddling trip out of Granite Bay. We will set up a base camp at Orchard Bay and explore the familiar haunts of Small Inlet and Kanish Bay.
Day 1: Paddle out from Granite Bay.  Cross the Bay and set up camp at Orchard Bay.  Paddle in to Small Inlet and hike to Waiatt Bay.  The low tide is around 10:30.
Day 2: Explore Kanish Bay, the Chained Islets and whatever the conditions and interests permit.
Day 3: We will likely pack up and go home, but if there are further interests, this could change
The weather and wind conditions will affect this itinerary.  We hope to have a short night excursion to see bioluminescence.
Meeting Place Granite Bay boat launch
Departure Time Meet up 9:00. On the water by 9:45.
Difficulty Moderate, but difficulty variable with the wind.
Cost $5 fee for launching/parking per day
Trip limits 8
Dogs? No
Notes: Must have ocean kayaks with sealed hatches and sprayskirt with all Transport Canada required safety equipment. Please review our paddling guidelines, which have recently been amended.
You need drinking water for three days, your own camping gear and food. Be aware of the weather forecast when prepping your gear and clothing. There are no food caches or outhouses.

Hiking – Beech’s Mtn Loop – 27 Aug 2025

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This is a substituted hike due to heat and difficulty.

Activity Hiking
Destination Beech’s Mountain Loop
Date 27 Aug 2025, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Les Hand
Contact Info 250-285-2029 or lhquadra@gmail.com
Description Starting at the Chinese Mountains trailhead, we follow the South Chinese Trail to its juncture with Beech’s Mountain Trail. Along this trail we ascend many steep rock bluffs with spectacular views to the east, west and south from the open bluffs. At the top of Beech’s Mountain, we make a steep descent through the forest to an old rough logging road. Eventually the route veers away from the road onto mossy bluffs with convoluted route-finding using flagging tape. The route connects with the North Chinese Mountain Trail (essentially a steep rubbly old logging road) which we descend to the parking lot.  Expect it to be hot.
Meeting Place Legion parking lot
Departure Time 8:00
Difficulty Moderate to difficult (many steep and potentially slippery bluffs to negotiate, as well as steep rocky logging roads). Flagged route on the return.
Costs none
Trip limits 8
Dogs?
Notes: Sturdy hiking shoes/boots required.  Hiking poles may be helpful. Bring a lunch or snack and sufficient water. Estimated time 4 hours.

Hiking – Maud Island – 20 Aug 2025

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Activity Hiking
Destination Maud Island
Date 20 Aug, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Valerie van Veen
Contact Info Vvv@qisland.ca, 250 285 2329, cell 778 242 5774
Description This will be a great, and rare, opportunity to see the Narrows in max flood (12 knots at 1 pm) while we enjoy lunch in the sunshine! We will meet at the Morte Lake parking lot to carpool to the Maud Island trailhead. We will take the lower trail by the lagoon out and back. Bring lunch . About 3 hours, maybe longer to watch the current action . This will be a moderately paced hike. Fortunately the weather forecast is for average summer temperatures.
Meeting Place Morte Lake parking lot to carpool
Departure Time 10:00
Difficulty Moderate
Costs None
Trip limits 10
Dogs? No not recommended due to trail conditions
Notes Must contact coordinator by Tuesday evening.

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

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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
 

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Hiking – Main Lake and Yeatman Bay – 30 July 2025

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

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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

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

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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

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Hiking – Newton Lake and Small Inlet – 23 July 2025

Hiking – Manzanita Bluff – 8 Aug 2025

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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.

Hiking – Main Lake and Yeatman Bay – 30 July 2025

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

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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
 

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

Hiking – Nighthawk Lake – 9 July 2025

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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: