Category Archives: Quadra Island

Hiking – Granite Bay Community Trails – 4 June 2025

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Activity Hiking
Destination Granite Bay Community Trails
Date 4 June, Wed
Trip Coordinator Norris Weimer
Contact Info norris.weimer@ualberta.ca or 3710
Description We will explore some lovely and quite easy trails which lead to wetlands, some mature forest and a lake.  This is also the controversial area which Mosaic might log and which the Granite Bay community and others are trying to protect.  We will follow the locally-maintained trails around the Back Bog and out to Two Mile Lake.  In order to hike this as a loop we will walk on a new logging road for about 2 km.  It is quite a long drive to the trailhead on unpaved and logging roads.
Meeting Place Community Centre parking lot for carpooling
Departure Time 10:00
Difficulty
 Mostly easy, with a few hills
Costs none
Trip limits 10
Notes Bring a lunch or snack and dress for the weather.

Trip Report – Gowlland Harbour – 14 May 2025

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What could go wrong?  Well, first there were 13 people who registered to come on this trip, but only four were able to come and three of them live on Gowlland Harbour.  The day was beautifully clear and a perfect temperature.  We paddled over to Gowlland Harbour Resort, who very generously allowed us to launch from their property.  There was a slight breeze from the northwest, which was just a bit of extra work.  By the time the last person was in the water, however, it seemed as if the wind was sufficient to reconsider the planned route and so instead of paddling over to Gowlland Island, we went upwind into North Gowlland.  We got out on a beach there for a short break, even though we had not paddled for very long.  In the 15 minutes or so that we were there, the wind increased noticeably so the there were small white caps.  So we once again changed our plan to explore the upper reaches of North Gowlland Harbour and instead crossed over to Vigilant Islet.  The bay behind the island was very sheltered and the tide was rapidly ebbing so there was lots of foreshore.  A few people rambled around the Island, admiring the flowers and the views before returning to the kayaks.  We had a brisk paddle back over to the north shore of Quadra Island, but were then somewhat sheltered.  We poked into the inlet east of Gowlland Harbour Resort before heading back to the launching beach.  We had lunch on the rocks there, enjoying the sunshine, and the view.  In our fairly short paddle we saw a mink, river otter, lots of Harbour Seals, a few porpoise or dolphin (which may have been Pacific White-sided Dolphin), deer, Bald Eagles, Canada Geese, Turkey Vultures, and Great Blue Heron.  It was a lovely day, but not the day we expected.    (From east Gowlland Harbour 7.4 km; 4 hours with lunch and two stops)

Debbie

(click on photos to enlarge)

Kayaking – Gowlland Harbour – 14 May 2025

Trip Report – Blindman’s Bluff and Eagle Ridge – 30 Apr 2025

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On a gorgeous sunny spring day, five hikers set out from the Copperhead Road parking area to hike around Blindman’s Bluff. There were only a few fallen trees on the trail, so it was in fair shape. There had been no other hikers on the trail since last fall, so it was easy to lose the path because of the new grass growth and trees across it. We had to rely on an old GPS track in a couple of places as we went around the Bluff counterclockwise. We stopped at a couple of open bluff areas to admire the mountains on Vancouver Island. Victoria Peak was especially prominent. As we came across the south side above Gowlland Harbour log sort we decided to go south down the rocky open area and explore a bit. This is a beautiful mossy area and we found many deer bones as well as a full skull where possibly a cougar had feasted. We then returned back to the main trail, continued on around Blindman Bluff Trail, and headed for Eagle Ridge.
We stopped by the large beaver pond to have lunch, admire the lily pads that were starting to grow and vegetation around the lake. We then preceded up the ridge to the highpoint, looking over Seymour Narrows toward Menzies Bay. This is also a great viewpoint with a large swampy area below you, then the ocean and looking again to the mountains in Strathcona Park. There were two tugs moving a log boom from Menzies Bay around Race Point. You could see the current moving the center of the boom out as they tried to get it going straight again, and finally did. After a short rest we headed back to the vehicles to call it a day.  (6.8 km and about four hours)

Les

Thanks to Carrie and Les for the photos.

Click on photos to enlarge
 

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

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

Kayaking – Gowlland Harbour – 14 May 2025

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This trip is full.  Please contact the coordinator to waitlist.

Activity Kayaking
Destination Gowlland Harbour
Date: 14 May 2025, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Debbie Quigg
Contact Info 3710 or dmquigg@gmail.com
Description We will paddle around Gowlland Harbour, checking out the many small islets, spring flowers and the intertidal zone. The tide will be 0.7m at 12:30, which will have advantages and disadvantages.  Gowlland Harbour Resort has once again allowed us to launch from their small beach. We will need to be very respectful of their wishes and very organized in launching.
Meeting Place 823 Gowlland Harbour Road
Departure Time On the water at 9:30 (arrive, unload and set-up at 9:00)
Difficulty
 Moderate
Costs None
Trip limits 10
Dogs? No
Notes: Bring your kayak and all necessary safety equipment as per transport Canada safety rules plus adequate flotation and a spray skirt. Bring a lunch. The road to the beach is a bottleneck, so we will arrange this carefully.  Please wait for your turn.

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

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

Trip Report – Bays and Bretons – 2 April 2025

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Six eager kayakers set out on a beautiful, sunny, spring day for our first group paddle of ‘25. For our first outing we were not too ambitious and were granted gentle conditions.  However, the Len Rd shore access had its challenges, as usual – a very small beach beyond a log jam for our put-in; 200 m of beach to cross on our return at low tide.

We were on the water at about 10:00 and paddled out, on calm waters, amid a flock of ducks (Buffleheads, Goldeneyes) fleeing our approach. We crossed the mouth of Hyacinthe Bay, and stayed close to the shoreline as we rounded Hyacinthe Point to enter Open Bay. A slight NW breeze rippled the water and we paddled halfway into the Bay before crossing to a group of rocky islands and then along the shore again. The tide was now low enough that we had to go around Valdez Point rather than picking a way through the rocky islets. The rock formations in this area are always fascinating to see close up. At this point two paddlers headed straight over to Breton Island and four of us continued on into Moulds Bay under the watchful eyes of a pair of eagles, one probably sitting on an egg or two, and a rest stop at a gravelly beach below a rustic home. A leg stretch is always welcome after an hour of paddling!

So as not to over-extend ourselves it was decided to head south through the small islands of the Breton group. A few Oystercatchers and Cormorants were sighted on the rocky outcrops. Then on to our lunch stop at the Breton Island “campsite”. It’s a nice sunny spot to relax and view the Salish Sea, from its “deep end”, south to the middle regions beyond Mitlenatch Island. No whale blows were sighted! The island has been closed to camping since becoming the Breton-Whitbridge Reserve under the BC Nature Trust in 2021.  Visit https://www.naturetrust.bc.ca/news/a-treasured-island for more information.

After lunch we set our sights on Turtle Island and started on the final leg. With about an hour remaining to a very low tide it seemed unlikely that we’d get around Turtle, and headed to the take out instead, which was now 200 metres from the parked cars! The portage to the headland was made much easier with four sets of kayak wheels which worked quite well on the firm, sandy beach. Everyone was glad to have finally got out on the water after a winter of cancelled paddle outings.(13.2 km; 4 hours)

Vic

Thanks to Carrie and Stephen for the photos.


(click on photos to enlarge)

Kayaking – Bays and Bretons – 2 April 2025

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.