| 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. |
Category Archives: Vancouver Island
Trip Report – Mt. Washington – 12 Mar 2025
(5.7 km, 4 hours, 275m ascent)
Norris
Thanks to Jim and Norris for the photos
(click on photos to view larger)
- Mt. Allan Brooks
- Jutland Mountain
- Climb to Great Big View
- A creek
- Jim breaking trail
- Mt. Albert Edward
Snow – Mt. Washington – 12 March 2025
Previously scheduled on March 3rd.
| Activity | Snowshoeing |
| Destination | Mt. Washington |
| Date | 12 March, Wednesday |
| Trip Coordinator | Norris Weimer |
| Contact Info | norris.weimer@ualberta.ca or 3710. Please contact the coordinator by Saturday evening |
| Description | We will head uphill from the Nordic centre taking the trails for Big View and Finger Glades. Some sections are quite steep. About 5.5 km, 250 m elevation gain, 3.5-4 hours. Snowshoes can be rented if needed and there is a $16 day pass that is required. |
| Meeting Place | Quathiaski Cove Ferry terminal |
| Departure Time | 9:30 ferry |
| Difficulty |
Moderate |
| Costs | Ferry, fuel and $16 Day Pass |
| Trip limits | 10 |
| Dogs? | No |
| Notes: | There is a lot of recent snow on the mountain now.. Bring lunch and gear appropriate for the weather. |
Trip Report – Nymph Falls to Comox Lake – 27 Jan 2025
This was a very popular hike because we had never done it before and the weather was beautiful and crisp. Thirteen of us took the ferry and then drove to the Comox Valley, parking at the Nymph Falls Nature Park. We briefly walked down stream along the Puntledge River to view the falls, with its rock ledges and wide span. We then followed the well constructed and maintained trail upstream to the weir, past the islands, through the mature forest and meandering trail, arriving at the dam.
Conveniently, there were picnic tables mostly in the sun for our lunch. We wandered out to the bridge on the Comox Main logging road for a narrow view of Comox Lake and watched a guy jump into the frigid January water. We then turned back and mostly returned by the same route, with a few short-cuts. The group enjoyed the great weather, easy walking, the new scenery and the sociability. 14.2 km; 4½ hours.
Debbie
Thanks to Jim and Norris for the photos
(click on photos to view larger)
- View from the ferry
- Nymph Falls
- Picnic table carving
- The weir
- Comox Lake
- Swimmer in Comox Lake
Snow – Mt. Washington – 6 Feb 2025
This trip was cancelled
| Activity | Snowshoeing |
| Destination | Mt. Washington |
| Date | 6 Feb, Thursday |
| Trip Coordinator | Louise Squire |
| Contact Info | lsquire@sasktel.net or 306-539-3813 |
| Description | Mt Washington snowshoe excursion leaving from Raven Lodge through the meadows, passing by Battleship Lake and Helen MacKenzie Lake to return. Approx distance of 7.5 kmAs Thursday is Cortes guaranteed sailing, we will be taking the 8:30 ferry to Campbell River. Snowshoes can be rented if needed and there is a $16 day pass that is required. |
| Meeting Place | Quathiaski Cove Ferry terminal |
| Departure Time | 8:30 ferry. |
| Difficulty |
Moderate. |
| Costs | Ferry, fuel and $16 Day Pass |
| Trip limits | 10 |
| Dogs? | No |
| Notes: | We will not go if rain is forecast at 1,000m. Bring lunch and gear appropriate for the weather. |
Hiking – Nymph Falls to Comox Lake – 27 Jan 2025
This trip is full as of 22 Jan 2025. Please contact the coordinator to waitlist.
| Activity | Hiking |
| Destination | Nymph Falls to Comox Lake |
| Date | 27 Jan 2025, Monday |
| Trip Coordinator | Debbie Quigg |
| Contact Info | dmquigg@gmail.com or 3710 |
| Description | We can explore the Nymph Falls Nature Park, with views of the sculpted rocks in the Puntledge River and a system of trails, before we take the wide trail upstream to the dam. This trail leaves the provincial park and enters BC Hydro territory. About 13.5 km and 5 hours, or longer depending on the Park exploration |
| Meeting Place | Q Cove Ferry terminal. Please arrange your carpool in advance. |
| Departure Time | 9:30 ferry |
| Difficulty |
Easy, but fairly long |
| Costs | Ferry costs |
| Trip limits | 10 |
| Dogs? | |
| Notes: | Bring lunch and gear for the weather. |
Trip Report – Mt. Washington – 8 Jan 2025
The more ambitious group did Rossiter’s Rise, Tree Beard, Crooked Creek, Lookout and some of Old Cabin Loop . (7.3 km, 3.5 hours, 215m ascent)
Norris
Thanks to Jim and Norris for the photos
(click on photos to view larger)
- Raven Lodge
- Jutland
- Mt. Albert Edward
- Canada Jay (Whiskey Jack)
- Lunch break
- To the Lookout
Snow – Mt. Washington – 8 Jan 2025
| Activity | Snowshoeing |
| Destination | Mt. Washington |
| Date | 8 Jan, Wednesday |
| Trip Coordinator | Norris Weimer |
| Contact Info | norris.weimer@ualberta.ca or 3710. Please contact the coordinator by Monday night. |
| Description | We will follow some of the Mt. Washington snowshoe trails leaving from Raven Lodge. |
| Meeting Place | Quathiaski Cove Ferry terminal |
| Departure Time | 9:00 ferry. |
| Difficulty |
Easy to moderate. |
| Costs | Transportation costs and trail pass. The price of a snow shoe day pass is $16. |
| Trip limits | 10 |
| Dogs? | No |
| Notes: | Bring lunch as we may not eat at Raven lodge. Have reliable equipment and winter gear. Expect warm conditions |
Trip Report – Snowden Demonstration Forest – 4 Dec 2024
(click on photos to enlarge)
- Lost Lake
- Lost Lake at the picnic site
- Riley Lake
- Sleepy garter snake
Hiking – Snowden Demonstration Forest – 4 Dec 2024
Trip Report – Baikie Estuary – 6 Nov 2024
After heavy rains and wind on Quadra earlier in the week, complete with power outages, nine of us met a tenth walker at Spruce and 19th to start our walk. Our first block was along an interesting row of river front houses and then a view of a few of Alex Witcombe’s driftwood sculptures near an informative plaque about local wildlife at the river edge.
Then it was up and over the bridge to the Raven trail that follows the estuary and across a number of wooden bridges. Spawning Chum could be seen at many vantage points and as we strolled out to the mill pond, we got a glimpse of many water fowl.
We came upon a recently reconstructed section near the information board and were greeted by a very informative worker who was in the process of hand bombing thousands of trees to bring the island back to where it was before industry. The Greenway Land Trust and Wei Wa Kum have put years, months and many hours into reclaiming this once very industrial area and their efforts are really starting to show.
This short 5K walk only minutes from Campbellton offers everyone a great way to enjoy our surroundings with very little effort as the trails are wide and very accessible. We ended with a fine meal at More Eatery and we headed home without any rain. (4.7 km; 1½ hours for the walk)
Neil U
Thanks to Neil and Norris for the photos
(click on photos to enlarge)
- Alex Witcombe’s art
- Chum salmon spawning
- Learning about the restoration
- Rose hips
- The plants and the planters
- Lunch at More Eatery


































































