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Hiking
Friday, April 24th, 2009 by GetawayBC.com
The North Island is a hiker’s paradise. Trails and abandoned logging roads cross the island, offering easy access to forests, streams, and lakes. Wildlife is abundant, and so are the photo opportunities. Grab your rain gear and your camera, and set out for adventure.
Trails range in complexity from very easy to extremely challenging. Many seaside communities maintain gentle walks along the waterfront, suitable for young families and even wheelchair accessible. Beach lovers flock to Storey’s Beach near Port Hardy, a long, gentle stretch of sand which is perfect for beachcombing. The Tex Lyon Trail extends from Storey’s Beach. Watch for high tides, which can wash over portions of the trail and soak your hiking boots.
Port Hardy also offers the Quatse Trail that leads walkers through the Quatse Estuary, teeming with birds, and on to the Quatse River Hatchery and new salmon interpretive centre.
Alert Bay boasts a network of walking and bike trails that criss cross the island and include a boardwalk over bog in the Alert Bay Ecological Park.
Malcolm Island historical Mateoja Trail follows the history of Sointula’s pioneers while the Beautiful Bay trail follows the shoreline of the island where orcas are known to rub along the beaches.
Or try Sayward’s two-hour Cottonwood Loop.
Contact the closest Visitor Info Centre for details on local trails.
The trail to San Josef Bay in Cape Scott Provincial Park is longer, though still wheelchair accessible. The prize at the end is a protected sandy beach, perfect for a day of picnicking, sand castles and even surfing.
Extreme adventure runs the entire length of the Cape Scott Provincial Park with backcountry trails. For more details on those trails see page 31. Whatever your skill and ability, there’s a trail for you.;