Hiking Trails
Dan Bosch Trail
This is a quarter-mile loop under large old-growth Douglas Fir along the shoreline to the warm, crystalline waters of Ruby Lake. Some steep terrain will be encountered.
Access - Follow Hwy. 101 to Ruby Lake and find access at Dan Bosch Park, 650 metres north of the resort.
Francis Point Trails
From the rocky beach at Francis Point Park (near the parking area), turn right and walk a short distance to the top of the hill to reach panoramic views of the ocean. You can continue your hike for another 20 minutes to hour by turning right, towards the lighthouse.
Access - Park access is at the end of Merrill Road. To reach that, follow Francis Peninsula Road from Hwy. 101. The adjacent Francis Point Ecological Reserve is not open to the public.
Garden Bay Marine Trail
This short, level, 200-metre walk leads to a juniper stand on a rocky shoreline in Garden Bay Marine Park. The bluffs offer great views of coastline, sea birds and local marine traffic.
Access - Take Garden Bay Road from Hwy. 101 in Kleindale, then turn left on Claydon Rd. in Garden Bay to find the park entrance and trail access.
Homesite Caves Trail
CAUTION: This is an active logging road! This is an easy, 2 km (30 min.) loop on a fairly rough, forested trail to Homesite Creek, a small waterfall and limestone caves.
Access - Turn right on the Forest Service Road 3.1 km north of Halfmoon Bay on Hwy 101. Park 100 metres past the powerline at the orange rock cairn which marks the trail entrance. When the trail opens to an old spur road, follow it back to the logging road and turn left to return.
John Daly Trail
This trail leads across a bridge for a short walk through John Daly Park along Anderson Creek. If you don't mind forcing your way through heavy brush and muddy terrain, turn left before crossing the bridge to reach the shore of Oyster Bay. Anderson creek is a salmon wintering pond and productive spawning creek.
Access - Take Garden Bay Road from Hwy. 101 in Kleindale and find the park entrance about 1 km from the intersection.
Katherine Lake Trails
Take Garden Bay Road from Hwy. 101 in Kleindale, then turn right at the Katherine Lake Park sign about 5.5 km from the intersection. The park features two trails:
SPRING CREEK TRAIL
This trail offers a 1 km (30 min.) walk through second growth forest.
KATHERINE LAKE TRAIL
A 500-metre (15 min.) walk to elevated views of Katherine Lake.
Klein Lake Hike
Not to be confused with the Klein Lake Trail (below), this is an easier, mainly downhill version of the Ruby-Klein Traverse.
Access - Park at Klein Lake, off Egmont Road.
Klein Lake Trail
Still under construction, this new trail should be complete by August 2010. The 37 km trail between Earl’s Cove and Halfmoon Bay, with a 1.5-metre width, will be suitable for bicycling as well as walking. It’s financed by provincial and federal government grants to benefit unemployed resource workers.
Access - Parking lot at Hwy. 101 & Egmont Road.
Lions Trail
This 1 km (30 min.) walk through Lions Park takes you along a woodland trail edged with moss, salal and ferns, over criss-crossing creeks and under a second-growth Douglas fir and alder canopy. Enjoy rest stops at rustic bridges and benches with great views of waterfalls.
Access - Access at the Lions Club sign on Hwy. 101, 1.3 km north of Garden Bay Road.
Mount Daniel Trail
This steep, 2.5 km (at least 1 hour) hike has a return of about 20 minutes. Most hikers agree that the top of Mt. Daniel has the most spectacular views of the area's waters and coastline. Truth is, we haven't met anyone who disagrees.
At the summit is a historical Sechelt Indian puberty ritual site featuring “moonstones,” an ancient circle of rocks used for meditation by native maidens. Sechelt Indians also used Mt. Daniel as a lookout for invading tribes.
Access - Take Garden Bay Road from Hwy. 101 in Kleindale. You’ll find the entrance about 3.4 km along, at the first dirt road on your left past Oyster Bay Road. 200 metres in, take the left fork and continue another 200 metres to the trail.
Mount Hallowell Trail
This is a moderate 2 km (at least 1 hr.) hike in Spipiyus Park to a restored Forest Service fire tower and panoramic views of the area at the summit. The tower, over 50 years old, is likely the only one left in the province.
Access - From Hwy. 101 in Halfmoon, take Trout Lake Road. At 12 km, take the left fork. At 19.5 km, find the red cable spool to follow the trail through clearcuts and old growth forest.
Pender Hill Trail
A steep, 30 min. hike to a fabulous, panoramic view of Pender Harbour from a level, open, moss-covered hilltop in Pender Hill Park.
Access - From Hwy. 101 in Kleindale, take Garden Bay Road, then follow Irvine’s Landing Road from the fork (keep right). Turn right on Lee Road, and you’ll find the trail access sign about 1.1 km in.
Ruby-Klein Traverse
A 4 km (1 hr.) hike linking Ruby and Klein Lakes that can be accessed from either end, but you'll have to retrace your path or have a vehicle at the other end, a 12 km distance by road.
Most of the trail is through conifer forest, and the views of Ruby Lake and the Sechelt Peninsula are spectacular, the top of the "saddle" between the lakes, a perfect spot for contemplation and picnicking.
Skookumchuk Trail
An easy 5 km (1.5 hr.) hike on a level, manicured trail through Skookumchuk Park and past Brown Lake to Roland Point, where you can view the dramatic Skookumchuk tidal rapids, backdropped by snowcapped mountains. Time your arrival for the changing of the tide for the most dramatic action, and if you're lucky you'll see fearless kayakers battle the powerful currents. Dogs must be leashed.
Access - Take Hwy. 101 to Earl’s Cove, then turn on Egmont Road. Just past Waugh Lake, at the Skookumchuk Park parking lot, you’ll find the entrance. This is a remote, seldom policed area, so don’t tempt fate by leaving valuables in your vehicle. Offsite Link: Tides for Skookumchuk Rapids.
Smuggler Cove Trail
A 1.5 km (20 min.) walk on a forested trail to a secluded anchorage and campsite. The main trail ends at a small bay with views of South Thormanby and Texada Islands. Rugged trails branch out across mossy bluffs with arbutus and fir to views of Welcome Pass and the Strait of Georgia.
Access - Follow the Provincial Park signs on Brooks Road off Hwy. 101 in Halfmoon Bay, south of Pender Harbour.
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