What does a landscaper do when there's snow at sea level? Hop in our Sprinter van and head for the sea. We scouted out eight waterfalls from Naniamo to Campbell River on the east coast of Vancouver Island.
A 4.8 km / 200m gain hike to Ammonite Falls in Naniamo.
The steep icy slope leading down to the falls. The girl in the pic was really struggling. I just put on my micro-spikes and was down in minutes. There was a lovely choice of thick ropes to aid the way.
Day 2:
Neck Point loop trail -- 1.8 km. This willow made an impression on Case.
That log in the background was nicely balanced on the rocks..
Hence the name: Neck Point.
Cormorants.
These four young guys were very brave, doing a dip in freezing water.
Day 3:
Pipers Lagoon can be seen from Neck Point. So we decided to start the day with this one. Our sister-in-law, Arlene joined us.
In 1983 the city of Naniamo bought this 8-hectare waterfront property from the Piper family who'd owned it since 1917. They had started a sheep farm but had to shut it down because courgars kept killing the livestock. From 1948-1952 a sawmill was operating on this property.
Gary oaks trees.
Shack Island is nestled between Neck Point & Pipers Lagoon. High tide kept us froming getter closer.
These shacks were built in the 1930s. Since there were no roads leading from downtown Naniamo to this area, rowboats had to be used to go north to the prime fishing locations. So fishermen used these shacks to stay in overnight and save themselves the trips from Neck Point to Naniamo. Also building on crown land during the Great Depression was cheaper.
These shacks are still privately owned and used by descendents of the original owners.
How fitting. Valentine's day had just happened a few days prior.
Upper Englishman River Falls Provinical Park by Parksville.
It's just a short walk from the parking lot to the falls.
Then the trail wrapped round the falls.
Looking across at the bridge we'd just been on.
A few rock towers on the boudlers.
Heading back.
On the road to Stotan Falls, which is close to Comox. It was a bit tricky trying to find this one. We had to ask a few locals and drive down a gravel road that said it was closed.
We parked on the farther end the bridge. Trails run along both sides of the falls.
I was so close I could touch the falls.
Day 3: The following three falls are in Strathcona Provincial Park. This is the oldest park in BC and largest on Vancouver Island, being founded in 1911.
Lower Myra Falls (.8 km) is not too far north of Della Falls, which we'd backpacked into the previous year.
All along Buttle Lake an earthquake has caused vertical cracks in the earth's crusts. At Myra Falls the creek plunges 70m in three cascades through these cracks.
A short climb to the upper falls.
Back on the road driving north alongside Buttle Lake & the Golden Hinde Mt (2200m).
Lupin Falls along the same road, were the prettiest.
This was a half an hour loop trail.
Our 4WD Sprinter was great in the snow.
To get to Lady Falls (30m high / .6 km) we drove over a bridge that separates Upper Campbell Lake from Buttle Lake. We were then on the Gold River Hwy-28.
East bound on Hwy 28, closer to the coast, we came to Elk Falls Provinical Park.
Brown River Falls: 2.9 km / 108m gain trail close to Comox. We walked under a power-line before turning right towards the river.
Then we headed back to the power-lines and continued on the straight path which then descended to this part of the river. At this point where the maples were, the trail became less defined.
This was the end of the trail. We were disappointed to not see a waterall. So I'd advise you to not go beyond the first waterfall.
A final stop for the day at Trent River on the Inland Island Hwy 19. We were searching for Trent Falls but did not find them. We'd hiked to under the bridge and then turned right and came to this pretty spot. With daylight waning, we decided to leave it for another trip.
After studying my All Trails App & Google Earth, we discovered that the falls were on the other side of the freeway. We'd checked that first but it's hard to see any king of trail under the snow, especailly if no one's been on it. The instructions I'd gotten off of Pinterest were a little confusing. Better luck next time. We boon-docked by Port Alberni overnight on our way to the wild west coast...
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