Salt Spring Trail & Nature ClubEvents
Comments Off on EventsMarch Events
Walk leader needed for March 25th.
Tuesday, March 4th
UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE
The worst rain will come around noon, so let’s keep the early start.
Depart ArtSpring at 8:40
Meet at Ruckle at the lot at the Park Entrance to set out at 9:00.
Hilltop – Big Doug – Kings Cove – Coppermine Point – return
Walk – Bill Palmer will lead a clockwise loop walk on Channel Ridge from the Pringle Farm Road entrance. Distance: 7 km. Elevation: 140 m. Duration: 3.5hr.
From the trail head on Pringle Farm Road we will take the trail on the left, toward trail marker #9 avoiding the steep, worn out stair section of the trail. The loop part of the trail is relatively level with ups and downs. Lunch with a view.
Meet at ArtSpring for 10:00 am departure or at the trailhead at 10:15 am. Park in the turnaround at the top of Pringle Road.
Ramble – Meet at ArtSpring at 10:30 and we’ll ramble around Mouat’s Park.
Take your lunch.
Volunteers are needed to lead hikes in March; dates are March 11th, 18th and 25th.
Sunday, March 9th
Hike – The destination for today’s hike is at home by the fire.
Ruckle Park starting at the end of Meyer Rd. We take the Chris Hatfield Trail to Yeo Point and continue on the shoreline to Coppermine Point, returning to King’s Cove via Merganser Pond. Meet at Art Spring to car pool, departing at 1:00 pm or at the end of Meyer Rd to set out at 1:20.
Tuesday, March 11th
Hike – Larry will lead today’s hike will take us up the Reginald Hill CRD Park, to a great view of Fulford Harbour at the top, then we’ll enter the 400 acres Reginald Hill Conservancy area established in 2023, with another outstanding view to the south, then along a quiet roads to the Tsawout Reserve where we’ll have lunch at the beach, then back to the cars along Reginald Hill Rd. 8.8 km 300 m elevation gain. Meet at ArtSpring at 940 or meet at the end of Morningside at 1005.
Walk – Sheila Spence will lead a moderately vigorous walk to the top of Mount Erskine from Trustees Trail on the least intense route. Distance: 3.5 km, Elevation: 175 m, Time: 3hr. Lunch, bench and dog dish inspection at the top.Meet at ArtSpring for 10:00 am departure or at the trailhead (end of Trustees Trail) at 10:15 am.
Ramble – Ramblers try again to meet at ArtSpring at 10:30 and walk around Mouat Park.
Take your lunch
Sunday, March 16th
Hike – Holland Creek, Crystal Falls and the Rotary lookout. Meet at ArtSpring at 11:30 to car pool or at Vesuvius at 11:40 to drive on the 12.05 Ferry. Expect to return on the 4:50 ferry.
Tuesday, March 18th
Hike – Ashley will lead a hike in Mount Maxwell Park. Meet at ArtSpring to car pool departing at 0940 or join at the starting point: corner of Seymour Heights and Armand Way to set out at 1005. Will include the “Sunshine Trail” – #8. At least 400 ft of uphill, as we will lose altitude on trail #8, which we will have to regain on trail #3.
Walk – Carron will lead the walk on the Dunbabin Trail and some other nearby trails. We’ll cover approximately 4.5 kms and walking sticks are recommended. We will end with lunch overlooking the beaver pond. Depart from ArtSpring at 10 am or at the Dunbabin Trailhead on Stark’s Road ar 10:15 am.
Volunteers are needed to lead hikes in April. Dates available are April 1, 8, 22 and 29.
Sunday, March 23rd
Hike – Channel Ridge starting from Pringle Farm Rd. Meet at ArtSpring to car pool, departing at 1.00 pm or at the trailhead at the top of Pringle Farm Rd to set out at 1:15.
Tuesday, March 25th
Hike – Hike Bob Keates will lead a hike along Holland Creek and up to Heart Lake. 10 km and 380 m elevation gain. Poles recommended for the steep ascent to Heart Lake. Meet at Portlock Park at 8:40 to car pool or at Vesuvius to drive on the 9:35 ferry. Expect to return on the 3:35 ferry
The hike starts on the south side of Ladysmith and follows Holland Creek to join the trail up to Heart Lake. Meet at Portlock Park to car pool. If anyone intends to come directly to Vesuvius looking for a ride, please notify me so I can be sure of keeping a place for you in one of the cars.
MAP: Download the link below.
https://saltspringtnc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/hollandcreektrailhead1.png
From the ferry, follow the road past the mill, and turn right on Chemainus Rd.
Follow Chemainus Rd to the first roundabout and take the left branch (Henry Rd).
Take Henry Rd up and turn right onto the Trans Canada.
Follow the Trans-Canada to the N.Davis intersection (shortly after the S.Davis intersection). This has lights and a left turn lane.
Turn left onto Davis, passing a plaza with a Coop Gas station, and Dogwood is the first turn to the right after the plaza. Go about 400 m along Dogwood, to a turnoff to the trailhead and a parking area. If you cross the bridge over Holland creek, you have gone too far. Hike is 10 km and with 380 m elevation gain. Poles recommended for the steep ascent to Heart Lake.
On the return journey, turn right from Dogwood onto Davis and enter the Trans-Canada at the S.Davis intersection. Continue to Henry Rd (lights and a left turn lane), passing River Rd (no lights) and Macmillan Bloedel Rd (lights) immediately before Henry Rd. If you miss Henry Rd, continue on the Trans Canada until you cross the green bridge and the first turn left (Mt Sicker Rd) will take you back to Crofton.
Expect to return on the 3:35 ferry.
WALK – Angie will lead a walk on the Jack Foster trail to the beach and back. This is a fairly easy trail with a short steep section, some exposed roots, and stairs to the beach. Elevation change 50 m. Distance 2 km. Note: High tide at 12:51 pm = 2.67m. (only 1 metre different from the 9:47am low tide). If it is dry enough, we may add Cupples Trail to the walk. Depart ArtSpring at 10:00 am or meet at the trail head parking area, corner of Sunset Drive and Southey Point Road.
Ramble – TBA
Sunday, March 30th
Hike – Mt Maxwell starting from the end of Armand Way. Up Trail #4 until it meets the upper Girlfriend #3, then trail #1 to the summit. Descend on the Armand trail. Meet at ArtSpring to car pool, departing at 1.00 pm or at the trailhead at the top of Armand Way to set out at 1:15.
April Events
Volunteers needed to lead April walks. Dates available April 8, 15, 22.
Tuesday, April 1st
Hike – Tide is down between 1:00 pm and 3:00pm. We will meet at ArtSpring to car pool, departing at 10:15 or at the trailhead at the entrance to the Cupples trail to set out at 10:30. We will do the Cupples trail first, then head up to Southey Point Rd to pick up the Jack Foster Trail to the beach. Lunch on the beach, then head up past North End Farm to return to the cars. Note the late start to synchronize with the tides. There are places to pull off the road and park about 200 m past the North End Farm entrance and at the entrance to the Cupples trail.
Sunday April 6th
Hike –The Sullivan side of Burgoyne Bay, out on trail 20, continue on trail
23 and down 21. Meet at ArtSpring to car pool, departing at 1.00 pm or at the trailhead in Burgoyne Bay to set out at 1:15
Tuesday, April 8th
Hike – Al Lehmann will lead a strenuous hike up Mt Tuam (about 500 meters climb)
through the forest for about 90 minutes followed by lunch on the open meadow with
spectacular views. After lunch we will hike down the open meadow, down through the forest
on the west side, and finally back along Mountain Road to the cars. If the meadows are wet
with rain, we will return the way we came through the forest.
Meet at ArtSpring to car pool departing at 09:40 or at Drummond Park to consolidate vehicles for the drive onto Mountain Road.
Sunday, April 13th
Hike – Ruckle Park, Chris Hatfield Trail to Yeo Point and Kings Cove, then inland to Hilltop, return via Merganser Pond. Meet at ArtSpring to car pool, departing at 1:00 pm or at the trailhead at the end of Meyer Rd.
Tuesday, April 15th
Hike – Leslie Gardiner will lead a hike in the Mill Farm area to the summit of Mt Bruce. Meet at ArtSpring to car pool, departing at 9:40 pm or at Drummond Park at 10:00 to consolidate vehicles for the drive up Musgrave Rd. Continue to the trailhead on Mt Bruce Rd (turn off Musgrave Rd just after Rosemurgy/Spirit Lake and continue to a parking spot at a right angle bend in Mt Bruce Rd).
Sunday, April 20th
Hike – Manzanita Ridge and Mt Erskine starting from Toynbee Rd. Meet at ArtSpring to car pool, departing at 1.00 pm or at the trailhead on Toynbee Rd to set out at 1:20.
Tuesday April 22nd
Hike – Larry McIntyre will lead a hike from Burgoyne Bay to the top of Mt Maxwell. It will be strenuous: 8 km and 600m elevation gain, with steep and slippery sections; however, for our efforts, we’ll get to view Maxwell’s giant boulder fields, the remnants of a “critical mineral” mine dating to 1905, and the site of a 17 acre forest fire from 2009, with many charred douglas firs still alive and thriving. Meet at Art Spring to car pool at departing at 9:40 or at the trailhead in Burgoyne Bay to set out at 10:00. Car-poolers note earlier departure time.
Sunday, April 27th
Hike – Hope Hill. Meet at ArtSpring to car pool, departing at 1.00 pm or at Drummond Park at 1:20 to consolidate vehicles for the drive up Musgrave Rd. Continue to the trailhead on Musgrave Rd.
We will take the circuit up trail 2, then trail 8 and descend on trail 1.
Tuesday, April 29th
Hike – Jenny and Nick Coghlan will lead a hike in Channel ridge to see the wildflowers. Meet at
ArtSpring to car-pool, departing at 9:40, or meet at the trailhead at the top of Broadwell to set out at 10:00.
May Events
Sunday May 4th
Hike – Mill Farm and Mt Bruce. Meet at ArtSpring to car pool, departing at 1.00 pm or at Drummond Park at 1:20 to consolidate vehicles for the drive up Musgrave Rd. Continue to the trailhead on Mt Bruce Rd (turn off Musgrave Rd just after Rosemurgy/Spirit Lake and continue to a right angle bend in Mt Bruce Rd).
Tuesday May 6th
Hike – Lynn Thompson will lead a hike on Mt Tzouhalem to see the wildflowers. Meet at Portlock Park to consolidate vehicles before proceeding to Vesuvius for the 9:35 ferry, leaving Portlock at 8:45. If anyone requires a pickup from Art Spring, I will be there at 8:35. Drive to the Kaspa Road trailhead (map will be posted nearer to the date).