If you’re a big tree lover, there’s no better place to wander than the rugged Carmanah Walbran Park in B.C. Considered one of the most “remarkable wild places” on Vancouver Island, the provincial park is home to some of the world’s largest spruce trees and an ancient forest ecosystem that’s been untouched for hundreds of years.
If you’re looking for a wilderness adventure that won’t have you racing against the clock to catch all the fall colours, rest assured that these ancient Sitka spruces provide the perfect company. Towering over visitors at 95 metres (nearly 312 feet) high, you can feel their majesty and wisdom in the air.
There are also ancient, gnarled cedars in the mix, some of which are well over 1,000 years old! Just think about all the history these incredible trees have witnessed in that time…
Situated 20 km northwest of Port Renfrew on the southwestern coast of the Island, the Carmanah Valley is considered remote, with several hiking trails providing access to some of the park’s most iconic trees.
In fact, the Port Renfrew Chamber and Commerce lists the park as one of the community’s most notable parks and beaches to visit.
Where to see nature’s giants
Visitors can see the trees from a variety of viewpoints, accessible via the park’s main trail, which meanders up and down Carmanah Creek.
Head to the Carmanah Valley Trailhead to get started, and keep an eye out for a junction 1.3 kilometres in. From here, you have the option of travelling upstream towards August Creek or downstream towards the Randy Stoltmann Commemorative Grove.
Want to check out a couple of different trails on your visit? Here are all the marked hikes at Carmanah Walbran Park:
- Coast Tower (1.2 kilometres each way)
- Junction (1.3 kilometres each way)
- Three Sisters (1.5 kilometres each way)
- Heaven Tree (1 kilometre each way)
- Randy Stoltmann Commemorative Grove (Formerly Heaven Grove – 1.3 kilometres each way)
- Grunt’s Grove (4 kilometres each way)
- Paradise Pool (5.5 kilometres each way)
- August Creek (7.5 kilometres each way)
Per BC Parks, there are viewing platforms located at Coast Tower, Three Sisters, and Heaven Tree.
“An elevated platform at Three Sisters offers visitors a different perspective of this majestic old-growth forest. These viewing platforms also help to protect the vegetation surrounding these natural wonders,” it states.
Note that many sections of the park trails are extremely muddy, so be sure to bring your layers, boots, and rain gear for this adventure.
Also, the park is accessible to the public via private logging roads. BC Parks urges visitors to drive with their headlights on and yield to logging trucks.
Enjoy your next forest bathing session.
How to get there: Take a ferry from Horseshoe Bay, West Vancouver, to Nanaimo, follow Trans-Canada Highway/BC-1 to Cowichan Valley Highway/BC-18 West in North Cowichan, and continue on until you reach Pacific Marine Road and Parkinson Road in Port Renfrew.
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