Carmanah Valley

(also known as Valley Mist Trail)

Park: Carmanah Walbran Provincial Park, Vancouver Island: West Coast

Map

National Topo #92 sheets C/10 and C/15

11.0 km one way.

Terrain: Moderately smooth

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Carmanah Valley Trailhead: (186 km from Home, 80k on logging roads, 4wd recommended). Drive north from Victoria on the Trans-Canada highway (#1) to the the Lake Cowichan highway (BC#18, 64.9 km from Saanich Hall) just north of Duncan. Turn west (left) and drive 31 km to the east end of Cowichan Lake, at the Youbou junction keep right towards Youbou. Continue through Youbou to a sign at the BCFP sawmill on the west side of town. Reset your trip odometer at this point, the start of the industrial logging roads. From here follow the right-hand edge of the parking lot onto a gravel logging road.

2.0 km Keep left.
13.7 km Continue straight, ignoring the right fork.
19.8 km Turn left (passes BCFP Heather Campsite)
20.5 km Turn right onto Nitinat main line
22.5 km Keep left
32.7 km Keep right (start of one-way section)
33.5 km Continue straight, ignore road on left.
37.5 km Resume two-way traffic
38.5 km Take right fork
39.1 km Go left on Carmanah main line.
44.6 km Keep left.
48.2 km Keep right.
48.5 km Caycuse River bridge, at other end of bridge turn right onto Rosander main line (gravel with some steep grades).
48.9 km Keep right (road continues above south side of Nitinat Lake and climbs steeply over a pass)
60.8 km Keep right
64.1 km Keep left, ignore minor road on right.
66.6 km MacMillan Bloedel gate. Check here to ensure the following instructions have not changed.

Beyond gate follow main road up hill into new logging area, ignore any minor roads. In second large clearcut the road begins to turn left, re-enters the forest and then enters a third large clearcut before re-entering the forest again, keep to this road.

Keep right at major junction to enter fouth large clearcut. A bald hill is visible to the right and behind. Ignore any minor left forks and re-enter the forest. Keep left on Rosander main at its junction with Bonilla main, follow road up hill into a fifth clearcut to a three-way junction with a large cedar log with blue paint on the right. Take the middle road (straight ahead). Leave low-clearance vehicles at this point, it is 2.5 km to the trailhead.

Follow road through clearcut and then into the forest, Carmanah Valley is visible ahead. Road continues level to Hell Camp where the trailhead is clearly marked.

For more information see: "Carmanah Valley Road Access and Recreation Map" published by the Western Canada Wilderness Committee or the "Guide to Forest Land of Southern Vancouver Island" published by the Lake Cowichan Combined Fire Organization. (A $0 parking fee is charged.)

Facilities available at the trailhead include:

Campsite (14 sites)
Picnic tables
Toilets and/or outhouses
Water is available

Campsite also has tent pads, fire ring and a bear wire. Sites along the river do not have any of these except for 3 Sisters which has an outhouse.

Uses

Backpack	Easy to moderate.	1 hour one way.	Suitable all year.
Dayhike	2 boot (easy to moderate).	4 hours one way.	Suitable all year.

Description

Backpacking time estimate is to Three Sisters, length is for the full lower trail from Heaven Grove to August Creek.

The trail starts from the campsite access road, just past the hand pump. It proceeds downhill at a steady grade on a gravel trail. Once you reach the valley floor the trail becomes boardwalk leading to a junction. Head upstream (left) for the Three Sisters, Grunts Grove, Paradise Pond and August Creek. Downstream you'll find the Heaven Tree and Heaven Grove, a stand of Sitka Spruce, some over 80 meters in height.

The trail to the Three Sisters is predominately boardwalk, after the Three Sisters the boardwalk ends and the trail eventually starts to become harder to follow. Downstream the trail is mostly boardwalk to Heaven Grove (approximately 35 minutes from the junction). There is an outhouse in this section but camping is not permitted on the downstream portion of the trail.

Note: Shortly below Heaven Grove the trail is closed, there is no access to the West Coast Trail from this trail.

Features

This trail features forests and rivers.

Hazards

boardwalk (can be very slippery in wet conditions)

Harsh west coast conditions (mud, rain, wind). VERY unpredictable weather. Note: During rainy weather the level of the creek is subject to severe fluctuations. Flash floods can occur in this area. This is a remote area, the nearest phone is at Didtidaht Reserve, 33km away.

Comments

The west coast of Vancouver Island is subject to prolonged periods of extremely heavy rainfall. Be prepared. Trail conditions can be very muddy!

Campsites along the trail

Three Sisters	3.8 km	Outhouse	Water is plentiful quality is good.
Grunt's Grove	5.3 km		Water is available.
August Creek	8.8 km		Water is available.

View trail condition reports for this trail.