Jordan Ridge

Park:

Terrain: Moderately smooth

Jordan River Mainline Trailhead: (80 km from Saanich Hall, 8k on logging roads, 4wd recommended). Drive west from Victoria to Jordan River. Drive 2.7km from the west side of the Jordan River Bridge (almost directly opposite the China Beach group campsite). Turn right onto a logging road. Proceed up the road, you will notice a road joining from your right approximately 1km in, continue straight a short ways until you come to a gate, go through the gate and take the left fork almost immediately thereafter. Continue on this road, ignoring the side roads for as long as you can drive. There is one gated juntion approximately 6.5km up the road. This gate is usually locked. I have been told there is an access to the Kludahk Trail via this road but you can find another by going left at the gate and continuing up the main road. (again ignore the side roads).

For skiing access simply drive up as far as you can. It is very unlikely that you will be able to drive beyond the summit of the hill just beyond the gate mentioned above. The road dips a little here and often collects a lot of snow. If you can reach the summit it makes an excellent stopping point as the terrain becomes gently rolling for the next 2km or so.

Uses

Cross-country skiNovice. Best from mid November thru mid March.

Description

This route leaves the Kludahk approach road shortly after the 5 mile marker and just before the hill to the 5 mile overlook, The trail goes down about 30 meters beforre more or less leveling out along a section with nice views across the Strait of Juan de Fuca to the Olympic Mountains in northern Washington State. It then proceeds along in open terrain before dropping slightly to a junction with a road on the left. Stay on the main road at this point and start climbing a slight grade. Ignore the next road on your right and continue up the hill to a junction marked by a large tree. Either route now offers good skiing options, we have explored both for about 1-2km.

The left fork goes up a hill and then drops rounding a curve, there is a nice lunch spot here just before you enter a treed area. The road then turns back to the left and continues dropping. This supposedly leads to an area of lakes and meadows a few km further on. We have reports that it is possible to do a loop trip up this area but have yet to explore that option.

The right fork (from the tall tree) goes up a moderate hill and then levels before going up a couple more hills. It continues on for at least another 3km from the junction. After cresting a hill the trail drops and rounds a bend before entering a wooded area. Just before the wooded area is a nice lunch spot. Beyond the wooded area the trail goes down a hill and enters another open area overlooking a deep valley with the Kludahk Ridge as the far backdrop. The trail goes along here before climbing again (we turned around at the spot where is started to climb).

If you go left at the 1st junction after leaving the 5 mile overlook the terrain becomes a little more challenging. It is more rolling than the other routes and the hills are steeper. This road proceeds about 2km or so before dead-ending. There is one spur road off the road, we did some minor investigation of it but it appeared not to lead anywhere.

Features

This trail features animals (Cougar, Deer), birds (Steller's Jay), forests, lakes, meadows and views.

Trail-conditions

View trail condition reports for this trail.