North Beach/Fife Point Loop

Map

See comments below

31.0 km loop.

Approximate Elevations (in meters)
Start:	5	End:	5
Minimum:	0	Maximum:	30
Net Gain:	30	Cumulative Gain:

Tow Hill Trailhead: From Victoria there are a few alternatives:

Drive north to Port Hardy on #1 and BC#19 and catch the ferry to Prince Rupert. From here board the ferry to Haida Gwaii.

Fly, services available from both Victoria and Vancouver to Massett. Cost at the time I checked (1995) was approximately $410 from Vancouver, $520 from Victoria.

Drive to Swartz Bay and take the ferry to Vancouver. Take the highway #1 to Hope and continue on it through the Fraser Canyon to Cache Creek. Take BC#97 to Prince George. Drive from Prince George to Prince Rupert and then catch the ferry to Haida Gwaii as described in 1 above. This option likely involves 20+ hours of driving.

Drive to the north tip of the island, turning into Naikoon Provincial Park (Agate Beach) instead of heading on to Masset.

Note: Reservations strongly recommended on the ferries!

Facilities available at the trailhead include:

Campsite (30 sites)
Shelter is available
Water is available

Campsite is actually at Agate Beach, approximately 1.5 km west of the Tow Hill parking area.

Uses

Backpack	Moderate.		Suitable all year.
Dayhike	4 boot (moderate to strenuous).		Suitable all year.

Description

Add approx 10km to include Rose Spit. This is the highlight of the trail and should not be missed.

The "International Travel Map of Haida Gwaii (known as the Queen Charlotte Islands at the time) published by International Travel Map Productions contains an inaccuracy which could cause major difficulties for hikers attempting this route:

Kumara Lake (at Fife Point) no longer exists. The sand dunes were breached by a storm in 1988/89 and the area is now a tidal mud flat (cannot cross at high tide, obtain water at a creek at a dip in the trees on the western edge of the flats). Treat this water.

Note: Motorized vehicles are permitted on North and East beaches. This use has been increasing in the past few years and may lead to a less enjoyable experience for hikers and backpackers.

Features

This trail features beaches, birds (Birds) and forests.

Hazards

Rouge waves (waves of unusual height that can occur even on calm days - be cautious when wading or fishing, don’t stand too close to the water while taking photos)

Water

Very poor quality water available at Fife Point (must be boiled for at least 10 minutes), otherwise no water available. To get to the water at Fife Point walk through the mud flats to the north west. Head to a dip in the trees where you will find a small creek. Head up the creek a short ways to find a spot where it is running.

Other trails on Graham Island

Trail-conditions

View trail condition reports for this trail.