Vancouver Island outdoorsman Theo Dombrowski loves exploring the trails of the Island, and he has put his knowledge into two new guidebooks to entice others to share his passion. This week, we feature an excerpt from Seaside Walks on Vancouver Island, published by Rocky Mountain Books. Last week we printed an excerpt from Popular Day Hikes 4: Vancouver Island.
CABLE BAY TRAIL
Distance: 4.7 km return
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Starting elevation: 85 m
Low point: sea level
All seasons but a few muddy patches in winter or wet weather
Forests and ferns, shoreline trails along a sandstone bank through arbutus, views of Gabriola Island cliffs and the turbulent currents of the infamous Dodd Narrows.
Difficulty: Most of the trail to Cable Bay itself is broad and well graded, with switchbacks to reduce steep sections. The shoreline part of the trail (not in the park) is a little rough underfoot. Walking along the shore itself can require a little care to avoid slipping.
Start: From the junction where Highway 19A splits from Highway 19 south of Nanaimo, follow the signs to Cedar. By the Esso service station turn onto Holden Corso Road, and after 1.9 km take a slight left onto Barnes Road (the main through road). At 3.4 km turn left and drive 500 m along Nicola Road to its end in a large parking area with several signs.
Unfortunately, a controversial golf course and housing development are planned for the current forested area on either side of the path, but the intention is to leave the trail usable.
1. From the end of the parking lot and the signposted trailhead, follow the broad dirt track into a large stand of trees until it crosses under some power lines.
2. The trail passes through several sets of metal structures designed to prevent motorized vehicles from entering. Follow the trail as it crosses a private road, then a small bridge, and begins to descend. Cross a construction road. Just before the switchbacks a broad track leaves the trail on the right, but a signpost indicates Cable Bay Trail to be to the left.
3. Once you reach Cable Bay, about 1.6 km from the trailhead, you can take a small side path down onto the sandstone ledges of this small, narrow, steep-sided bay.
4. You will see signs posted by a sturdy footbridge over the stream that flows into the bay, announcing this to be the park boundary but not prohibiting use of the bridge and continuing on the broad trails on the other side.
5. Once across the bridge, follow the track across the treed ridge and turn left to follow the trail a short distance to a rounded meadow and an excellent viewpoint down Stuart Channel and across to the cliffs of Gabriola Island.
6. Turn back to rejoin the trail from the bridge and carry on straight ahead, parallel to the shore. This 1-km trail to Joan Point Park at Dodd Narrows is comparatively rough, requiring a little care stepping over roots and rocks. You can, if you prefer, walk most of the way along the largely sandstone shore, especially if the tide is out. If you arrive at the narrows when the current is at its strongest, and especially if it is ebbing, the sight across the turbulent waters to Mudge Island can be spectacular.
7. Return the way you came. (From the end of the shoreline trail by the narrows, you will see a well-established and attractive trail heading inland, but don’t expect it to loop back: after 250 m it leads to a dirt construction road.)
Excerpted from Seaside Walks on Vancouver Island, by Theo Dombrowski, Rocky Mountain Books.
Theo Dombrowski is an artist, writer, kayaker, hiker, mountain biker and skier. He worked in international education for most of his career, primarily at Lester Pearson College. He donates all the profits from his book projects to charity, principally the Georgia Strait Alliance and Médecins sans frontières International. He lives in Nanoose Bay.