Hiking in Canada. What an innate part of our lives this pastime becomes. The perfect way to see the natural beauty up close and personal is on foot. Whether you don a backpack and sleep in the woods for days on end, or simply head off into the forest for a few hours. It’s something so special and quintessentially Canadian. Let’s do a short and sweet, the best hike Stoney Hill on Vancouver Island, for nature & views.
Getting There
Stoney Hill is located enroute to Genoa Bay, east of Duncan. Driving north from Victoria, take a right turn on Trunk Road and follow signs to Stoney Hill. The road is windy and scenic, and your last right-hand turn will be just after the Maple Bay fire department. Google link here for a map.
Stoney Hill Park
Stoney Hill is a regional park cared for by the CVRD. It is located in an area of the Samsun Narrows and includes an environmentally sensitive coastal bluff ecosystem. Visitors will be hiking through an area of older second growth forest, woodland and wetland areas.
Samsun Narrows located at the Salish Sea, is home to native species such as Arbutus trees, Gary Oak, Douglas Fir and a myriad of wild flowers. The trail system inside this park consists of a 3.2 kilometer loop that traverses steep terrain and a sensitive habitat. Staying on the trail is a must not only to protect the plant species, but also for hikers’ safety.
The Forest
This day I begin my hike on a more typical west coast day, one that is overcast and gray. Stoney Hill is high enough that when I arrive, I and the forest are inside cloud cover. The mystical feeling this provides is surreal. Hiking through the forest, the tops of the trees are enveloped by the cloud. The colours are not vibrant, instead muted and soft. The quiet of the heavy air is palpable. If this were a sunny day, the aesthetic and experience would be completely different.
This is the temperate rain forest of the pacific northwest, a large area that spans from Alaska right down to California. These trees are second growth. That means that loggers have come through this area, mostly likely in the early 1900’s, and cleared out the old growth. What we see today is the result of the saplings that were in their infancy while that initial logging happened.
Flora & Fauna
An absolute favorite thing to see is the abundance of moss, algae and fungi that thrive here. Specifically on this hike, I always love seeing the multitude of species of moss and can’t help but touch their pillowy softness. Blankets of moss cover the large boulders and old rotting trees. No matter how much of a drought we find ourselves in locally, the moss always seems to find and harbour moisture. This day getting it from these clouds no doubt.
An algae nicknamed Angel Hair moss, is such a beautiful and strange plant. It comes in many forms, some thick and firm, others as soft and thin as well, hair! Fungi almost hard as wood, grows in discs that protrude from the bark of the trees. A keen eye is needed to spot these dark colours; however, some are bright orange and even white.
This day, with moisture in the air, several varieties of slugs were making their way across our paths. The largest with the black spots, called banana slugs, they are interesting to get down close to and watch. They are some of the largest slugs in the world and can grow up to a whopping 26 centimeters long.
Trees
The most beautiful in my opinion are the Arbutus, the only broad-leafed evergreen tree, native to Canada. Their bark is extremely distinctive, shedding in large sheets of auburn and chestnut, exposing a bright green trunk. Found only in coastal rocky areas, they are extremely beautiful in this setting.
Another unusual and special tree to find is the Garry Oak, native only to British Columbia. A telltale sign when one is above you, are the smattering of acorns on the ground below. The large pines and firs are a constant, with their gnarly rough bark full of microscopic lichens and insects. They form the basis and abundance of this forest.
Views
Arguably the best reason to hike Stoney Hill are the views once one reaches the highest point in the loop. The trees break way, and the high rocky cliffs are exposed. Walk to the edges and take in the huge vista before you, that of the Samsun Narrows and Saltspring Island. On a clear day one can see for miles and miles. On a cloudy day, this sea is cloaked in a shroud of mystery.
As a sun-ray breaks through, the water begins to sparkle and shimmy. There are no sounds, its quiet, tranquil and awe inspiring. Take a seat, relax into the mood, and let yourself be enveloped by peace.
Whether you bring a picnic to enjoy at the top, or simply pause and take in the views before you, this hike has something for everyone. The terrain is manageable and the path quite even. There are no parts that are scary but your legs will get a workout. Most often, there are other hikers as it’s a popular place for locals to exercise and walk their doggos. Stoney Hill is an exceptional little hike if you have a few hours to spare and want to see what true British Columbia wilderness looks like.
