QUALICUM RIVER, A CHARMED WALK, HIKE, BIKE, EXPLORING EXPERIENCE

Trees are the earth's endless effort to speak to the listening heaven - Rabindranath Tagore

There are a couple of options to walk, hike, bike & explore the Big Qualicum River which is roughly an 11 km journey from it's source at Horne Lake to the ocean. 

It is broken into two sections, the upper Big Qualicum River & the lower Big Qualium River with both sections connected by a wide, level, gravel road; great for walking, hiking, biking & exploring. If you are looking for an easy bike ride with kids that enjoy biking, this is a good outing. As mentioned, it is 11 kms & a fairly level road except at the beginning of the trail (upper level), where it is rocky & a little steep.  Check this site for more info on directions etc.

My favourite area to explore is the lower Big Qualicum River where you walk & hike a well worn trail that is protected by large, old trees covered in moss as the trail meanders along side the rushing, flowing, rippling or cascading river as it journeys down stream. I get the feeling that this is a very old trail, it certainly is a well used trail for walking, hiking & fishing. Lots of salmon, steelhead & cutthroat trout are to be found here thanks to the Qualicum hatchery. Personally, I don't think this is a great trail for biking. There are numerous areas that are a little challenging & the experience could be more of a nuisance than enjoyable. The trail crosses streams by using fallen logs, lots of stairs to climb up & down the cliff face, very narrow areas that have been washed out & during the rains it is muddy & slippery.  

Walking, hiking & fishing on this trail during the fall is an amazing experience. Last years salmon spawn was a real experience in observing the wild-life cycle. There were so many salmon swimming up river that the water was bubbling & the fish eagles, ravens & seagulls were all waiting their turn for a feast. This was bear time & what a time they had feasting before hibernating. Fish carcases were scattered everywhere, on bridges, all the way up the trail, even hanging in the trees, where I am assuming birds had picked them up & then dropped them from being too big & heavy. The smell was rather whiffy from the decay & it took all winter for the smell to disappear. Walking the trail today you still see lots of fish bones in areas along with a slight whiffy smell of fishy decay.

I was babysitting my daughters dog before Christmas, & let me tell you, she was in seventh heaven, rolling in & wanting to eat this decaying matter, UGH, I had to watch her like a hawk!!

If interested in the fish hatchery, click here.

Some of the challenges faced on Big Qualicum River Trail.

When you go up, you also have to come down!

To find lower Big Qualicum River, take exit 75 (Horne Lake) if coming from Nanaimo, turn right & follow Horne Lake down the hill & over the tracks & then turn left. Immediately you will see the Qualicum River Hatchery sign on your left, follow the dirt road to the parking lot. 

If coming from Courtenay area, turn left on exit 87 (Cook Creek) head down to the old highway, turn right, drive through Bowser & Qualicum Bay. Just outside Qualicum Bay you will pass the First Nations camp-ground on your left, then on your right you will see the First Nations Reserve sign & a road going to their reserve, drive past that & look for the second road on your right which is Horne Lake Rd, take that until you come to a stop sign, just before the sign look for the dirt road on your right which will take you to the Qualicum Hatchery parking lot. 

Walk towards the hatchery & over the bridge & follow the wide gravel road. 

To find this particular trail follow the gravel road under the train bridge & on your left you will see a fish fence structure with a bridge, cross the bridge & turn left onto a joining bridge, you will see the trail ahead of you on your right. Bear signs are posted, so be aware, this is bear country.

There is a tricky section where the trail branches off & it is difficult to know where the break is. It is about 5 minutes from the beginning of the trail & if you start to walk uphill away from the river, you have then passed the spot. Back track & you should see the trail on your left running by the river, that's what you want. 

If you end up climbing up to the top of the hill you will come out to a dirt track, turn right & follow that for awhile until you come out above the inland highway, follow the track down a steep decent, under the highway & keeping to your right walk along the bank down to the river & onto the river trail. You have to look for the trail under the highway which goes down to the river as it is not used very much. Once onto the river trail you can continue by turning left or head back by turning right. 

First log bridge

There is a log bridge up river that you can cross over & walk back that way, or you can continue until you come to a 500 year old cedar tree. (signs posted) There are a few very big old trees in the area, so I am not 100% sure which is the actual 500 year old one!! The trail is not very used this far up, so be aware that it is a bit rugged & over grown in areas, so take care. This is as far as I have gone, it looks like the trail does continue, but I have no knowledge on that. 

Log bridge can be slippery

If you make it as far as the old cedar tree, you can turn around & go back a little way where there is another crossing over the river that gets you onto the other side & onto the gravel road. You need to be very careful here, it is slippery & unstable, so be responsible. 

Trail washed out

Otherwise just back track the way you came, or cross the first log bridge that I mentioned. You can either take the gravel road  or there is another track along the river that will take you back. 
This is approximately 1 1/2 hr walk, hike, explore venture.

Remember, bear country, be prepared, have a big heavy stick & bear bells, carry bear spray, have a cell phone & water. Wear good hiking shoes & be prepared for rain. Be responsible for yourself & others in your party & clean up after your dog taking your doggy bags out with you.

HAPPY WALKING, HIKING, BIKING & EXPLORING



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