Gowlland Tod – Off The Beaten Path – Jocelyn Hill to McKenzie Bight
Gowlland Tod Provincial Park encompasses 1280 hectares (3,162 acres), which includes the Gowlland Range along the shores of Finlayson Inlet and Squally Reach. It is an area rich in biodiversity with more than 150 animal and plant species having been identified within the park. There are grassy meadows, rocky knolls, steep forested slopes and even some old-growth forest. The park also protects a wetland area.
There are many paths and hiking trails with Gowlland Tod Provincial Park. The main and most used trails are shown on the provincial park maps and signage posted within the park. However, there are many other trails which are not shown on these maps. These trails are still passable and are still being used.
To be clear, when I say ‘off the beaten path’, I’m not talking about bushwacking and trampling sensitive vegetation, but finding older trails that are no longer in regular use or being maintained by the park.
Beautiful section of the old Middle Trail
Many of these paths are old hiking trails and some are the remains of old logging roads and as far as I can tell, they are no longer maintained by the park. However, for the more adventurous they make for some excellent exploration and you can still find many of the old signs, worn, but still functioning. Phone apps such as Alltrails (highly recommended) show these trails and definitely make navigating them a little easier.
On this Alltrails screen shot you can see the Timberland Trail in green and the other trails in dash lines.
While on a hike to explore the park trails leading from the McKenzie Bight parking area to Squally Reach Lookout and Jocelyn Hill, I took the opportunity to explore some of the old trails on the way back. Check out my post on VisitorinVictoria: Hiking to Jocelyn Hill.
The main park trail listed on the park maps is called the Timberman Trail and leads all the way from the McKenzie Bight parking area to Squally Reach and continues to Jocelyn Hill. The trail eventually takes you east, all the way around the mountain, and back up the south side.
An old trail, the Middle Trail, leads directly off the summit on the north side. It is steep and a bit gully washed but makes for a quick decent off Jocelyn Hill. I followed this trail off the summit and down onto the lower slopes of the ridge. This takes you well below the Timberman Trail eventually connecting back with it about 250 metres past the Malahat Viewpoint.
Old sign on Middle Trail coming off Jocelyn Hill
The trails are interesting, with some old single track and some old logging road, winding through mostly second growth forest. Views of the inlet are limited because of the trees with only glimpses of the water. There is a fair amount of deadfall across the trails and a couple larger trees at the time of writing this post. A particularly pretty section of the trail skirts below a section of huge boulders that have rolled down the ridge some time in the distant past.
Deadfall on the Middle Trail
Glimpses of Finlayson Arm along the Middle Trail
You will pass a section with huge boulders on the Middle Trail
A the Malahat Lookout you will get some great views into Squally Reach and across at the Malahat and Saanich Inlet. You will see the Malahat Skywalk directly across the reach and the Spectacle Creek Waterfall falling into the inlet to the left. There is even a swing someone has mounted on a tree here.
Beautiful views and a swing at the Malahat Lookout on the old Middle Trail
More ‘Off the Beaten Path’ Trails
For more ‘Off the Beaten Path’ trails in Gowlland Tod Provincial Park see our post on some trails around Tod Inlet: Off the Beaten Path Part 1
Getting There
Photos
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