1. LOST FROG HIKE: The trailhead is at the Lost Frog Parking lot, at the eastern end of the Forest and involves a drive of approximately 3km on a potholey road (nothing that can't be negotiated carefully). If you don't want to take your car over this sort of road, be prepared to carpool.
The day's hike is around the Lost Frog and Lost Lake loops and includes Mudhoney Pass Trail. There are a few short uphill sections, but nothing extreme. Including rest and lunch breaks, the hike should take approximately 3.5 - 4 hours to negotiate.
A logical spot for a lunch break is at the Lost Lake picnic tables, about half way through the hike.
Grade: 2
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The day's hike is around the Lost Frog and Lost Lake loops and includes Mudhoney Pass Trail. There are a few short uphill sections, but nothing extreme. Including rest and lunch breaks, the hike should take approximately 3.5 - 4 hours to negotiate.
A logical spot for a lunch break is at the Lost Lake picnic tables, about half way through the hike.
Grade: 2
Click on photos to enlarge or cursor over for caption:
This Forest is just north of Campbell River (off the road to Gold River); it lines the logging road leading to Loveland Bay Provincial Park. It takes about 1 hour to reach the trailhead from Home Depot.
This Demonstration Forest is absolutely lovely and well worth return visits. The multitude of trails are very well marked and are well-groomed. Many are dedicated to mountain bike riders, but there are a good number of multi-use ones just waiting to be explored.
Sturdy shoes/boots are recommended as the trails can be rooty and somewhat muddy in patches. A hiking pole might also be found useful, though not necessary.
Click on file to open:
This Demonstration Forest is absolutely lovely and well worth return visits. The multitude of trails are very well marked and are well-groomed. Many are dedicated to mountain bike riders, but there are a good number of multi-use ones just waiting to be explored.
Sturdy shoes/boots are recommended as the trails can be rooty and somewhat muddy in patches. A hiking pole might also be found useful, though not necessary.
Click on file to open:
snowden_forest_trail_map.pdf |
2. TAZ HIKE: We begin this hike at the Lost Lake parking lot on the south side of the Forest (off Loveland Bay Road, a gravel logging road usually in good condition during the summer/fall). The sequence of trails is: Lost Lake/TriMac/Riley Lake/Access to Elmer Lake/Lookout Loop/Enchanted Forest/Access to Taz/Taz/Upper Lost Frog Loop/Lost Lake Loop/Riley Lake/TriMac/Lost Lake to trailhead.
This is a longer (perhaps 4.5-5 hours), more arduous hike involving some uphill sections, but also about 3 STEEP downhill clambers. It could be rated in the same category as the Canyon View Trail - Elk Falls trail hike for the uphill sections; for the downhill sections, hiking poles or walking sticks are a distinct help.
The Taz section of the trail is the area that gives us the most workout, but it rewards the hiker with a wonderful bluff view to the area overlooking Seymour Narrows in the Ripple Rock area - a great location for a lunch break.
Grade: 3.5
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This is a longer (perhaps 4.5-5 hours), more arduous hike involving some uphill sections, but also about 3 STEEP downhill clambers. It could be rated in the same category as the Canyon View Trail - Elk Falls trail hike for the uphill sections; for the downhill sections, hiking poles or walking sticks are a distinct help.
The Taz section of the trail is the area that gives us the most workout, but it rewards the hiker with a wonderful bluff view to the area overlooking Seymour Narrows in the Ripple Rock area - a great location for a lunch break.
Grade: 3.5
Click on photos to enlarge or cursor over for caption: