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There’s never been a better time to beat the heat with a shaded trail adventure, and luckily, Vancouver has them in spades. But if you’re willing to venture outside of the city for a day or weekend trip, you’ll be rewarded with forested trails that take you past some of the oldest trees on the continent. Every forest bather and tree enthusiast dreams of meeting the trees we British Columbians have in our backyards.
Here are nine ancient forests in B.C. that feel like stepping back in time.
Home to some of the world’s largest spruce trees, Carmanah Walbran Park is a forested sanctuary of ancient proportions. Some spruce trees stand over 95 metres tall, while other gnarled cedars are estimated to be well over a thousand years old. There’s no telling what stories they hold!
Where: 20 km northwest of Port Renfrew
Next is undoubtedly one of the most well-known ancient forests around, the Great Bear Rainforest, which happens to be one of the largest temperate rainforests on Earth. What’s more, the region is home to some of the most biodiverse plants and animals in the world, which means visitors may get a glimpse of everything from thousand-year-old cedars to diverse marine life, to the rare white-coloured Spirit Bears, for which the rainforest is named.
Where: Central and northern coast of B.C.
As the first Tribal Park in B.C., Meares Island Tribal Park holds special significance in our province. The famed Big Tree Trail is under the stewardship of the Tla-o-qui-aht Tribal Parks Guardians, who have ensured that the island’s ancient red-cedar forests remain protected.
Along the 3 km trail, hikers will find towering red cedars dating back 1,500 years, as well as the famed Hanging Garden Tree, which measures over 18 metres in circumference.
Where: Meares Island
Located between Prince George and McBride, this park offers visitors the chance to hike the Ancient Forest trail, bringing you past towering, thousand-year-old western redcedars, in addition to a biodiverse range of plants, mosses, lichens, and fungi.
Park visitors can choose between the 450-metre-long universally accessible boardwalk and the 2.3 km boardwalk leading to the magnificent “Big” Tree, Tree Beard, and Radies Tree. Oh, and a beautiful cascading waterfall to top off the magical experience.
Where: Between Prince George and McBride
You’d better bet that BC’s oldest provincial park has a ton of ancient forests to explore. Strathcona Park is as rugged as it is beautiful, with crystal-clear lakes, alpine meadows, and an extensive network of trails, which include the Golden Hinde.
Where: Westmin Road, Comox-Strathcona D
Situated inside MacMillan Park is Cathedral Grove, a majestic old-growth forest featuring ancient Douglas fir and cedar trees with international significance — some of which are over 800 years old!
Where: 452 Alberni Highway, Nanaimo
If you’re up for a more remote adventure, Dall River Old Growth Park along Dall River (300 km west of Fort Nelson) is home to ancient white spruces, situated in the stunning Cassiar Mountains. Visitors can explore the area on foot, horseback, or by pursuing fishing opportunities. It’s the ultimate backcountry adventure.
Where: Dall River
From high upland plateaus to the exciting rapids of the Grand Canyon, there are plenty of natural wonders to enjoy at Scatter River, but its old-growth spruce forests remain at the top of the list. Here, visitors may spot moose, grizzlies, Rocky Mountain elk, and even long-eared bats.
Where: Liard River Corridor
Last but certainly not least, we come to Juan de Fuca Park on the southwestern coast of Vancouver Island. While it might be more well-known for its botanical beach and rich tide pools to uncover, the park also has over 47 km of wilderness trails to explore, and some of them lead to some of the most spectacular protected old-growth in BC.
Where: Port Renfrew
Hug a tree, leave no trace behind, and learn more about the preservation of B.C.’s old-growth forests.
Happy adventuring!
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