China Creek Park Trailhead: Drive north from Victoria to the Nanaimo via highway #1. Take the bypass route (highway #19) around Nanaimo and continue north. Take the Parksville bypass to the junction with highway #4 and head west towards Port Alberni. Near the summit of Sutton Pass take the road to Mt Arrowsmith. At the junction with Cameron Mainline turn right and continue to the park (the road may be known as Corrigan Main line).
(A $0 parking fee is charged.)
Uses
| Backpack | Easy to moderate. | 45 minutes one way. | |
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| Dayhike | Easy to moderate day hike . | | |
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Description
The trail heads up from near the park to join Thistle Mine Road. Follow the road keeping right at the first two forks (one before and one immediately after crossing Franklin River) and then left at the third. Go to the end of the road and locate the final short trail to the lake.
This trail leads to a small, primitive site accessed operated by the BC Ministry of Forests. The vista along the trail are exceptional. The site nests in a small bowl surrounded by aged Western Red Cedar, Amabalis Fir and mountain Hemlock. The lake is popular with Rainbow Trout fishermen. There are also a variety of hiking opportunities to nearby ridgetops with spectacular views in an area abounding in alpine and subalpine flowers and plants.
Features
This trail features animals (Fisher), fish (Rainbow trout), fishing, flowers, forests (Amabilis fir, Mountain hemlock and Western red cedar), lakes, mountains, views and The forest consists of Western Red Cedar, Amabslis Fir and mountain Hemlock old growth. Fishers come to this lake in search of rainbow trout.
Campsites along the trail
| Father and Son Lake | 3.0 km | | | Water is plentiful. |
For additional information see:
http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hfp/rec/maps/svanisle/father.htm.
View trail condition reports for this trail.