Trip to Gold River

We drove up to Gold River this weekend to celebrate the life of my friend Mick, who passed away this spring from leukemia. Mick's family hosted us and other friends and family at their house in Gold River. It was a very moving ceremony with music from Mick's son Ned and a beautiful tribute to her father from his daughter Tilley. We feel very lucky to have been included. We spent a few days camping, hiking and exploring the area, including a visit to the mouth of Gold River, a drive to Tahsis with a pause to explore the Upana caves, and a challenging 23Km day hike to Landslide Lake on the Elk River Trail. Gold River is close to the edge of Strathcona Provincial Park, and I can see why Mick and his family who all love the outdoors chose this place as a base. It is wild, remote country that I would have loved to explore at length with Mick. 

Cedar mermaid near the mouth of the Gold River

Tsuxwin Falls on the way from Gold River town to the river mouth

There were dozens of boat trailers parked at the mouth of the river. This is one of the few paved roads that give access to the fertile fishing of the west coast inlets

Air Nootka flies hikers out to the Nootka Trail. Rani hiked this trail about 20 years ago and I could tell she wanted to go again.

We camped at the Gold River Municipal campsite about 5 minutes south of town and right on the river. Basic but well managed by our host Ken Smith

We hiked around Antler Lake with Mick's friends and family. The trail is just outside the town and preserves a forest of old growth fir, hemlock, and cedar.

The Upana caves are an easy to visit group of five or sixl imestone (karst) caves located between Tahsis and Gold River.

Rani explores the Main Cave

We are not the first people to have visited

Outside the Main Cave

Streams flow through a couple of the caves

Rani found a friend at Painted Rock

A somewhat tenuous bridge on the Bull of the Woods trail in Tahsis

Lovely tranquil view at Head Bay on the road between Tahsis and Gold River

Crossing a creek on the Elk River trail

The trail was quite busy with many people camping at one of two sites. We met Troy at a waterfall near the second campsite.

Rani nearing the mid point of our hike. Landslide lake is over the next ridge

The trail is heavily used and very 'rooty' in places

Just before the lake. Cairns mark the trail when it passed over rock outcrops. Mount Colonel Foster dominates the view.

We had lunch at the lake. It took about 4.5 hours to reach the lake and 4 hours to return.

Rani braved the chilly waters. I waded in a few feet.

The mountains have their own weather and interesting cloud patterns developed and dispersed while we were there.

We spent over an hour at the lake. Despite the absence of people in the pictures, we shared the lake with more than twenty people! Fortunately there is lots of room around the shore.

Rani noticed a praying (or singing?) man wearing a Rembrandt hat

View of Landslide Lake from the approach trail. The praying man is near the upper right.

A water fall just below the lake.We took very few pictures on the way down. It was a long hike out!