Trip report by BestHike editor Rick McCharles
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Easy access from Campbell River on Vancouver Island.
The up-and-back Elk River trail to Landslide Lake is one of the best hikes in Canada.
- 22km return
- 1-3 days
- 875m elevation gain/loss
- Landslide lake 890m
- pay camping fee at trailhead (CAD $10 / person in 2020)
- no electricity nor mobile phone service. I carried a solar charger.
- Phillip Stone – Exploring Strathcona Park guidebook
This is classic temperate rain forest. Old growth following the Elk River.
I got to the trailhead late in the afternoon early September.
Made the decision to hike only as far as the Butterwort campground (6km) rather than the more popular Upper Gravel Bar campground (9km).
The two campgrounds are literally gravel bars. Nothing fancy.
Next morning I headed on towards the Upper Gravel Bar campground.
In 2020 the old pit toilets were being replaced. Temporary tent toilets in place.
Both campgrounds offer a chance to protect your food from bears. I also had cheeky rodents appear twice at dinner while camping in the Elk River.
The highlight of the Elk River Trail is the last 1km scramble up to Landslide Lake.
The colours are gorgeous.
Landslide Lake was changed to the current form in 1946 by Canada’s largest recorded earthquake on land, measuring 7.2, centred in the nearby Forbidden Plateau area. The North Tower of Mount Colonel Foster sheared off, much of it collapsing into the lake.
related – MB Guiding – Elk River Trail
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