 Bedwell
Lake Trail is located in Strathcona Provincial Park on Central Vancouver Island.BC
Parks has developed the Bedwell Lake Trail as an opportunity for less experienced
hikers to access an alpine/subalpine area, especially on a day-use basis. This
trail links with the Bedwell River Trail to form a through route between the Pacific
Ocean (at Bedwell Bay) and Buttle Lake.
The use of steel stairways offends some hikers while being appreciated by others.
This trail is extremely popular, with a significant impact on a sensitive and
fragile area. One of the best ways to see this area without further impact it
is to visit as a day hiker. With just a day pack, the trail will flow beneath
your feet and you will gain elevation without stress.
Hikers should note
that there are many black bears in this area. Due to a concern that the Bedwell
Lake area's natural resources should not become depleted, BC Parks has designated
this as a "core area", within which campfires are not allowed and camping
is restricted to specific, hardened sites. Camp stoves are now essential.
The trail is 6 km long, gains 600 metres in elevation, and takes about 3 hours.
It ascends a steep forested valley with numerous bridge crossings and breaks out
into a hilly subalpine area with two lakes and many tarns and creeks.
There is designated camping at Baby Bedwell Lake, with six tent platforms and
a pit toilet, and on the eastern shore of Bedwell Lake where there are 10 tent
platforms and a toilet. The Bedwell Trail is becoming a popular way to reach Cream
Lake, and other side trips from Bedwell Lake include hikes up Mount Tom Taylor
and Big Interior Mountain, each requiring a full day.
Access the trailhead
from the south end of Buttle lake, leaving the Buttle Lake Parkway as if for Jim
Mitchell Lake, following signs for the trailhead 6.8 km up a rough 2-wheel-drive
road to an information shelter and parking at the trailhead.
Hiking
trails in Strathcona Provincial Park:
 Bedwell
Lake Trail
Della
Falls Trail
Elk
River Trail
Kwai
Loop Trail
Landslide
Lake Trail
Lupin
Falls Nature Walk
Mount
Albert Edward Trail
Paradise
Meadows Loop
Sawdust
Trail
Click for companies that offer Hiking
& Backpacking services, or visit our Recreation
section for more information on Hiking and Backpacking in British Columbia.
Trail information for Vancouver Island is provided in three superb Hiking
Trails guides by the Vancouver
Island Trails Information Society. |
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