Clayoquot Connections
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Meares Island Big Tree Trail; upgrades 2017
| Posted on May 5, 2017 at 9:07 PM |
Welcome to the Big Tree Trail; the feature tree is the Hanging Garden Tree which is estimated to be at least 1,400 years old and is just 6 cm. shy of being 6 meters (over 20 ft.) in Diameter. She is a giant Red Cedar and gets her name as she is an incredible example of a 'Nurse Tree'. Several other trees (some of different species) grow on her, she is an eco-system unto herself. There are a few changes trail as the boardwalk no longer circles the huge Hanging Garden Tree. The boardwalk comes to an end about 30 m or 100 ft. in front of the Hanging Garden Tree, from there you`ll see both Pink & Yellowsurveyors tape to your right. If you want to investigate some other giant trees while doing just the shorter 1 to1.5 hr boardwalk section of the trail then follow the yellow tape as it slowly goes counter clockwise to take you back to the Hanging Garden Tree. From there you return back down the boardwalk for your pickup. To connect with the '3 Km Loop' (extra 2 miles); you should follow the same trail marked by both the pink & yellow tape until the 'yellow' goes left and the 'pink' goes right. This divide in the trail is the connection to the 3 km loop and adds about at least an hr. to your hike. Before you decide to take this option make sure you have discussed it with your skipper; we will give you a trail map and go over the details of the trail with you. And to make things even more confusing, there is also more pink tape behind the Hanging Garden Tree that goes off to the left to the shoreline within Lemmens Inlet. Trust me, navigating the trails was a lot more confusing when all the trails were marked by the same pink tape. Make sure you bring a means to communicate while in the wilderness and cell phones work well on the Big Tree Trail. |
Categories: Island Camping & Hiking
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