A long, easy loop trail through large cedars and along the shores of two different lakes in Hemer Provincial Park.
LOCATION
If you’re approaching from the north, on Highway 1, turn onto Cedar Road by the intersection of Highways 1 and 19.Drive for 5 km along Cedar Road until you come to Hemer Road, on your left. Hemer Park is 1.5 km along Hemer Road.
If you’re approaching from the south, pass Nanaimo Airport and turn right onto Haslam Road. Continue to the end of Haslam, 3 km along, where it forms a T junction with Cedar Road. Turn left and continue along Cedar Road until it swings left. After 2.3 km, turn right onto Woodbank Road and drive 650 m. Turn right onto Hemer Road and drive to its end, 750 m along.
DISTANCE
3.4-km loop (with more possible)
ELEVATION GAIN
Negligible
DIFFICULTY
Broad, groomed dirt paths with only occasional roots or slight dips.
SEASON
All season
CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT Waterlilies and cedars on the marsh near Holden Lake; the long marsh from the viewing platform; the main trail runs along the shores of Holden Lake.
OF SPECIAL INTEREST FOR CHILDREN
A viewing platform with colourful interpretative signs can (with the right children) be a great place to hunker down for a lot of pointing and exclaiming at ducks, ducks and more ducks. In addition, though the trails are not designated as cycling trails, children who are more motivated by two wheels than by two feet could, unobtrusively, pedal earnestly alongside watchful parents. Neither the unnamed marshy lake nor the much larger and deeper Holden Lake is good for swimming, alas.
1.For the most attractive of several possible routes, walk past the parking area at the end of the marshy lake on your right. Although this appears on the park map as a green area, with no open water, in fact, this very pretty – but marshy – lake has lots of open water, and, of course, the ducky life to go with it. Notice the potentially useful outhouse just off the trail to the left. Keep to this trail with the water on your right, ignoring cross trails leading off to the left.
2.When you come to a viewing platform off the main trail, do take the time to visit it for lovely views of the water-lily and cattail embellished waters. Returning to the main trail, continue to the end of the marshy lake. Here the main trail swings a little to the left and then right, to follow the course of a small creek. Two more trails branch to the left, but all trails converge at the south end of the park.
3.Here life gets a little confusing, not just because you must pass through a gate for a few metres before swinging left and heading towards Holden Lake but also because there are clearly some recent issues with property lines here – though they may be tidied up by the time you visit. At this writing, large, red metal fences have been erected, along with unwelcoming signs. However, the enthusiasm of trail walkers has led to the forging of a clear route skirting these alarming-looking fences and leading to the shores of the lake. Here, passing through a yellow gate, you are once again safe in the embrace of the provincial park.
4.Continue along the shore of the lake, pausing at gaps in the small bushes to gain the best views. Towards the north end of the trail, the path passes a bench, branches off in trails to the left and crosses over a little metal bridge. When you come to a sign for Morden Colliery Provincial Park, allow yourself to be a little puzzled if you have visited that park. In fact, this trail currently leads only towards the colliery, not actually to it, and it won’t until/ unless a bridge is built over the Nanaimo River.
5.Swing left to rise into the woods and cross the short distance to the beginning of the trail.
6.If you want to do more exploring, there are many more trails in the area, many of them used by horses.
