We are currently drawing a new colour map which will include recent additions to Gabriola's trails and conservation areas. Meanwhile…

…here's the older trail map:

Click on the map's numbered black dots to read about a good walk in that area.
The starfish mark public beach accesses.

Other web-based maps for Gabriola's trail users

GaLTT board member Randy Young has made an interactive GPS-based Gabriola trail-map that is an overlay of GoogleMaps™. His map includes flagged beach accesses. Click here to visit Randy's site. Users can also access the site by cell-phone while walking and reference their own locations.

You can download a pdf of GaLTT member Nick Doe's GPS-based maps of 707-acre Park trails here.

You can find downloadable Sensitive Ecosystem Maps (SEMs) on the Islands Trust website by clicking here.

Descriptions of Gabriola walking trails

Walk #1—Descanso Bay Regional Park & Campground

An easy 2 km walk around two bays and headlands. In winter, rocky beaches are very slippery. Day use parking is straight ahead through campground. To the left of the car park there is a trail through a wooded headland leading to views of Nanaimo and Protection Island. Retracing your steps, there is a trail to the right of the car park around another headland with an old house and leading back to an old orchard. Past the beach here, there is a steep trail up the bluff to McConvey Road. Trail is slippery when wet. Turn right to reach Taylor Bay Road and right again to return to Park entrance.

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Walk #2—Cox Community Park

Easy 3 to 4 km walks within Cox Park. Two main trails enter the park from Taylor Bay Road, one opposite Descanso Bay Regional Park entrance and one slightly north of McConvey Road. On north side of McConvey, just before the Taylor Bay Road intersection, is a trail leading to a crossing point into Cox Park. Be careful crossing the road! Traffic can be fast and dangerous along this stretch. Across road turn right briefly to reach entrance trail. About 150m along either trail, watch for Yogi Trail connecting the two main trails. Park signs indicate this loop and another to River Place exit at the far end of the park. A cedar plank bridge crosses a wetland near this exit, where ample road parking is available at River Place. Walks within Cox Park can be combined with Descanso Bay Regional Park.

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Walk #3—Malaspina Galleries to Twin Beaches

Easy 4 km walk along a sandstone beach shelf with panoramic views. Accessible at mid to low tide late spring to fall. Dangerously slippery in winter. Steep drop at starting point. Use caution. Park at the end of Malaspina Drive as indicated on right. Follow marked access trail to sandstone point facing Nanaimo. Do not walk on rock overhang above galleries to the left of trail, as this area is dangerously unstable. Looking back from the sandstone point at the lower level, it is possible to see the overhanging sandstone forming the galleries. This area is closed due to concern over falling rock. Turning right from the headland, you can follow the beach shelf all the way to the sand beach in Taylor Bay. Return by the same route or by road, crossing the field behind the beach to Ricardo Road. Pilot Bay Beach is across the road here. Turn right up the hill to Berry Point Road. Turn right again and go around the bend to Malaspina Drive and back to carpark. This walk can also be combined with Walk #4.

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Walk #4—Twin Beaches headland loop

Mostly level sandstone shelf walk with interesting rock formations, tidepools, and panoramic views. Accessible at lowest tides in summer months. Dangerously slippery in winter. Park at Gabriola Sands Provincial Park (Twin Beaches). Start from either beach (Taylor Bay or Pilot Bay) and circle the headland. If tides are higher, access is impossible from either beach. However three public beach accesses off Decourcey Road, marked with yellow stones, allow for a shorter loop.

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Walk #5—Twin Beaches to Orlebar Point

An 8 km return hike along moderately difficult sandstone terrain. Accessible at mid to low tide and hazardous in winter months. Park at Gabriola Sands Provincial Park (Twin Beaches). Start walk on Pilot Bay to the right of the parking. Follow sandstone beach for about 2 km until progress is stopped by a steep cliff. Take the beach access trail up to Seagirt Road then straight ahead to Berry Point Road. Turn left and follow to the next left turn. After a short walk you will see trails leading back down to the water. Continue to Orlebar Point, where there are benches and picnic tables. Enjoy the views of Entrance Island lighthouse and the Coast Mountains. Return by same route or follow Berry Point Road back to Ricardo Road.

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Walk #6—Village area walk

Easy road walk. Park vehicle in Folklife Village or, if arriving to Gabriola on foot, walk straight up the steep hill of North Road to the junction with South Road. On Saturdays, from the May long weekend through to Thanksgiving weekend, between 10 and noon, there is a Farmer's Market with food and crafts at the Agi Hall opposite the Post Office. Take the left fork at the Post Office and continue to the stores, restaurants and galleries in the village area. Continue along North Road past the Gabriola Elementary School and Church St. to Tin Can Alley. Turn left here for a visit to Gabriola's unique recycling centre, GIRO, open Wed and Sat. 10-4. (Opposite Tin Can Alley is the beginning of a public trail up to 707-Acre Park—which is described in Walk #8.)

Retrace your steps to Folklife Village and turn south on Lochinvar to South Road. Look for the Gabriola Museum to the right. Gabriola's petroglyphs have been reproduced in concrete throughout the museum garden and if the museum is open, a rubbing kit can be purchased to create your own souvenir. Return to Folklife Village or continue down South Road to the ferry. Just before the Post Office you will pass the Women's Institute Building on the right. This was originally the North End School, built in the early 1920's. Distance 4 km.

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Walk #7—Descanso Valley & Canso bluff walk

Easy country road walk, 3 km. From ferry parking proceed up Easthom Road, passing beautiful views of Descanso Bay on your right. There are beach accesses at Harrison and Eastham. Continue walking up Eastham to the top of the hill, turning left on Canso. After about 500 m watch for a yellow concrete Beach Access marker on your right. A short trail takes you to an unprotected high cliff lookout towards Duke Point and Nanaimo. Excellent for sunset watching. The cliff edge is very high and dangerous for children and animals. Stay well back. Retrace your steps to the ferry.

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Walk #8 - The 707-acre Park

The 707-acre Park is a newly designated (2005) undeveloped community park in the center of the island. The original old logging roads and footpaths are unmarked. Pay close attention to avoid getting lost or straying on to private land. The surface is frequently rough, with roots, mud, ruts, and wet areas. Enjoy this large regenerating young forest on foot, bicycles or horses. Vehicles are not permitted.

You can also download a pdf of GaLTT member Nick Doe's personal maps of 707-acre Park's trails here.

*Walk #8.1—North Loop:

Park on the shoulder at the end of Jeanette Rd. There is limited parking for three or four cars. Take the trail around the ditch onto the old logging road & follow it keeping slightly to the left and straight ahead through an avenue of Maples (a lovely sight in the Fall). As you come to the end of the maples you will see a gate up ahead – before you reach the gate turn right onto a smaller trail/road bed and follow it up the hill. At the top veer to the left. Continue on this trail until you reach a junction by a big maple tree (there will be a fence visible on your left). To enjoy the mountain views on a clear day follow the track on the right to the ridge. Retrace your steps to the maple tree and continue on the main trail until it meets a well established logging road. Veer right at each fork, and stay on the established logging road which takes you in a clockwise direction up and over the hill. On the slope down to Ricki Rd you pass two big logging slash piles on your right. You can either continue on the logging road out to Ricki Rd & right on Jeanette Rd to your car or, at the slash piles turn right onto a small trail and follow this (somewhat overgrown) trail/road up & over the hill keeping to the left and back to the end of Jeanette. (About 3 km.)

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*Walk #8.2—South Loop:

There is good parking on the shoulder at Fisher Rd. Enter the park straight off the end of Fisher Road. Turn left at the next two junctions to connect back to Coats Rd, turn left on Coats, left on Hess and left on Fisher to return to carpark. (About 2 km.)

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Walk #9—Rollo McClay Park to Orlebar Point or Twin Beaches.

Park in Rollo McClay Park or at Rollo Road and Horseshoe. Turn left along Horseshoe Road to Daniel Way. Turn right and follow Daniel Way for about 1 km, watching for TRAIL sign on the left. Follow the flagged trail straight up the hill through dense trees. It is very steep in places and slippery when wet. Pause at the top for a stunning view over Lock Bay and mainland mountains. Trail emerges on Chelwood, where you proceed straight ahead to Norwich. A right turn down the hill brings you to Berry Point Road, where you can turn right to Orlebar Point or left to Twin Beaches.

You can retrace your steps at any point. When returning down Chelwood, look for and follow TRAIL sign on left. Do not follow gravel road beyond this point (it is private property). Distance varies—the longest return is 10 km.

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Walk #10—Rollo McClay Park to Wild Cherry Terrace.

Leave your car in the park and walk back along McClay Road to Barrett. Turn briefly left to Honeysuckle where you walk to the end of the gravel road. Follow a trail through the woods here to Wild Cherry Terrace. For a return road loop, turn right from Wild Cherry onto Buttercup to its end at North Road. Then right again to Barrett and right to McClay, where you turn left to return to park.

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Walk #11—Sandwell Park and Bell's Landing

Park at the end of The Strand. Follow the main trail into Sandwell Park, past yellow gate, and continue to steep descent to the sand/gravel beach, picnic area and public toilets. Or watch for a side trail beyond the yellow gate on the right. There are steps here to the rocky part of the beach. If tide is low enough you may turn left and walk the full extent of the bay, returning by the main trail up the hill, which starts near the picnic area. At low tide a longer loop walk can be done from Bell's Landing to Sandwell Park by beach, returning up the hill on the park trail. Between Sandwell and Bell's Landing on the road, a trail sign points to a community connector path to Fleet Street. Turning left here, you can loop back on Bond and The Strand to Bell's Landing.

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Walk #12—Whalebone Area Community Parks

Five community "pocket" parks in the area all have public accesses from Whalebone Drive and steps to the beach. Best to visit close to low tide. Park at the south end of Whalebone Drive. A short trail into Joyce Lockwood Community Park leads to Whalebone Beach. At the shoreline, four side paths lead to the beach. Avoid the first one, which has been washed-out by storm erosion. Once on the sandy beach you may decide to spend your time exploring tide pools and just walk the full extent of the bay. For a first time visit to the other four community parks it is best to walk back along Whalebone Drive and visit each in turn. Use the insert map for trail access location to each park. Steps from each park lead to the beach allowing for a walk back to sandy Whalebone Beach. Note where public stairs access the beach for your return.

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Walk #13—Elder Cedar Reserve

This beautiful nature conservation area lies north of North Road and west of Seawind Drive. It includes some old-growth forest and forest wetland, and some rare and vanishing species live here. It is not included on our Gabriola map because the Islands Trust asks that its trails not be mapped. If you explore the area, please stay on the trails and respect this special environment.

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Walk #14—Cresta Roca connector

A path connects the north end of Timberlane to Cresta Roca at the east end of the short "T" pavement.

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Walk #15 Dragon's Lane beach access

An easy 0.5-km walk, this beach access trail is at end of Dragon's Lane on the right. Yellow concrete BEACH ACCESS marker indicates start of trail winding down to a rocky cove, which can be accessed at lower tides by a scramble down a steep bank. Keep close to the fenced property on the left to avoid trespassing on the adjacent property on the right. There are grand views of the Coast Mountains from the bank. This trail is wet in winter/spring.

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Walk #16—Coast Road beach access

An easy 1-km walk. Yellow concrete BEACH ACCESS marker indicates the start of this trail off Coast Road on the SE side between Withey and Fenwick. It winds through woods between adjacent private properties to a small shingle beach. Beach walking is limited to 100m in either direction. Secluded bay with views towards Sear Island.

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Walk #17 Drumbeg Provincial Park and surrounds

Easy 4.5 km trail and low tide beach walk. Start at Drumbeg carpark (drive down the marked rough road off Stalker, throught he forest). Turn left on shoreline trail through a high meadow to a bench at the park boundary sign. You can turn back here or climb down to the beach on shelving rocks at low tides. Continue to yellow concrete Public Access marker on a grassy area above the high tide line between 2 houses. Follow the flagged trail through woods for about I km to a cross trail. There is a yellow triangle on a tree on right side marked Beach Access. Turn left here and continue 200 yards to Stalker Road. Enter park at park sign or continue past to end of Stalker Road, entering park by turning left on the trail above the beach. Either way connects to the carpark.

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Walk #18 Drumbeg Provincial Park to Degnen Bay

About 7 km on park trails, sandstone beach and country roads. Start at Drumbeg carpark and turn right along shoreline trail to the end of Stalker Road. Turn left down low bank to the beach and follow high tide line to the right for 100m. Look for steps made out of car tires leaving the beach. At top of steps follow hand made signs to a gravel road. Turn right and follow road about 1 km. Dcgnen Bay, with its government wharf and many private docks, will be to your left. Continue to South Road. Turn left and left again on Bevmaril Cres. After 100m turn left on Maple Lane. At the top of the bluff take the narrow trail beside the fire hydrant to the wharf. Walk around the wharf for a view of the entire bay. Look for sunflower sea stars under the wharf. From the wharf follow the road along the shoreline to South Road, turning right for 1.2 krn to Coast Road. At Coast Road turn right onto Stalker and walk all the way to the water at the end. Turn left into the park and follow trail back to the carpark. If tide is low, you may choose to walk the rock beach back to the carpark.

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Walk #19—Petroglyph Community Trail Loop

An easy 6 km trail and road walk. Park at the United Church on South Road opposite Price. Trail starts beside the Petroglyph Sign and follows a fence on the right to a flat mossy area with exposed flat sandstone. Avoid walking on this rock to protect the petroglyphs, which are carved in the surface of the exposed rock here. The petroglyphs are of various sizes but are well worn and often difficult to see. They are most visible after rain and when sun is at an angle. The path and open area can be boggy in winter months.

From the far side of the mossy area a new community trail leads to Petroglyph Way between several private properties. Turn right before the No Trespassing sign and watch carefully for the flagging, marking trail boundaries. There are still rough and wet areas and exposed roots to avoid along the path. Take special care to avoid trespassing into the open areas on the adjacent private property and please leash any dogs. At Petroglyph Way turn right to Crocker, then left to Dorby and right to Peterson. Right again on Peterson and right at South Road will lead you back to the church.

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Walk #20—False Narrows sand bar to Spring Beach

Easy beach walk accessible at low tides; distance about 6 km. Park at the Community Hall, comer of South Road and Garland. Walk to the right down South Road past Shaw Road and around a long curve to a grassy area on the shore side. Just past a small metal shelter there is a yellow concrete beach access marker and stairs to the beach. If the stairs are blocked off or too slippery, continue along South Road to the sloped beach access adjacent to the cemetry opposite Stokes Road. Turn left along the beach to a point with farmland running down to the water. There are views down Pylades Channel with Mudge, Link and De Courcy Islands running south in a chain to your right as you walk. Around the point you will see Valdes Island ahead with its sandstone cliffs. Continue along Spring Beach to the high wooded cliffs at the end. Take time to explore the enormous sculptured sandstone boulders here. At lowest tides see purple sea stars clustered on the undersides of rocks. Retrace your steps along the shoreline, enjoying different vistas on your return. You now look towards False Narrows with Mount Benson beyond, above Nanaimo. Return to the beach access stairs and turn right along South Road to the Community Hall.

Walk #21—False Narrows shoreline walk

Easy 4-km stone beach walk. Park at South Road and Stokes Road behind the mailboxes. Follow the trail past the cemetry andl down fairly steep bank to the beach. Follow the shore straight ahead with bluffs on your right. You'll see Mudge Island across False Narrows and Nanaimo beyond. Halfway along there is a beach access and boat ramp with many cars belonging to outer islanders. Around the last corner there is a broad bay and Brickyard Beach, covered with broken bricks from the factory which used to stand on the hill above. Retrace your steps or climb the short bank to South Road, turn right and continue via El Verano and South Road back to your vehicle.

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