British Columbia

Cathedral Grove: Old Growth Forest on Vancouver Island

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Cathedral Grove in an old growth forest on Vancouver Island located inside the MacMillan Provincial Park. On the way to Tofino, we took Hwy 4 past Port Alberni and it leads us right to the forest.

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There are parking stalls on either side of the highway, so it’s not too difficult to get a parking spot. You will also find garbage cans and washrooms before you enter the forest.

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The trail around Cathedral Grove is a short and easy. Since there was so much to see, if didn’t feel like a long walk. Maybe about 30 minutes or less.

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You see see towering ancient Douglas-fir trees untouched by the modern world – some more than 800 years old.

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In 1997 on New Years Day, there was a huge storm that passed by knocking down hundreds of trees at Cathedral Grove and affecting a few of their trails. It was so badly damaged that some trail systems were never opened again.

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You can see some of the toppled trees lying all over the grove.

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A shot of the Cameron River

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The Cameron Lake is nice too.

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If you have binoculars or a telephoto lens on your camera, you can have a good time spotting all the birds in the area.

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It was a nice stop along the way from Nanaimo to Tofino. Most people stop here to stretch their legs, walk around the trails and just enjoying the scenery. If you are passing by, definitely spend 30 mins. – 1 hour here.

Website:
http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/parkpgs/macmillan/

Diana started Foodology in 2010 because she just eats out everyday! She started a food blog to share her love of food with the world! She lives in Vancouver, BC and adores the diversity of food around her. She will go crazy for churros and lattes.

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