About the hike: This is an easy 3.2-mile out-and-back trail in Cedar, British Columbia. The trail parking area on Jackson Road is close to the Duke Point Ferry terminal. The pathway meanders, providing views of the ocean for most of the way. If you go during low tide, you'll have opportunities to play in tidal pools or watch herons searching for food.
After we parked our car in the spacious lot, we walked through the tunnel towards the trailhead.
The tide was out, offering the Herons an opportunity to search in the shallow water for food.
Massive clusters of blackberry bushes provided a barrier between the rocky hillside and the pathway, making it somewhat difficult to descend to the water if one desired to.
Industrial buildings were on the other side of the pathway across the road. A few yards further up the trail, you could see the sawmill. After passing the industrial section, you come to a tree-lined tunnel that ends next to a cool sculpture.
Directly across from the sculpture is a viewing platform. We stopped and watched the boats glide across the water against the mountains in the background.
After our quick respite, we started ascending the three flights of stairs to the top of the cliff, where we continued our hike.
The path headed into the woods offering twists and turns until again we saw peak-a-boo views of the ocean, this time with downtown Nanaimo in the background.
Along the way, there are numerous opportunities to take a break on the benches located periodically along the trail.
When we started, it was low tide, which meant we could descend onto the rocky cliffs and explore the tidal pool while the seaplane flew overhead.
There was nothing exciting in the tidal pool, so we continued hiking. A few yards up the trail, we came to a second set of stairs to climb.
The views grew more beautiful the closer we got to Jacks Point.
With the tide out, I could climb down and investigate all the different beachwood splashed across boulder outcroppings.
It was time to resume our hike, we crossed a wooden bridge into a wooded area.
A few twists and turns and there it was, the third flight of stairs.
The views of downtown Nanaimo grew more expansive the higher we climbed. The Hullo and BC Ferries both departing from Nanaimo Harbor.
At the Point, we explored the outcropping of rocks with tidal pools, finding mussels and what might have been sponging anemones.
While we explored tidal pools, a black lab dove into the ocean to swim. While he swam, he barked joyously, making us smile.
A Spiderman action figure stands guard watching ferry traffic at the Point.
Alot of ferry traffic out on the point! Click on the video to watch.
We continued for another 1/8-mile, then turned right, took the small loop back to the main trail, and headed home. The tide rolled in while we were hiking, transforming the earlier view of herons searching for food into the scenic view below.
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