Elder Cedar Nature Reserve
Gabriola’s Elder Cedar Nature Reserve (called S’ul-hween X’pey in the Hul’q’umín’um’ language of the Snuneymuxw) is a section of land along the east end of the Gabriola Tunnel — the entrance is on North Road between Tait and North Degnan. The sign shown here is in the woods a bit – although you can see if from the road if you’re looking carefully.
The Elder Cedar is managed by the Islands Trust Fund, which is the conservancy arm of the Islands Trust. Cycling, horseback riding, smoking, and hunting are prohibited in the Elder Cedar.
The trails are mostly easy and fairly level, but there is a stream to cross, and hikers must walk across large stepping stones in the stream if there’s any water. In other areas there are wooden bridges across the stream and across swampy land. Visitors should be prepared to clambour across the odd fallen tree now and again. This is not a park, there are no toilets or other park-like facilities. You are unlikely to have cell phone reception in the Elder Cedar.
There’s a trail loop that takes about 40 minutes or so, depending on how much one hurries or dawdles. If you want to follow the loop, either
- cross the big stepping stones across the creek first, then turn left at every trail intersection until you get back to the beginning, or
- don’t cross the creek first, then turn right at every trail intersection until you get back to the beginning.
Blog postings about the Elder Cedar Nature Reserve are filed here under the Elder Cedar tag.
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