If you are in the vicinity Campbell RiverI think it’s worth the two and a half to three and a half hours return trip on the Ripple Rock Trail. You’ll trek through a lush green forest of ferns, sedges and moss, past some huge spruce trees to a lookout point overlooking the raging, turbulent waters of Seymour Sound. This is the site of one of the world’s largest non-nuclear explosions in 1958. (More information below.)
Plan to spend some time at the Ripple Rock trail lookout where it will be a lot of fun to watch the boats and ships pass through the turbulent waters. I passed a boat on Campbell River Wildlife Tour – It was an unforgettable experience. Looking up close at the whirlpools is a bit scary!
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Ripple Rock Trail Hike Summary
distance: 8.0 km round trip.
Difficulty level: Easy and suitable for families with children aged 6 and up.
Gain Height: 95 meters or 312 feet
Time required: The trip takes 2.5 to 3.5 hours. Plan to have a light lunch, then sit back and enjoy watching the boats pass through Seymour Sound.
When to visit: Available year round but avoid the trail on windy or stormy days.
What to take: Wear good shoes with grip, as it can be muddy.
Know before you go: Visit British Columbia Destination know before you go Page. As conditions change rapidly, it is also useful to check british columbia leadership, British Columbia Fire Serviceand British Columbia Emergency InformationIt would be nice to download and allow notifications from Notifiablean app that provides geo-relevant updates.
Dogs allowed: Yes, on the steering wheel.
Wildlife: This is black bear country so always carry a handy bear spray with you. I suggest keeping it in a cool place.bear spray holsterSo that it does not turn on by mistake.
Plants to look for: Sitka valerian, winged monkey flower, white fawn lily, chocolate lily, pink fawn lily, giant horsetail, spring orange peel mushroom, Siberian miner's lettuce, virgin spleen herb.
heed: Do a tick check after spring hiking.
Don't forget: Pack of 10 Hiking Basics – Even for this short trip.
please: Practice the seven Leave no trace Principles. We all want to visit the Ripple Rock Trail clean and free of trash.
Ripple Rock Trail Start Location
The Ripple Rock trail is easy to find. Just drive north from Campbell River on Highway 19. From the river crossing in town, the trail is about 17 km long. The trail is well-marked on the highway. A restroom is the only facility you will find in the medium-sized parking lot.
Ripple Rock Trail Location Map
Ripple Rock Trail Description
The easy out and back trail starts from the north-east corner of the car park. Start by descending the powerline access road, losing about 80 metres of elevation. Cross Menzies Creek on the bridge shown below. At the end of the bridge is an ancient Douglas fir tree that is not to be missed. It is beautiful and will fill you with awe.
After a 1.2km walk along the Ripple Rock Track you will reach a shallow wet access point to Menzies Bay. Look out over the water to see all the tugboats and log cranes.
The trail gets rougher as you go through the dense trees. There is a good set of stairs to make the walk easier. Continue through the mossy forest along a fern-lined path to reach another open cliff 1.6 miles away. There is a picnic table here too, but the best view is from above the rocks.
You can reach Nymphae Bay Beach 3.6 km away, which is located between Stevenson Point and Wilfred Point. If it is hot, take off your shoes and wander along the small beach – although it is not a good place for swimming.
From here the real climbing begins on the Ripple Rock Trail. Over the next 0.5km you gain 95m. You will climb a steep wooden ladder as shown below. From there, follow the trail over rocky outcrops, under power lines (not the prettiest) to a great lookout point at the top of the slope.
From here, if you time it right, you can watch everything from small motor boats to cruise ships sailing through the waters of Seymour Sound. It's a great place to see how quickly they move through the area.
When you have had enough, retrace your steps to the parking lot.
Ripple Rock Trail Photos
The largest non-nuclear explosion in the world
Seymour Strait was home to one of the most notorious marine hazards until 1958 – the Ripple Rock. It consisted of two rocky peaks located 1.8m and 2.7m below the surface at low tide. These peaks restricted the flow of water through the straits and as a result water speeds were between 15 and 20 knots. They also caused huge whirlpools to form.
The Ripple rock was responsible for damaging dozens of ships and killing at least 114 people.
It took some ingenuity to get rid of the Ripple. A tunnel was dug under the seabed to the tops of the two rocks in 1956 and was completed 27 months later. More than a kilometre of fuses were installed – and 1,250,000 kilograms of explosives were placed in the tops.
On April 5, 1958, the explosion occurred, which caused the largest non-nuclear explosion in history. The explosion is said to have shattered 370,000 tons of rock and moved 220,000 tons of water, but no tidal wave was formed.
The distance above the rock tops at low tide is now 13m and 14m – but as you can see below, there are still currents and eddies to contend with. Take a look at this Ripple Rock Facebook Video To see how fast the boat moves through the area when going with the tide and current. It is a magical sight.
Where to stay in Campbell River
If you stay inThe painter came downYou'll feel a little farther away from Campbell River – in a good way. It's on the water so salmon fishing and nature tours depart right from the docks. On the other side of Quadra Island is a more rustic sister property –April Point Resort & SpaI liked the feel of this place and the scenery.
Oyster Bay Resort– Located 13 km from Campbell River, this is a great hotel. The rooms have a full kitchenette.
theCoast Discovery Inn– Rated good, overlooks the Strait of Georgia and features an on-site restaurant.
Yellow door wing– Classified as exceptional, it features a guest house with an outdoor dining area. The guest house has a bedroom, a living room and an equipped kitchen.
Read more about hiking on Vancouver Island.
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