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Powell River Bridge
in the Townsite To Mowat Bay
Our family hikes this trail
about once a month, just four blocks or so from our back door, to enjoy the
cool breeze off the lake and the hush of the woods along the shoreline.
Enter the trail by turning
left after crossing the bridge. In the winter of 98-99 a huge log was placed
to block the road. A walk-around on the left side has developed. The trail follows
the shoreline wrapping around to the right about 10-20 feet up off the shore.
Through the trees and at various openings one has great views of the Marina.
Further on the view swings to give a clear view up Powell Lake. One can see
up to Haywire Bay and eventually the log boom and collecting area come into
view.
Watch for a turn up into
the woods, before you reach an actively used road spur. Follow this up until
it reaches an active logging road. Turn right (giving right of way to any logging
trucks) and follow this about 100 yards. After passing a widened area on the
left, and before the first bend (left) in the haul road, watch for a trail marker
on the left side of the road.
The trail turns back to
the left at the trail marker off the haul road on a trail wide enough for a
4x4. Within twenty feet the trail turns off to the right, switching back steeply
up the side of Valentine Mountain. It offers a great view up Powell Lake, before
it circles the mountain and descends to meet the another trail, coming up from
the active logging road nearer the log sort area.
The trail winds through
the woods, passing two smaller trails to the right. At a junction where the
local trail continues straight ahead, the marked trail turns left, down the
mountain, switching back as it goes. Unfortunately the trail is also marked
in a straight descent. Please use the switchbacks to avoid unnecessary erosion,
sprained ankles and twisted knees.
At the bottom of the switchbacks
the trail ends at the end of the gravel parking lot of Mowat Bay. Mowat Bay
offers a boat launch, a protected swimming area, a play area for children and
washrooms (locked out of season.)
To meet up with Tony's trail,
proceed passed the washrooms along the shore to where the shore meets the woods.
The trail proceeds within a stones throw of the shoreline.
Alternately to the entire
above trail, it is possible to take a right after crossing the Powell River
Bridge. Proceed along the 101 highway, a small two lane, but sometimes busy
road. Take the third road to the left. Stop and say hello to us. Or proceed
along the highway two more blocks to Marine Ave, turn left, and drop in at the
Granada Inn or Ljubo's for an excellent meal, and the Hyatt Motor Inn (or down
a block closer to the mill and ocean) the Old Courthouse Inn, for a good night's
sleep in a bed.
After a meal and an evening,
you can either retrace your steps back to the trail by the bridge, or back to
Poplar Street. Following both blocks of Poplar Street (to the end away from
the river) will take you up a road out of the townsite. This road turns up to
the right with a good view of the mill below and then left and up to cross the
haul out road (here on the other side of Valentine Mountain.)
The road passes the once
active, maybe again active, Fire Station on the right. After passing the cemetery,
the curling rink and Cranberry Pottery on the left and Wiltshire's Store on
the right, the road bends left, climbs a small hill, and then winds downward.
Take the first left and proceed to the bottom of the hill into Mowat Bay Park.
This route is not a wilderness trail through the Townsite and Cranberry, but
enjoy the change of pace and the introduction to our humble communities.
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