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| Ridge Trail outlook at Gowlland Tod. Stunning views even on a foggy day. |
Note: It's also possible to approach Jocelyn Hill from the McKenzie Bight access point at the north end of the park. This section of the trail has longer inland stretches.
Hike length: 8km
Hike duration: 3-4 hours
Whenever I've mentioned Gowlland Tod to locals on Vancouver Island, I've noticed there's about a 50/50 chance the name of this hidden gem of a park will be recognized. Considering the beautiful views to be seen from it's hiking trails it's a mystery to me why it isn't more popular. If I had to take a stab at the cause of it's lack of renown, I would guess it might have something to do with poorly marked trails. When I first began visiting the park, it took numerous false starts before I could confidently navigate the series of looped paths near the Caleb Pike trailhead to successfully reach Jocelyn Hill. Happily, I noticed on my most recent visit that numerous new sign posts have been added.
The Ridge Trail hike from Caleb Pike to Jocelyn Hill overlooks one of the area's most impressive fjords, Finlayson Arm. The 8km trek (4km to the the summit of Jocelyn Hill and 4km back) includes a few strenuous sections, but numerous scenic outlooks provide plenty of opportunities to stop for a rest along the way. Of course, the struggle is more than worth it. Once you reach the summit of Jocelyn Hill, with it's stunning views of Saanich Inlet and the Gulf Islands, you'll know what I mean.
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