Wikiloc | Holland Creek (Ladysmith)

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Photo ofHolland Creek (Ladysmith) - Retreads

Author

River Kaatz

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Trail stats

Distance: 5.06 mi
Elevation gain: 804 ft
Technical difficulty: Moderate
Elevation loss: 804 ft
Max elevation: 552 ft
TrailRank: 65
Min elevation: 552 ft
Trail type: Loop

Moving time: 2 hours 9 minutes
Time: 3 hours 5 minutes
Coordinates: 1445
Uploaded: January 24, 2019
Recorded: January 2019

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near Ladysmith, British Columbia (Canada)

Viewed 587 times, downloaded 6 times

Trail photos

Itinerary description

This lovely loop hike takes you up and down, both sides of Holland Creek as it flows through an urban forest. This was a winter hike with strong water flow. On a hot summer day, this is a great hike in the cool of the forest!

The ascent is a groomed trail through a sword-fern glade and a forest of large second-growth cedar, maple and fir trees. About midway up is Crystal Falls, where the water cascades into a fern-lined grotto. Further up, you pass two old concrete dams, each with smaller waterfalls.

The upper part of the hike is along the Rotary Lookout Trail. From the vantage point of the lookout there is a fine view over Ladysmith harbour, to the Gulf Islands and the mountains on the mainland (even Mount Baker). To the north, you can see the Nanaimo airport and to the south, Chemainus and Crofton.

The descent is a well-groomed, gradual forest path, along the Holland Creek valley.

There is a portable toilet at the trailhead.

On the day of this hike there were two temporary detours due to watermain construction. The first is bracketed by Waypoints 25 and 26. The second by Waypoints 37 and 38.

Retreads Hiking Club gives this hike an AVA rating of 3C on the ascending trail and 2A on the descending trail.

Looking for a hike in the Cowichan Valley? Or, looking for hiking companions? Google "Retreads Hiking Club CVRD

Waypoints

Trailhead Map

The trail starts out relatively flat

A small stream crossing the path

Folks who help make this park what it is

View over fern covered forest floor to Holland Creek

View to Holland Creek

Trail starts to climb

There are some steps to ease your journey

Beautiful forest

Moss growth on trees is substantial

Photo

You start to catch glimpses of Holland Creek

Photo

Crystal Falls

These pictures do not do the view justice. The falls tumble about 15 m into a fern lined grotto.

Crystal Falls

Lower colliery dam

To support the coal mining industry, colliery dams (weir) were constructed in the early 1900s to collect water to wash dust off of coal prior to loading into ships at Transfer Beach. A wooden flume (no longer present) diverted water to a reservoir to supply the coal washing bunkers at the current site of the horseshoe pitch at Transfer Beach Park.

Photo

Upper colliery dam

Photo

Start of first temporary detour

They were doing work on the water treatment plant near the top of the trail. So, there was a segment of the trail closed to public use. The detour was up and around where they were working. It was relatively short and not that far off route.

End of first temporary detour

This is where you rejoin the trail.

Looking up creek from the bridge that crosses over it

Start of Rotary Lookout Trail

Powerlines above Rotary Lookout Trail

Looking E from Lookout. North Shore Mountains on mainland in background.

Looking NE from lookout over Nanaimo airport (Cassidy)

Looking SE from Lookout

Upper colliery dam

Photo

Lower colliery dam

Start of second detour

Another detour. This one was (I think) caused by trail washouts. This detour takes you through the subdivision which is alongside the trail. It is fairly lengthy.