Extension Ridge is a beautiful part of the trail with single track winding all the way up and along the ridge. A power line crossing offers some mixed views, nice to see the neighbouring hills but for that you get to see the powerlines and towers as well.Some photos below are from the last trip I had out there. It was an overcast, wet day, perfect for keeping the heat down while hiking.

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I’ve been north from Haslam Creek before, along the suspension bridge then on to Timberland Lake but I had never made the hike south to connect to Christie Falls near Ladysmith. If you haven’t, you’re not missing much. The hike is all logging road but if you end at Christie Falls then it’s a worthwhile adventure. I got a few photos out of it anyways.

I had to start walking at an orange gate. I drove the truck to this point along the potholed logging road. The dirt road had some deep holes up to this point but it didn’t require a 4×4.

It looks like the road is deactivated and not used much. It’s still a logging road though.

The brush on either side is quite thick and pretty. The sun was trying to shine through when I was out.

Logging road walking.

The sun cut out and left us in the fog.The first bridge you cross heading south. After the bridge head left to Christie Falls and the final bridge. If you turn right, it heads up to an abandoned mine. I’ll try and post some directions to that one soon.The final bridge (or first if you are heading north from Christie Falls) has a Trans Canada Trail sign near it. You can see where to go and what else is in the area.

** One note on signage, I didn’t see any. The best I could see was at Haslam Creek and then one random trail marker on a fence post heading south from there. That was it until the sign near Christie Falls said that was the Trans Canada Trail. Not sure why the other sections are so well marked and this one isn’t. It makes it a bit confusing. I had to drive in a few circles near the Haslam Creek entrance just to make sure there were no other roads for options to take. I recommend grabbing the GPS track to follow so you don’t get turned around.

If you don’t mind some dirty puddles you can from Haslam Creek and the powerlines south along the dirt road until you hit the orange gate. The woods are pretty around the road south of the powerlines so you could walk these. I just drove as far as I could and then started the hike.

Have you been along this stretch of the Trans Canada Trail? What did you think?

Let me know down in the comments below!

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Years ago, I hiked from Haslam Creek up to Timberland Lake, a section of the Trans Canada trail. It was an easy hike, not a ton of interesting trail as most of it was on logging road. Timberland Lake at the end was beautiful. A bit of trash around from offroaders but the sun was out and reflecting off the water just right.

Around the corner from Timberland Lake is the White Pine Trail that continues up to Spruston Road. I left the lake after seeing one of the White Pine Trail signs and that was the last I saw of it.

In searching around for trails to hike next for Pack and Trail, I stumbled on the Trans Canada Trails again. I’ve been coming back from an ankle injury and needed some easy trails to wander. I headed out to check on the White Pine Trail.

The White Pine Trail

At the end of Spruston Road the trail signs start. The road is rough but there’s a bit of a pullout where you can park your car.

The trail starts out beautiful single track through the woods. It’s marked with orange markers on the trees with the odd “Trans Canada Trail” marker that was a bit bigger. Any major forks had a big blue signpost. 

I spent most of the hike just taking in all the green around me. I’ve been healing up an ankle injury lately and was just happy to be on the trail at all, nevermind on a nice day like this. It was a bit cold though. Hard to operate the camera too much when you can’t feel your fingers. 

The trail pops out onto the logging roads and continues to Timberland Lake. 

The trail was well signed. At points the signs were off in the trees. I’m sure they were once very visible but now they’re off in the brush a bit. Any time I needed to know the direction though there was a sign right there. Just need to look.  

Timberland Lake was pretty as usual. 

I had the feeling we were being watched. Then out popped this little guy from the woods. The funny thing was that Della (my dog) was going crazy at a tree in the other direction because she thought she heard a squirrel. Not so much a hunter. I had plenty of time to capture some shots of the squirrel munching on something sitting on a log.

The Verdict

Would I recommend the White Pine Trail? The south end of the trail just before Timberland Lake is just logging road which isn’t very pretty but the single track on the north end was beautiful. Easy walking over well-maintained trail made for a good hike. The trail was well-signed aside from the few in the trees.

The Nanaimo River

I took a quick look down the trail that goes down to the Nanaimo River as well. It’s easy double track to hike. We didn’t get very far though. It turns into rough single track and heads back up into the woods. There were a couple of trail forks that probably head down to the river but I didn’t have time to follow them.  

The post White Pine Trail first appeared on Pack & Trail.

For now, here’s Christie Falls from September 2013.

Directions to Christie Falls.

Christie Falls is a great little trail to get outside and see a beautiful set of falls on a mostly sunny day. The forecast called for rain and it threatened all day, even going so far as sending a couple drops our way. We never saw more than a few. The warm sun kept them at bay while we explored the falls.

The first gate was open when we went on a Saturday. There weren’t any posted hours aside from the sign on the gate about it being closed during extreme fire risk.

The smaller second gate on the right.  

For a deactivated logging road is was actually pretty nice. I’m assuming it gets maintained because of the Trans Canada trail and the fish hatchery at the end of the road. 

Follow the fish hatchery signs. 

There’s not much signage on the road for the Trans Canada Trail before the bridge. This section connects to the Haslam Creek Suspension Bridge trail.

The fish hatchery. 

Across from the fish hatchery a big clearing leads up to the single track trail leading to the falls. 

Small trails up into the single track on the side or end of the clear area.

It’s not flat any more. The single track leads up into the woods beside the stream. 

The trail sticks close to the stream, you can see out over the stream at a few points. 

You can actually see the stream at a few points. 

Not quite jungle but nice single track to walk through. 

A slippery log bridge. The stream wasn’t flowing through this section so we just walked through the stream bed. The stream must split above Christie Falls because this section was dry but Christie was flowing. 

Christie Falls.  

There was a nice pool below the falls. Not enough to swim in but plenty for a nice picture.

Logs and well placed rock in front of the falls made great stadium seating. **Get directions to Christie Falls.   

The post Wandering to Christie Falls first appeared on Pack & Trail.

Directions to Haslam Creek Trail

Turn onto Timberlands Road across the highway from the Cassidy airport south of Nanaimo. Drive to the end of the road, you will go left around a sharp corner at the end. At the end you’ll hit a gate that should be open. Go through and into a big gravel pit. Drive straight through and take the road on the right. About 1k along this road you will see a blue sign and fence on the right hand side. This is the trail entrance. See the Google Map to Haslam Creek Trail for more info. The trail itself is well signed. Follow the blue signs on the trail posts and you’ll have no troubles staying on the trail. 

Haslam Creek Suspension Bridge

Take the trail along the fence for about 1 km and you will see the suspension bridge. The sides are chain link and the bottom is a rough grate so it’s very safe. Dogs should fine fine walking along the metal, people who are afraid of heights might be a little uneasy in the middle though. After the bridge stay left on the main trail and you’ll hit a logging road. Head left along the logging road. After about 1km you’ll start going uphill on a smaller trail. This section can be very wet.The trail heads uphill for a while here and then back out onto logging road. Another km and you will be very close to Timberlands Lake.

Timberlands Lake

Take the small road on the left before the lake to go around to the near side or continue on around the right to get to the main open area on the lake. The sign posts will lead you to this open area. Unfortunately 4x4er’s like this location as well so there might be broken glass. This is a fantastic location to have lunch in the sun and explore the shoreline. The main opening on the far side will get the most sunshine especially in the afternoon.

White Pine Trail

Near the main area on the lake the road continues on and hooks up with the White Pine Trail. This section of the trail continues on North to Spruston road and eventually Nanaimo River.

Additional Info

Trailpeak page for Haslam Creek Trail

The post Hike in Nanaimo: Haslam Creek Trail first appeared on Pack & Trail.