Mount Geoffrey Parks

Mount Geoffrey is composed of two parks: Mount Geoffrey Regional Nature Park and Mount Geoffrey Escarpment Provincial Park. Three major trails traverse the face of Mount Geoffrey.

FORD COVE TO SHINGLE SPIT TRAIL is in the Escarpment Provincial Park with access located at the ferry dock area and off Central Rd. at Ford Cove. Look for park signage. Limited parking available.

This popular biking and easy wide walking trail connects the Ford Cove area to the resort area by the ferry dock. The trail follows a pathway through rock features and bridges over gullies and streams, a seasonal waterfall and steep forested hillside of Douglas-fir, maples and western redcedars. There are many sea views along a rocky shore with limited access. The two kilometers of rugged shoreline allows for shorebirds and mammals such as mink and otter to be left undisturbed. At the Ford Cove end of the trail within the park are the Ford Cove Family Orchard, the Leaf House, a private cemetery, and numerous plantings of different species of trees including a grove of large maples.

The trail follows a pathway through rock features and bridges over gullies and streams, a seasonal waterfall and steep forested hillside of Douglas-fir, maples and western redcedars.

MIDDLE BENCH TRAIL begins at the summit of Mount Rd. There is limited parking at the trailhead turnaround. The end of the trail connects with Euston Rd. This is also a popular hiking and biking trail. Walkers have a choice of returning along the same route or continuing on to Euston Rd. via a narrow trail.

The forested main trail has numerous offshoots of trails along the cliff edge offering magnificent views of Lambert Channel, Denman Island and Ford Cove Marina. Large arbutus trees, Garry oak and large second-growth Douglas-fir make up the coastal bluff. The cliff and its slopes are a critical habitat during the spring and summer for peregrine falcons, eagles, pileated woodpeckers and turkey vultures. The northern alligator lizard has been spotted on rare occasion. Halfway along the main trail a wetland occupies a large acreage of whispering aspen, sedges and fescue. It is an excellent spot to view the herring spawn in the Lambert Channel during late February or early March.

The cliff and its slopes are a critical habitat during the spring and summer for peregrine falcons, eagles, pileated woodpeckers and turkey vultures.

OUTER RIDGE TRAIL can be accessed from Euston Rd. or by the Strachan Valley Rd. via the summit trail. Limited parking is available at both locations.

It is recommended that you purchase a trail guide to direct you to access this trail. These are published by the Hornby Island Mountain Bike Association (HIMBA) and available at the bike shop and gas bar for five dollars.

The Outer Ridge Trail if approached by the summit trail takes you along an old logging road access with washouts in a few areas. Approaching the summit, a small stand of white pine are visible before you meet the cliff trail, which takes you through second-growth forest with veteran western redcedar and Douglas-fir.

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