Turbulent Seymour Narrows

Ripple Rock Trail near Campbell River is a 1½ to 2 hour walk (one way) leading to the Seymour Narrows lookout and views across to Quadra and Maud Islands.

The trail is 4 km long, with an easy to moderate grade to Menzies Bay and a steep section to Wilfred Point. It passes through areas that were logged about 70 years ago and now have Douglas fir, red alder, broadleaf maple and western hemlock.

On the east side of Menzies Creek the trail passes through two small patches of old growth with 300-year-old Sitka spruce and Douglas-fir. There are good viewpoints along the trail and a nice sandy beach at Nymphe Cove.

Midway between the lookout and Maud Island is the site of the infamous Ripple Rock, two menacing rock pinnacles whose summits used to provide only a few metres clearance at low tide.

This notorious marine hazard wrecked dozens of ships and claimed 114 lives, resulting in a project to destroy Ripple Rock by blowing it to pieces. In 1958, the largest man-made, non-nuclear explosion in history reduced the rock by 370,000 tonnes to create a clearance of 13 m.

The marked trailhead is 15.5 km north of Campbell River with a parking pull-off on the east side of the highway.

Click for companies that offer Hiking & Backpacking services, or visit our Recreation section for more information on Hiking and Backpacking in British Columbia.

Trail information for Vancouver Island is provided in three superb Hiking Trails guides by the Vancouver Island Trails Information Society.