This day trip is an excellent hike for everyone. Ronnings garden was started in the early 1900's by a man named Bernt Ronning who came from Europe. Bernt imported all kinds of plants, shrubs, trees and flowers from around the world, and created a beautiful garden. His most prized specimens were the two monkey puzzle trees which he grew from seedlings, male and female, and they have been the starting point of several hundred of the monkey puzzle trees in North America and around the world.
San Josef Bay is the site of one of northern Vancouver Island's first early settlements, around 1912. Nothing is left of these early settlers but the odd fence posts and some parts of the original trail network connecting them to the settlements of Cape Scott and Sea Otter Cove. The broad expanse and white sand makes it one of the most popular beaches on the north island. Two beaches make up the bay, separated by a rocky outcrop of sea stacks and sea caves.
At the end of the second beach is the trail to Mt. Saint Patrick, which is difficult to hike even on a good day, but the view is stunning on a clear day with a 360 degree view of the area. Mt. Saint Patrick is the highest point in the Cape Scott Park.
click a photo to enlarge
Sea Stacks
View from Mt. St. Patricks
Sea Caves
More Sea Stacks
Raft Cove
Raft Cove is an intermediate hike over a rough 3 km trail though a typical west coast rain forest. It takes approximately one hour to hike before reaching a spectacular sandy beach. The beach itself is 1 km. in length, bordered on the far end by the MacJack River, which is crossable by boat. Beach hiking can be done in the other direction for quite a distance. Raft Cove is great spot for surfing as well as beach combing.
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One of the beaches
of raft cove
A rock arch near
the
beach at Raft Cove
Our dog exploring some coastal rainforest
near raft cove.
Another view of the
beach at raft cove.
Hecht Beach
Hecht beach is as difficult as Raft Cove and can be fairly demanding at times, with some small rocky headlands and the gravel beaches. The hike is well worth it, as Hecht beach is one of the best collection beaches for beachcombing on the west coast of the north island. Hiking can be done in either direction for many kilometers.
click a photo to enlarge
Flotsam on Hecht
Waves crashing
off the beach
Waves crashing
through
a split
Hecht Beach
Grant Bay
Grant Bay is the easiest of all the hikes on the west coast. A short, well maintained trail winds through the forest, emerging onto one of the most beautiful beaches on the west Coast. The beach is made up of fine white sand and is bordered on either side by rocky headlands. On this hike we will also be visiting the small fishing village of Winter Harbour to walk the boardwalk that follows the coastline of the community.
