Category: Feature Spots

Sleeping Beauty Trail Features
Fantastic viewpoints
Challenging slope sections

ABOUT

The “Sleeping Beauty Trail” is one of Haida Gwaii’s most famous hikes, perhaps only next to the Tow
Hill/Blowhole and Golden Spruce trails. With its varied terrain and expansive views, “Sleeping Beauty”
should be on every visitor’s bucket list if they’re looking for a challenging yet rewarding hike.
Unfortunately, though, this trail can be a little confusing – at least insofar as finding it. How come?
In brief, there is no trail on Haida Gwaii called “Sleeping Beauty.” The name “Sleeping Beauty” actually
refers to Mount Slatechuck and Mount Raymond – known collectively as the “Sleeping Beauty Trails”
because, when viewed from the Village of Daajing Giids, the mountains resemble a woman’s face when
laying in repose. What trail, then, are people referring to when they say they’re going to hike Sleeping
Beauty?

Generally, the hike most people are referring to is the Tarundl Trail, which brings you to the summit of
Mount Raymond. Of course, if you didn’t know this then locating “Sleeping Beauty” could prove
somewhat challenging. And that confusion is merited because the signage for “Sleeping Beauty” can be
confusing. We will try our best to reduce this befuddlement.

LOCATING THE TRAILHEAD

To locate the Tarundl Trail / Sleeping Beauty trailhead, follow these steps:

• Drive west through the Village of Daajing Giids along Oceanview Drive until you come upon the intersection to the village cemetery and Haydn Turner campground.

• Turn RIGHT onto the Honna Forest Service Road. Continue driving west for approximately 3.8 kilometers and turn RIGHT 400 meters past the Kagan Bay Recreation Site (you should see a “Sleeping Beauty” sign at this point).

• Drive north for approximately 1.3 kilometers. You should see another “Sleeping Beauty” marker to your LEFT, leading you up a fairly rough and narrow road. Culvert upgrades were completed in early August 2024. A high clearance vehicle is recommended, but standard size vehicles could make it if driving with caution.

• Drive about 3.5 kilometers. You will pass the first “Sleeping Beauty Trails” sign (leads to the Slatechuck Mountain trailhead). Drive just over a kilometer further and you will arrive at a small pullout. You should see the “Sleeping Beauty Trails” marker here. Welcome to the Tarundl Trail!

HIKING THE TRAIL

The Tarundl Trail hike begins easy enough as you cross a small footbridge over Tarundl Creek. The
path is grassy, flat and a little muddy. After trekking approximately 100 meters, you will come upon
the “Tarundl Tr” marker, which points into a dense and fairly young forest. At this point, the Tarundl
wastes no time in gaining elevation – onward and upward!

The climb up is straightforward and exceptionally well-marked with yellow circles and reflective
orange squares. You begin by navigating some tree roots before coming upon a series of high steps.
In many instances, the dense trees along this section of the trail serve as useful handgrips. After
about twenty minutes, you’ll come upon a rough ladder designed to help you up a small, steep
section of the trail. From here, the trail continues to climb along a well-worn, albeit muddy, path. Be
prepared for a few rope sections and minor blowdown along the way.

We took a hydration and snack break just past the mid-way point, alongside some beautiful old
growth cedar trees. Continuing on, the climb up was relentless, but gradual. As you begin entering
the alpine, the forest starts thinning out and the trees become more gnarled and stunted. Peering
through the trees, you also begin to get nice views of Bearskin Bay and Slatechuck Mountain.
Once in the “final stretch,” as you approach the verdant bowl of Mount Raymond, the trail gets a
little more scrambly and harder to follow as the markers thin out. First, you must climb some narrow
stone steps. After that, keep an eye out for a rope section that snakes under a fallen tree. We
missed this during our ascent and ended up climbing up and over a gnarled tree – only noticing the
rope on the opposite side after the fact! From here, climb up a rock face to a very narrow section of
trail with only a small rope railing to guide you. Once you clear this, ascend a little further through
some gnarled trees and you’ll reach the bowl. Home to the tarn known as “View Lake,” this flat area
is a popular place for hikers wishing to camp under the starry night sky.

For those wishing to climb to the zenith of Mount Raymond, and the “nose” of Sleeping Beauty, you
will need to trek onwards an additional 15 minutes. The path to the summit is well worn, but very
steep. On a clear day, you can expect to see breathtaking views of Rennell Sound, Yakoun Lake,
Stanley Lake, Daajing Giids, and much of the Queen Charlotte mountain range. Those wishing to
complete a loop trail can walk along the ridge between Mount Raymond and connect to the
Slatechuck Mountain trail.

While most report the descent down Mount Raymond to be quicker than the climb, it can actually
be more challenging due to loose rocks, mud and the abundant tree roots. Take your time as a
wipeout is certainly more likely here! Once back at the trailhead and parking lot, take a celebratory
swig of water and enjoy a nice meal back in Daajing Giids!

Note: Cellular service is available for most of the hike, less at the trailhead.

DIFFICULTY: Hard
TOTAL DISTANCE: 5.3 kilometers (one-way)
TIME: 3 hours (one-way)
TYPE: Out-and-Back
ELEVATION GAIN: 644 meters

Tarundl Lookout Trail Features
– Views of Bear Skin Bay
-Challenging Rope Sections
-View of the Tarundl Flats

ABOUT

The Tarundl Lookout Trail, located west of Daajing Giids (less than 10-minutes by car), and along the Honna Service road, you will find the Kagan Bay Day Use Recreation Site at about the 2-kilometer mark. The site features a picnic table, fire ring and beach access. At low tide, one could walk quite a distance onto the beach. Here you will also find the Tarundl Creek network of trails (see our earlier write-up here). It is also at this site where you can park your vehicle to begin a moderate-level hike towards an attractive and compelling lookout.

TRAILHEAD

Unlike the more popular Tarundl Creek loop trail, the Tarundl Lookout Trail does not have formal trailhead signage; however, it is easy enough to find:

• Park your vehicle at the Kagan Bay Day Use Site.
• Walk directly across the Honna Forest Service Road from the Day Use Site.
• You should see some candy cane-patterned tree tape, which signifies the start of the trail.

Welcome to the Tarundl Lookout Trail!

HIKING THE TRAIL

While the trail is fairly short at just over 1 kilometer in length, it is a steady uphill climb the entire way. The trail begins with a gentle slope, but this gets steeper further on. The route is a little rough, but is well marked with orange tree tape the entire way. Hiking through the ferns, young hemlock, and
occasional spruce, the terrain reminds us of the Jags Trail @ Spirit Lake. As you hike, use caution because the trail is also muddy and slippery in some areas.

Be prepared for six rope sections. Most of these are short, and designed to help you over minor obstacles, but the final two – just before you reach the zenith – are essential in helping you reach the viewpoint safely. Once at the top, follow the narrow trail to a couple of viewpoints of the Tarundl Flats
and bays down below. Please use caution while you are here as there are no ropes in place as a safety measure. After taking in the view, return the way you came!

DIFFICULTY: Moderate
TOTAL DISTANCE: 1.05 kilometers (one-way)
TIME: 40 minutes (one-way)
TYPE: Out-and-Back
ELEVATION GAIN: 126 meters

Dempsey Collinson Trail Features:
Historic logging practices
Salmon Habitat
Old Growth Trees & CMTs
Rope Sections

ABOUT

CONTEXT

Located just a few feet from the western Crabapple Creek trailhead entrance (near the old M&B site),
you’ll spy the “Dempsey Collinson Chief Sgiidagids Memorial Trail” signage. The marker is posted on a
large alder tree but, depending upon the time of year, it can be difficult to spot as branches may
obstruct it from view. Who was Chief Skidegate and why is there a trail named in his honour? This is not
the place for a detailed biography, but it is helpful to provide a brief overview for context:

Dempsey Collinson became Chief Skidegate on 23 March 1973. The event was historically significant
because he became the first Haida of the 20th century to renew the ancient tradition of proclaiming his
chieftainship through the potlatch ceremony. As Chief Skidegate, he played an integral and life-long role
in the community: He helped guide the Council of the Haida Nation at their Hereditary Chiefs table; he
worked for his community at the Band level as a Councillor and Chief Councillor; he helped save the
Haida Gwaii Watchmen Program via a generous personal monetary donation in the 1980s; and he
provided food for the community, always stating “when the tide is low, the table is set.”

When Chief Skidegate passed away in 2008, the tragic loss was even acknowledged in the BC Legislature by Premier Campbell. As such, it is little wonder that Dempsey should have a trail bearing his name. Throughout his life, in both thought and deed, he fought for and protected, Haida Gwaii.

THE VISION

In 2017, local trailblazers Mark Walsh and Remi Gauthier pitched “a plateau trail between Skidegate and [Daajing Giids]” to the municipality of Daajing Giids and even presented a rough outline of where the trail might go. As per their sketch, the route would begin at Skidegate’s Spirit Lake Trail; climb towards Slarkedus Lake and then swing west, run along the top of the plateau through delicate bog and muskeg.

It would eventually pass by Regier Lake before beginning a slow descent and passing along the Gore
Brook and Crabapple Creek trails before exiting along the beach, rounding Haydn Turner and going
towards Kagan Bay and the log sort. From here, said Walsh and Gauthier, you could connect up with the Sleeping Beauty and Slatechuck Mountain trails. If the route came to fruition, it would be an epic trail that would run north of 10 kilometres one-way.

The idea received a warm reception from the municipality and Skidegate; however, funding difficulties
have prevented the full trail from taking shape. Nevertheless, a “rough draft” for a west-end loop began
development in 2018 and finished in early 2020. It is this version of the trail covered here.

THE REALITY

As was noted above, the Dempsey Collinson Memorial Trail is located a few feet behind the western
Crabapple Creek trail marker, near the old M&B site. Just a few feet in, you will spy the rusted remains
of an old “diesel donkey” hidden behind some bushes to your RIGHT. After a couple of minutes, you’ll
come upon the first of many minor rope sections of the hike – this one bringing you down to Crabapple
Creek. Cross the creek and continue hiking north.

As you amble alongside Crabapple Creek, the trail is a bit overgrown thanks to an abundance of salmonberry bushes; however, after you clear them, the trail follows an old 1940s-era skid road and gently climbs. As you hike this section of the trail – crossing a Crabapple tributary along the way – you will spy more of Haida Gwaii’s early logging history: The skid road you’re hiking and many tree stumps, some showing clear evidence of springboard logging.

After climbing the slope and moving east, you begin to see the real treasures of the Dempsey Collinson
Memorial Trail: Significant groves of old-growth cedar which, for us, was reminiscent of the Old Growth
Alley Trail in Tlell. As you stand amongst this grove of ancient trees, you cannot help but feel small and
in awe. Look closely: Many of the ancient cedars here show evidence of bark-stripping by the Haida.

Continuing east towards the Gore Brook Trail, there is one major rope section to contend with but, once
you clear this hurdle, it’s a gradual descent down the ridge. You will eventually come upon scallop shells lining the trail. These were put in place by former school teacher and outdoor enthusiast, Kevin
Borserio.

These shells signify that you’ve completed the marked “Dempsey Collinson Memorial Trail” and entered the Gore Brook Trail. After completing Gore Brook, you can stop your hike here, at the cul-de-sac on Second Avenue, or enter the Crabapple Creek Trail and make the entire route a big loop trail.

Trail co-creator Mark Walsh has said that the marked route “shows the whole history of human
habitation on these islands.” That’s a lofty statement but, we think, holds true: As you hike this
moderately challenging route, you see ancient trees and landscapes; evidence of ancient Haida land use; early 20th-century logging practices; and contemporary outdoor recreation. The trail, while only a small part of the original vision, is still epic in its coverage.

DIFFICULTY: Moderate
TOTAL DISTANCE: 4.3km (one way);
6km, if including Gore Brook & Crabapple trail segments
TIME: 3hrs
TYPE: Loop (including Gore Brook & Crabapple trail segments)
ELEVATION GAIN: 260 meters