SUNSET PARK TRAIL FEATURES
Evidence of early logging
Culturally Modified Trees
Bird-watching
ABOUT
The Sunset Park Trail, located along Bayview Drive, is an easy 2.7km out-and-back trail in the Village of Port Clements. The terrain is flat and basically follows the Yakoun Estuary the entire way. The track is so flat, in fact, that Port Clements even suggests it is wheelchair friendly.
The scenery along the route is quite beautiful at low tide but is, I think, a little one-note if you’re walking the trail at high tide. As you stroll about the path, there are a few strategically placed benches facing the estuary so that one can fully take in and appreciate, the vivid scenes unfolding before them. In addition, there are a couple of interpretive signs along the trail, which link to Port’s early logging history.
For us, the highlight here is the clear evidence of springboard logging. It’s an interesting callback to the golden age of logging on Haida Gwaii.
At the trail’s terminus point, you will come upon a beautiful two-storey birdwatching tower. Climb the stairs (or walk the wheelchair ramp) to receive unobstructed views of Yakoun Bay and watch the Herons and Eagles frolic and play. On a clear day, it’s quite easy for one to get “lost” up here.
Once you’ve finished your Sunset Park Trail adventure, walk back the way you came or take one of the many exits out onto the main road for a more urban hike.
As far as trails on Haida Gwaii go, this one is definitely the easiest in terms of difficulty (well, this one and the Government Dock “trails”). In that respect, seasoned hikers – or even newbies – may find it a little underwhelming; however, there is no denying that it’s suitable for the whole family.
The birding tower is a lot of fun and we enjoyed the references to logging’s glory years. We should note, by way of conclusion, that the Sunset Park Trail had an extension developed in 2016, which adds just over the original trail described above. The extension begins at the Sunset Park Trail parking lot, just off Bayview Drive.
Once you park your vehicle, follow the well-manicured path to the right (besides a newly installed pit toilet). After about a minute or two, you must cross the road to continue the trail. The extension then follows alongside Bayview Drive for approximately 300 meters before going up a slight incline and snaking behind Yakoun, Tingley and Park Streets.
At this point, you almost feel as if you’re trespassing because you come into such close proximity to private homes. The trail eventually passes by Port Clements’ Community Park (home to annual Canada Day celebrations) and follows Falcon Street before ducking into a wooded area and emerging at Bayview Drive, across from the Port Clements Museum.
Like the “original” Sunset Park Trail, the extension is also wheelchair friendly; however, in our view, the extension lacks the appeal of the original trail. It is far more urban and was developed more for locals as a quick way to navigate the community. As such, we’d recommend sticking to the “original” route.
DIFFICULTY: Easy
TOTAL DISTANCE: 7.6 kilometers return (incl. extension)
TIME: 2 hours
TYPE: Out-and-Back
ELEVATION GAIN: None