Updates & Story Highlights
Stay up to date with the latest posts and updates about trails
Hike Haida Gwaii acknowledges that there is going to be updated or added information about the listed trails on the site. We have added this updates page to make it easier for readers to find any relevant and recent information about any Haida Gwaii trails.
Also, this is our page for showing any photos, revisits, trail upgrades and interesting facts about the trails that we have listed. If you have any updated information on trails, please send us an email on our contact page and we will be glad to add it to this page.
We do our best to keep the information on the trails but disclaimers do apply. We do not intend for any information on our site to be used as accurate information and we highly encourage further research and proper hiking and outdoor preparations, including your emergency plans before heading out to any of the trails.
TRAIL UPDATE ALERT – MAY 2026
Spirit Lake Connector/Lookout Trail- New Trailhead
The heavy duty equipment class has finished and they’ve made a nice modification to the Spirit Lake Connector/Lookout trail! Now, to access the trail, walk the newly developed road on the far west end of the gravel pit. After a few feet, you’ll see two cement blocks. Welcome to the refreshed trailhead!
TRAIL UPDATE – MAY 2026
Spirit Lake Trail – Bridge Closure Notice
Spirit Lake bridge is closed. First 700 metres of trail is still open.
FEATURED TRAIL – APRIL 2025
Boulton Lake Trail – Distance
The hidden lake trail by Highway 16 towards Masset measures about 260 meters (return). An interesting quick stop when you are driving up north.
TRAIL UPDATE – MARCH 2025
Charlie Hartie Trail – Trailhead removed due to flooding
In response to flooding from intense winter storms, the Village of Daajing Giids dug up the drainage ditches along 6th Street. Doing so necessitated the removal of the “Charlie Hartie Creek” trailhead marker. As a result, the trailhead is a little trickier to locate. Once you arrive at 6th Street, you will notice a crude “bridge” across the ditch. This appears to be a new, alternate trailhead; however, its path is still relatively undefined (as of March). Just a few feet to the RIGHT of this bridge, you will see the heavily washed-out original trailhead for Charlie Hartie. We recommend sticking with the original trailhead because the washout dissipates after a few feet and the trail returns to normal.
TRAIL UPDATE – APRIL 2025
Haida Canoe Trail – Trail markers and Canoe Condition
In the 2 years since we last hiked this short trail, two notable changes have occurred: 1) The trailhead is now marked with the Ben Davidson trailhead marker; and, 2) the blank canoe at the trail’s terminus has, unfortunately, split in half.
TRAIL UPDATE – JANUARY 2025
Golden Spruce Trail – Temporarily Closed
Winter storms have wreaked havoc on the Golden Spruce Trail. The highly popular trail suffered significant blowdown, due to very strong winds, 230 meters in (just past the halfway point). As a result, the trail is temporarily closed as indicated by signage at the blowdown site.
TRAIL UPDATE – AUGUST 2024
Pure Lake Trail – Refresh
The short trail to Pure Lake has been completely redone with fresh crush for the length of the route, eliminating potentially muddy sections.
TRAILHEAD UPDATE – JULY 2024
Old Growth Alley Trail – Trailhead Disappeared
The informal white sign at the trail’s southern entrance, “DANGER! Do Not Hike During HIGH WINDS,” which effectively functioned as the trailhead marker, has been removed. Thus, Old Growth Alley is difficult to find unless you’re already looking for it. To help hikers who might wish to tackle this challenging trail at its southern entrance point, we provide the GPS coordinates for the trailhead since there are no other signifiers or signs: 53.51528, -131.95723.
TRAIL UPDATE – JUNE 2024
Sunset Park Trail – Extensions & Improvements
In the two years since we last hiked this trail, the Village of Port Clements has made a number of improvements:
- The gravel pathway has been re-done and now covers the length of the trail
- Remediation and repair work has been carried out on all bridge crossings
- Local artwork, including carved “mushrooms,” can be found along the trail
- The area adjacent to the birdwatching tower has been cleared significantly
TRAIL UPDATE – JUNE 2024
Anvil Trail – New parking lot across the trailhead
Remediation work is complete. Ample parking for multiple vehicles is available at Mariner’s Point, directly across from the Anvil trailhead.
TRAIL UPDATE – SEPTEMBER 2023
Susan’s Trail – Officially called Susan’s Way
In the three months since we hiked this route, an important change has occurred. Susan’s Trail now has official trailhead signage at each of its start (or terminus) points, denoting it as “Susan’s Way”: 1) At “the big tree”; and, 2) At the intersection of Highway 16 and Beitush Road, which is a newly developed section of the trail. The new addition is short – maybe about 100 meters or so – and connects to the original trail, near Tlell Cemetery. Keep your eye out for a bark-stripped tree, or CMT!
While this update may seem relatively minor, we think it’s important because it gives this short trail a visible and definite identity. It will no longer just be part of the larger Misty Meadows Loop; rather, the newly installed trailhead markers pay beautiful homage to the late Susan Wright, acknowledging her role in developing this route many years ago.
TRAIL UPDATE – APRIL 2023
Spirit Lake Connectors – Access Limited
The gates have been erected at the entranceway to the gravel pit where the trailhead is located. It is still possible to access the trail from this point; however, you will now have to deposit your vehicle across the highway at the parking lot near the Parks Canada offices.
TRAIL UPDATE – FEBRUARY 2023
Spirit Lake Trail – New features
Beginning in late February 2023, work began on a 60 metre re-route around a CMT that has been flagged as a danger tree. The re-route was “roughed in” by March 1st but, as of 3 April 2023, has yet to be completed. Of note: Quite early into the re-route, you’ll spy a unique CMT to your left, flagged with yellow tape denoting its status. This special cedar tree was burned to help fall it and there are tool marks visible.
JANUARY 2023
Interpretive signage was installed at the beginning of 2023
