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Hike to the Red Creek Fir

Port Renfrew, British Columbia

Description

Added by Carrie Cole

What's not to love about tall trees? Standing next to huge trees has a way of humbling a person like nothing else! The "Red Creek Fir" is the biggest Douglas Fir in the world, and so of course we had to go find it!

I’m blessed with a husband who is crazy enough to agree to my endless adventures! When I suggested we go find the tallest Douglas Fir Tree in the world, and we happened to be in the area, my husband again said, “why not!”

For anyone who just has to see it for themselves, here’s some directions:

Follow Deering Road out of town and turn right onto Pacific Rim Circle Route Road. You'll pass Fairy Lake where you can take a look at the amazing Fairy Lake Bonsai as you pass. Turn right off the paved highway onto Lens Creek Main Road. You'll come to a Y and you'll want to turn right onto Bear Main Road. You'll go over a bridge and reach San Juan Spruce and Forest Service Campground. San Juan Spruce is the largest sitka spruce in Canada, having a circumference of 1.6 metres or 38 feet so it's worth a stop along the way for a few minutes. Continue 1.8km on Bear Main Road and then turn right on Mosquito Creek Main Road which is rough. Turn right on Red Creek Main Road which is also rough for 3.3km. Then turn right on Red 100 Road. Park where the road widens on both sides. (GPS 48.57990-124.22639)

You will find the start of the trail easily as it is marked with signage. It is a 10-15 minute easy hike to the Red Creek Fir where you'll pass three ancient cedars which are amazing on their own. Reaching the Red Creek Fir you will truly be humbled by its massive size standing at 242 feet tall, with a circumference of over 43 feet!

Please be aware that this adventure is really not suitable for low clearance vehicles. The gravel logging roads are rarely maintained. The roads are bumpy, rocky and clearly not passed very often, as there were branches down along the way that needed to be cleared. My husband didn’t complain even though he had to clear the roadway from fallen branches. So, if you are going to go, bring some gloves or a chainsaw or something to clear the road. My husband had his gardening gloves but it was getting ridiculous after a while, and I even questioned whether it was a good idea! But, we pressed on, and my husband got a good workout.

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