email Coles Bay Regional Park
Learning Centre
Natural History
Woodland trails lead through a mixed deciduous and coniferous forest to the tranquility of bay and beach. The mixed forest of Douglas-fir, broadleaf maple and western red cedar creates an airy, open canopy resulting in luxuriant shrubs and ground cover.
Tall Indian plum and snowberry bushes line the paths, as do salal, sword fern and Oregon grape. A closer look reveals native wildflowers such as starflower, miner's lettuce, buttercup and horsetail.
At the beach, walk out on the firm, muddy bottom to look for evidence of clams or sand worms. Spot seals offshore feeding on the salmon that spawn at the head of the Inlet in the fall.
