emailFeature Hike
Francis/King Regional Park
Heritage Trees Walk
Trail Rating: Easy to
Moderate
Approximate Hiking Time: 20 minutes return
Highlights
When you want some really big trees, visit Francis/King Regional Park, the only regional park featured in the Hiking Guide to the Big Trees of Southwestern British Columbia. This short sojourn into the woods offers near-immediate gratification.
The Hike
Begin your hike at the Nature Centre (for hours click here ) to pick up park maps and brochures, and check out the interpretive displays. To reach the Heritage Grove along Centennial Trail, walk directly from the Nature Centre down the driveway to Munn Road and cross the road. Do not go through the horse gate. Instead, turn right onto the horse trail and walk for a few minutes until you come to the next horse gate. Turn left and pass through it.
This trail will lead you past some of the oldest and largest Douglas-fir trees in the region. Thanks to Thomas Francis, the generous landowner who donated the property, this forest will be protected for future generations to enjoy.
Just before the trail descends down a steep slope and crosses a small creek, the thickest Douglas-fir, measuring 3 metres or 9.9 feet, is on your right. The tallest Douglas-fir is just past the creek at the Centennial Trail junction. This giant measures 74.7 metres (245 feet) and is likely about 500 years old.
These trees are critical habitat for animals such as red squirrels, bats, chickadees and several different kinds of woodpeckers. Can you see the signs animals have left behind? You may notice that many of the old firs have charred, black bark. A forest fire swept through here in the 1950s. Thankfully, Mother Nature thinks of everything and the thick bark of the Douglas-fir trees helped them to withstand the fire.
From here, you can return to the Nature Centre the way you came.
Option
To extend your hike, turn left at the trail junction onto Centennial Trail. Keep left until you descend and cross the creek again near the Marsh Trail junction. From here, you can return to the Nature Centre on the longer Marsh Trail or take the steeper but shorter trail straight ahead. Allow an extra 15 minutes hiking time for the Marsh Trail, or 5 minutes for the shorter trail.
Hiking with your dog?
To help us protect these natural areas, please keep your dog under control and on the trail.
Nature Centre Hours: Noon - 4pm
Saturday, Sunday and holiday Mondays
Summer Hours: During July & August, noon - 4pm
Wednesday to Sunday, and holiday Mondays
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