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Cathedral grove ...800 year old Douglas Fir Trees!
Cathedral Grove is a large area of giant Douglas-fir trees located within MacMillan Provincial Park.
The park itself is close by to Port Alberni as well as Qualicum Beach and can be easily accessed from Highway 4, at the centre of the Island. A trip to Cathedral Grove promises breathtaking wonders of nature that cannot be seen anywhere else.
You will not be alone in seeking out this great experience, an estimated one million people visit the area annually.
The massive, giant Douglas-fir trees here are over 800 years old and are absolutely towering and awe-inspiring. The tallest tree in Cathedral Grove is over 75 meters high and the thickest has a 9 meter circumference with a 9 foot diameter.
All of Vancouver Island, and all of Canada, can take pride in these trees that are often representative of the Canadian lifestyle and Canadian spirit.
Take a "video walk" through the Grove and you will see why it attracts so many visitors. This is one of my favorite videos of Vancouver Island...and you are going to ask about the cello/piano music in the background, I just know you are! Turn up the sound and enjoy this lovely three minute and thiry-two second video--->
Despite this beauty, Cathedral Grove came under threat from loggers in the area just several years ago. In fact, all of the trees leading up to Cathedral Grove were chopped down and destroyed. (unbelievable eh?)
Ecologist activists and many other groups protested the deforestation and destruction of the area and have been successful. However, the trees in the surrounding areas served as a sort of buffer zone for the massive Douglas firs which are now more vulnerable to weather conditions.
Of course, the most popular activity here is to walk around and take in the enormous trees. You truly cannot appreciate how small you are in comparison until you stand next to one of them and look up in astonishment. The trails here are not arduous hiking journeys but rather short, leisurely walks through an amazing natural environment.
There are two main trails, one on each side of the highway.
The north trail will pass through areas of Western Red Cedar trees and Cameron Lake. The south trail passes by the largest of the giant Douglas-fir trees and both trails provide unique opportunities for sightseeing.
About 10 years ago violent wind storms pummeled and toppled many of these majestic wonders.
Many of these fallen wonders are still lying on the forest grounds and add the unique opportunity to view the trees from a different perspective and in some cases, even attempt the impossible task of counting the rings. This is possible due to sections of the trees being removed to clear the main trails and open the area back up to visitors. Talk about a way to keep your kids occupied for a few hours!
MacMillan Park is home to many forms of wildlife that can be enjoyed and has a number of other trails and activities.
As mentioned, the park is adjacent to Cameron Lake and as such you can enjoy some water activities during your visit. Cooling off in the lake as you take in the beautiful scenery is a great way to relax. Fishing is also done in Cameron Lake and can you imagine a better spot to sit back with a line in the water than with these wonders of nature all around you?
The Grove is a good day trip out from Victoria and often a stop on the way to the west coast. (Port Alberni is about two and a half hours north of Victoria or 195 kms.)
And don't forget you are near Port Alberni and all it has to offer and not far from the West Coast beaches of Tofino...don't forget your surfboard!
