5 Great Hiking Trails on Pender Island
Pender Island is one of the Southern Gulf Islands. The island is approximately 34 km2, has a sub-Mediterranean climate, and is covered in farmland, forested hills, lakes, small mountains, coves, and beaches. Hiking the various trails of the Island will show off this wondrous variety of scenery.
Here are a few of the hiking trails you can check out while on the Island:
- Grover Sargent Memorial Cairn Trail
Clam Bay Road, North Pender Island
This hike is approximately 90 meters and is rated an easy trek. The trail is a memorial for Pilot Officer Grover Stewart Sargent of the Canadian Air Force, who died at age 21 when his Hawker Hurricane MK XII crashed during a test flight. The walk is mostly boardwalks over different shapes of wetland.
- Magic Lake Swimming Hole Park
Pirates Road, North Pender
This is an easy area to walk and explore and it contains amenities like an outhouse and a dock and swimming float in the nearby lake. There’s plenty of space to take a brisk walk or hike but there is also much space for lounging in the sun or swimming. You can also see the dam that retains the water in Magic Lake.
- Mount Menzies Park
Hooson Road, North Pender Island
This hike is a more challenging one with a 2 KM distance and an 80-metre climb. It has a looping trail with a bench that marks the end of the Pender Islands Parks and Recreation Commission land – moving onto unmarked trails here means trespassing on private property to you will want to stick to the path. The path is, at times, steep and slippers but you’ll be able to see dense forest canopy and expansive wetlands.
- George Hill
Ogden Road or Upper Terrace Road, North Pender Island
Another challenging hike, George Hills is about 2 KM each way with a 130-metre climb. The trail is long and quite steep in places but at the top, you’ll get an absolutely unbeatable 180-degree view where you can look out across Galiano, Mayne, and Salt Spring Islands, and on a clear day, the Olympic Range is also visible.
- Mount Elizabeth Park
Clam Bay Road, North Pender Island
This is a moderate-level hike that is a total 0.64 KM start to finish if you use the trail loop. You can borrow a nature guide at the beginning of the trail, which will help you identify the local flora and fauna you’re seeing in this forest of Douglas Fir and Western Red Cedar. (Please return the guide on your way out.)
We hope you enjoy this list of some of the best hiking trails on Pender Island. Check out our Pender Island rentals and let us know what trail you want to try first!