Skutz Falls to Tadjiss Lake, and camping with a view

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theshanergy's picture
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Shane
Alberni Valley
Skutz Falls to Tadjiss Lake, and camping with a view

Did some exploring yesterday and found a new lake and a nice camping spot. We started at Skutz Falls and took the main logging road to the power lines, then followed them for a while and got some altitude. A bit past the lake we found a cool rocky section and camped right on the top of one of the big rocks. Had some beers and enjoyed the 360° view of the surrounding valleys.

This would be a good trip for anyone still wondering where they should go for their scenic photo contest entry! :)

Pics and GPS:

GPS file (Google Earth): 
Beer-n-Meat's picture

Beer-n-Meat
Nanaimo

Great pics thanks for sharing.

FarmYard's picture

D
Cow valley

sweet! how big is the lake?

theshanergy's picture
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Shane
Alberni Valley

Pretty small. We weren't looking for it, just happened to stumble on it. It looked like there was only the one water access and it wasn't very big, otherwise we might have camped there. Ended up finding the much nicer camping spot just a ways down the road though, so it worked out well.

BeRadical's picture

BeRad
duncan

very nice!

RamRod's picture

Mike
Vic

Very cool!

Let me know next time you head out that way!

Gear Low Drive Slow's picture

Jay Million
Victoria

Hit this spot for a night the other week, fantastic!

Headed further south after and ended up at koksilah river, which was a great spot for a swim (cold).

Trailblazzers's picture

Erik
lake cowichan

ive heard they dug out the top of skutz falls access just where you access the new logging, and its not passable. Havent been myself so i dont know for sure

all4adventure's picture

Logan
VIctoria

Downloaded your map and checked this place out today, awesome trails all around. Thank you!

theshanergy's picture
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Shane
Alberni Valley

Right on! Which route did you take in - skutz? I know you can also get in there from the Shawnigan side too, though some routes are gated.

all4adventure's picture

Logan
VIctoria

Ya I took mayo road into the area, tried to keep going east after coming back down the power line trail but it was gated off that way. Definitely going back to check it out some more though!

Trailblazzers's picture

Erik
lake cowichan

As soon as you turn off of the main road heading up the power lines at the second power I believe take a left follow that for a ways and you will see a newish trail through a slash cut to another road go through there turn right on the road and that will take you right into the main line behind all the gates from Glenora side

Gyuji's picture

Mike
Victoria

Gonna try this route out on Sunday. And also try to find that trail to the other side of the gates. One of my favourite camping spots is on the other side and I'd love to hit it up again!

KWG88's picture

Kyle G
Chemainus

Just got me a hand me down 06 Rubi and will be heading out there tonight. Either that or Sherk.

KWG88's picture

Kyle G
Chemainus

As trailblazers said. Got up to the second powerline incline and took that left which cuts over to the mainline. Some deep dips along that one. Skimmed my gas tank armour on the stock rubi. Probably would be fine with a 3" lift.

Trailblazzers's picture

Erik
lake cowichan

good luck with sherk maybe through copper canyon but no way from youbou side 2 weeks ago there was 2 feet of snow still before the crossover gate! and its been heavily dug out coming down the other side

vanislexj's picture

Victoria

The Rubes was a champ, Kyle!

Trailblazzers, we got ruined by that decommission coming in from the Hillcrest side... looked super fresh too. We backtracked a bit and got on to the mainline through a fairly overgrown trail. Ran into a gate not long after that though.

Gyuji's picture

Mike
Victoria

We basically had the same experience yesterday. Got to the second incline and didn't like the looks of the really steep next section so we tried to go left to cut over to the mainline but the trenches looked a bit too severe for my Ranger. Backtracked a little and found the somewhat overgrown path but only got about a kilometer down that before a downed tree made us turn back.

Out4aRip's picture

Rob
Victoria

Mega-trenching seems to be the norm for TPTB cutting off access to the back country areas nowadays.
They don't just put up a gate or a few boulders and a nice sign anymore when a road is decommissioned, they outright FUBAR it with trenches.
I was out a couple weeks ago and saw what they did to Old Renfrew Road. There's a series of four mega-trenches on the entrance that would be a worthy wartime defense against any land invasion force imaginable. I imagine we're going to be seeing a lot more of these "extreme closures" as the logging companies continue the race to log off the last of the economically viable second growth at an alarmingly unsustainable rate.

Gyuji's picture

Mike
Victoria

Kinda makes me want to get myself a couple of beefy 6 foot planks to keep in the back of the truck...

Trailblazzers's picture

Erik
lake cowichan

There's always a way LOL

Butch's picture

Peter
Victoria

even a beefed up set of loading ramps would work.

Out4aRip's picture

Rob
Victoria

LOL! I swear there's a market now for fold-out bridge/ramp kits. Anyone remember the old ACoE instant bridge video? ;-)

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