Hello to all. New to the group and new to the island. I’m hoping to do some exploring up near Port Hardy soon. We’re looking for good hard(ish) trails. Something that will put an IFS truck to its limits without being too stupid. 😂 Also any must see spots. We’re completely ignorant of all points of interest (for the whole island really). Any suggestions are appreciated. FYI we’re driving an 80 series Land cruiser with 6 inch lift riding 37’s fully locked. And 87 Toyota Pickup twin locked on 33’s (IFS not SAS). Cheers!
Sweet rigs! Welcome to the group.
My first word of advice is to stay out of the bush during fire season. The whole island is like kindling right now, and we don’t want to lose our wilderness.
I don’t know the Port Hardy area, but pick up a Backroads Mapbook at a gas station or Canadian Tire and go exploring! Also join the Vancouver Island Off-road Facebook group, it’s much more active than these forums, and you could probably tag along with some group runs once we get some rain.
Have fun!
Thanks for the advice. Watching the weather it seems like the north end of the island has been getting a little precipitation and is the reason we were looking at trails up there. We’ll definitely stay home if it’s too dry.
There are no open campfires allowed anywhere on island, even west coast is struggling with drought. Sweet rides. Bring some extra flashlights and solar lights bring along a lot of cold food to eat that doesn’t need cooking. If you have gas stove great but remember it’s this simple cigarette or accidents with any fire utensils. So if I’m backroad camping fire season, I don’t bring any fire at all. There are many roads but most are well traveled and logging is active up there so look at bc logging road closures as well. Western forest up north and mosaic south both have web sites for their logging roads and closures. It is an amazing drive up island and highways are so gorgeous it just makes for wonderful road trip. San josef is great but road is full of giant pot holes this I past Holberg. Only gas for your vehicle is on east coast island as holberg has no gas station. And a blip lol. Radio if you have it to travel on weekdays logging trucks have right of way and all I for on there site. If you smoke keep your windows closed and if you stop for smoke keep can or container for your butts not only to smoke over but ensure no sparks get away . Yes to back road map but I also found imap app for free when off line works but best is Garmin of course.
Yes it has rained but not enough to feed the forest and rivers. No open fire pits at all. Sayward has fire out of control human error that’s north of Campbell river. So read local news and Twitter seems to catch up better than bc wildfire site. Incidentally that site tells you what is allowed and not for campfires.
Campfires have only been lifted for Haida Gwaii in our coastal region.
Backroading up there also note it is very expensive to get your vehicle towed and very few places to tow it to. Also note there is no cell service is very scare in many parts of north west coast.
I had fabulous time roaming from san josef to winter harbour raft cove oh so many others I moved one day to next and still want check out so much more. Tahsis is amazing drive as well Leiner river free Rec site is dream in spring and fall with fishing. You will
Love our island but please heed the warning when we say not time yet it’s not. Besides the tourist season is here full swing and everyone and anyone running to sun on west coast and up island. Pick time of year tourist are fewer it’s more enjoyable all around. Lots of traffic up there last year year but no we’re near traffic headed up now as I have relatives up there.
No way do I wanna get caught in backroads during fire season there are no escapes.
Wait for fire rating to change it’s just safer all around. But give it a go if you know how to not leave a spark! It is wonderland for sure.
http://bcfireinfo.for.gov.bc.ca/hprScripts/WildfireNews/Bans.asp?bcgovtm...
Thanks for the info. Yes! I agree, no smoking or sparks during wildfire season. I’m happy to say the only smokers of the group quit years ago. And certainly no campfire. I’m hoping to make the trip closer to early fall. Kids will be back in school and tourists will have gone home. I watch the weather up there every day and will continue to do so. Hoping the whole island gets wet before any trip for sure.
I’ve been looking at trails and have seen that many areas have one road in/out. Definitely a concern if it’s still pretty dry. Thanks for that heads up and to check in with the logging companies for closures. I’ll definitely look things up.
Our group is small and we’re used to wheeling/camping/exploring in very dry fire season. We won’t take any risks and all our food prep and so forth so all on high end camp stoves. I’m used to wheeling in California, Nevada, Oregon and Arizona as well as most areas of BC and Alberta so we highly value traveling with correct amounts of water and NO SPARKS IN THE BUSH!!! During fire season anyway. Thanks again for your response and I will hit you up if I have questions. Cheers!
Oh the desert sand brutal on engine but so much fun. Back in the day lol long beach was just a pin prick on map we had dune buggies up and down the coast. Oh thanks for memory. I bet you had some interesting sites down there. Im jealous but then again we live in our own paradise just Ks away. Keep digging😁
Hey fireban lifted up island go
For it had a blast last weekend