Hill 60 is gated

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iruninca's picture

Alex
Duncan
Hill 60 is gated

Drove by the Hill 60 FRS entrance on Hwy 18 today, and it’s gated. They’re actively logging it. I wonder if you can still get down to the river if you go in from Hillcrest or Chemainus Main, anyone know?

theshanergy's picture
Admin

Shane
Alberni Valley

This last year has been a bad one for gates and backcountry destruction. So many nice spots are turning to wasteland.

Trackick's picture

Simon
Duncan

Late reply but if you go in on Hillcrest they have gated the powerlines entrance and dug up the Y intersection at Forestry Pools also. But yes there is still access to the river, and powerlines to Hill 60, in a couple spots off Hillcrest

iruninca's picture

Alex
Duncan

Cool, good to know. I'm guessing you can get in from Chemainus Main still too, but not with a stock rig. Maybe worth going to explore this weekend!

Trackick's picture

Simon
Duncan

Been about 10 years since I've tried coming from the Chemainus main side so I can't speak on that lol. I've had it on my list of routes to update myself on for a while now

iruninca's picture

Alex
Duncan

I went that way a couple times last year, both by mistake. The bypasses are pretty tight and gnarly for my rig. You'd cruise through it without an issue though. I can DM you the spot if you want.

Trackick's picture

Simon
Duncan

The last time I went through it was on dig out #3 or 4 lol and it was almost too gnarly for my (then) mostly stock tracker. Looked like people just kept moving over a few feet and making a new trail. I'd love to see how many there are now! Thanks for the coords, last time I did it with just a BRMB and pinpointing the location was tough

Moose's picture

Seth
Lantzville

I'm guessing you could get through with the tight trail just before the usual entrance.

iruninca's picture

Alex
Duncan

the one at the powerlines? it was dug up over the winter too. could probably do it, but it's pretty steep.

Trackick's picture

Simon
Duncan

Powerlines is dug up yes but there is a small workaround trail around the dugout. I have done it a couple times it's not too bad but it's narrow. There is also a gnarly trail on the left just past the Y intersection at Forestry pools if you know where I mean. It's longer and more challenging but it drops you on the trail to get to the powerlines.

llew's picture

llew hamdi
victoria

Hi everyone, we went by Hill 60 yesterday. Here are a couple of photos.

There is an entrance off Hillcrest I think, but it looked gated yesterday as well. Too bad.

We also did Skutz Falls. It seems more challenging than Hill 60. We actually got stuck once but the the winch pulled us out easily (last photo).

Cheers,

Llew

iruninca's picture

Alex
Duncan

Nice, thanks for sharing! I also in by Skutz a couple weeks ago. It has some really difficult sections for sure.

Maybe I’ll try to plan a day on hill 60 in the next couple weeks. Anyone up for that?

Trackick's picture

Simon
Duncan

Update, last weekend we did the Hillcrest to copper canyon main route discussed above.
The workaround trails to get onto copper canyon main have changed since my last time out 8 or so years ago (I actually made a thread in here about it way back when. Nostalgic)
Tight but easily done by a small rig.
We found some awesome spots along the Chemainus river with some potential camping. And I broke a rear leaf lol.
Figured I’d update the thread to say it is still a doable route.

Synapses's picture

Kyle Laursen
Victoria

Doable for your tracker, how about a JKU 😂😂?? Thanks for the update.

Was hoping to take the wife out that way next weekend. Looks like I need to do some more digging around first. If someone wouldn't mind PMing some details that would be awesome.

Spent some time this weekend up past cowichan lake exploring around.

iruninca's picture

Alex
Duncan

I've done that bypass in my 4runner and with other guys in Wranglers. I think you'll be fine. I can PM you the route I used.

Trackick's picture

Simon
Duncan

Yes Kyle I agree with Alex, you should have no problem.
A fullsize like a squarebody or ram truck might have issues but anything smaller will be fine. There's lots of different lines to choose if one way is too tight. I'll have to start recording my routes and using Gaia like the other fancy folk here lol

Footsore1824's picture

Victoria

Is Hillcrest Main generally gated and inaccessible in a vehicle without clearance? I'd like to go to the Chemainus River when Copper Canyon Main isn't open.

iruninca's picture

Alex
Duncan

Nope, Hillcrest is almost always open. Chemainus River Park is a provincial park, so it's only closed during wildfire season. Totally accessible with any stock vehicle.

Footsore1824's picture

Victoria

So a gate has been added on Duncan Access Road near the transmission lines west of the provincial park? And it's usually locked?

iruninca's picture

Alex
Duncan

All access from Hillcrest into the Hill 60 area is gated and locked, but with a capable rig you can get around it at a few different spots.

The gate that this original thread was about was on the Hill 60 FSR off of 18. It has since been re-opened, so that is the most direct route into Hill 60 now. Still need at least a lifted rig to get very far though. And the route down Porters Canyon to the river is washed out pretty bad and only passable with a big lift and probably lockers.

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