Strathcona Park - Lake Helen Mackenzie

Tails: 1

Region: North Central Island

Location: Mount Washington, Nordic Lodge

Parking: Parking lot

Time/Distance: 8km, roughly 2 hours

Walk/Hike/Backpack: Walk/Hike or Backpack

We backpacked to the camping sites at Lake Helen Mackenzie. This hike is easy and perfect for first time backpackers. Minimal elevation, most of the hike is flat. Half of this hike is on a boardwalk, making it very easy for everyone. This is a nice place for those who just want to talk a walk, or backpack to the lake, and other lakes. Hiking to camp and back does a loop which total takes roughly 2 hours, 1 hour to camp and 1 hour back to your car.

The thing I did not like about the camping sites was the tent pads were very close together, we were lucky and no one was there, but during summer and nice weather I could see if being very busy and would not pick to go here. 

Strathcona Park - Baby Bedwell Lake

Tails: 2

Region: North Central Island

Location: Strathcona Park, Past Campbell River, BC

Parking: Off to the side of gravel road

Time/Distance: Over 2 hours

Walk/Hike/Backpack: Hike or Backpack

Just after Buttle Lake, you make a left turn onto a gravel road. Some 4x4ing required with some clearance. Once at the parking area, the hike up takes over 2 hours and is mostly uphill switchbacks. Once arrived at Baby Bedwell Lake there are 2 tent pads lake side and 5+ tent pads up on a rock atop of the lake. We hiked uphill, up some stairs to the other side of the mountain to where Bedwell Lake is located. Both have views of glacier mountains. The hike over from Baby Bedwell to Bedwell takes less than 30minutes. You can continue on to Cream Lake. At Baby Bedwell there is an outhouse and bear cache. Dogs must be under control. Bear bells are recommended as bears and other large animals are in the area.