We make no claims about the accuracy of this map, as it is a work in progress and we have several sources of map data that don’t always match. Please always let someone know where you’re going, and follow safety advice.
Heritage Trail
Shopping
Municipal park
Provincial park
Crown land
Nature reserve
Private land
Note: when using search box always include ‘bowen island bc’ or you’ll search the whole world. Results vary in usefulness.
Time & Elevation: 30 minutes, plus an hour if you do the variation below, 500 ft.
Difficulty: Easy, except five-minute Grind
Access: Bus to Evergreen Lane; parking at entrance
Main Attraction: Easy access to Bowen Bay beach, well-maintained varied trail, links to other trails
Route:
A well-marked trail with some variations. Trail starts on the right-hand side of Evergreen Lane at the parking lot. Turn right up to Aaron’s Field (created in honour of a young man who died in a tragic accident in 2009), cross the field to the west, down the trail, past the chain-link gate and find yourself walking on a good trail beside Malkin Creek Road. The trail goes left down what looks like a private driveway, and then you will see a sign to the right indicating the trail down the hill towards Bowen Bay Road. The trail borders on residential properties on Bowen Bay Road, with a right-hand path to the road and the lovely Bowen Bay beach, then takes a turn to the left up the aptly-named Grind. Shortly after the top of the hill, you have the option of the Loop Trail on the right or the left-hand trail which has two viewpoints and the small Maggie’s Pond (fairly empty in the summer), named after a benefactor for the maintenance of trails on Bowen. Both trails take you back to Evergreen Lane and a right-hand turn to return to the parking spot or bus route.
Variation:
(30-45 minutes): For a good cardiac workout, take the unmarked trail to the right approximately ten metres along from the parking lot on Evergreen Lane. You will climb steadily along this trail for approximately 750 metres. After an intersection of a rough track, you will see an unmarked but well maintained trail to the left. Follow this trail until the end of the gravel and then continue uphill on a woodland trail that ends in a T-junction. You will see a small sign here indicating the path back to Evergreen. Turn left here and follow the trail back down to Amelia Lane, along the path of a creek. Watch out for loose pebbles near the end of the trail; we don’t advise doing this trail during heavy rain or immediately after a rainy day, as it can change into a small waterway!