1 | Vancouver Island Nature Viewing Region | ||
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2 | Comox Valley Area | ||
3 | Tsolum Spirit Regional Park, Dove Creek | ||
4 | |||
5 | Yellow-rumped Warbler: Bill Heybroek drawing | Old rail grade in Tsolum Spirit Park: Krista Kaptein photo | Pacific Wren: Terry Thormin photo |
6 | Spherical Panorama | ||
7 | Photo Gallery | ||
8 | At Tsolum Spirit Regional Park, one can take a stroll along the historic Comox Logging Railway grade to a pleasant picnic area and swimming hole on the Tsolum River. A straight path leads through a mixed forest of Douglas-fir, red alder, bigleaf maple and black cottonwood. Old stumps from logging days, now sprouting new growth, are easy to spot in the woods. Listen for Pacific Wrens, the high-pitched peeping of kinglets, and the occasional croak of a tree frog. At the riverside picnic area there are some nice Pacific yew trees and good views of the confluence of Dove Creek and the Tsolum River. Steep gravelly-clay banks descend to the water on the other side. In the fall, salmon carcasses may be seen washed up in the boulders along the river’s edge. In the spring, look for pink and white fawn lilies and western trilliums. The 2.7 ha. park is situated on Tsolum River Road and may be used for walking, biking or horseback riding. On this easy, level trail, nature can be enjoyed year-round. | ||
9 | Comox Valley Naturalists Society | ||
10 | Site Map | ||
11 | Geographical Description | Former logging railway right-of-way grade on east side of Tsolum River at confluence of Dove Creek, across the river from northern end of One Spot Trail. | |
12 | Area/ Trail Length | 2.7 ha. wooded area along Tsolum River; longest trail 500 m. Wide flat trail to river overlook, sloping trail down to river. | |
13 | Habitat | Riparian 2nd growth forest. | |
14 | Highlights | Yew trees, river confluence & floodplain. | |
15 | Best Season | Spring for flowers; autumn for spawning salmon; year-round for woods. | |
16 | Main Access | Parking area on Tsolum River Rd. 3.3 km. west from junction with Headquarters Rd. | |
20 | Secondary Accesses | Pedestrian-only access 160 m. south of parking access. | |
21 | Cautions | Trails can be wet in winter & flood occasionally; trails may be unsafe during strong winds. | |
22 | Jurisdiction | Comox Valley Regional District Park (Area C) | |
23 | Birds | Pacific Wren, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Dark-eyed Junco, Common Raven, American Robin. | |
25 | Mammals | Red squirrel, possible Black Bear, possible Cougar. | |
26 | Reptiles | ||
27 | Amphibians | Western Toad, Pacific Treefrog. | |
28 | Fish | Cutthroat Trout; recovering Pink, Chum, and Coho Salmon stocks. | |
29 | Insects | Ground beetle. | |
30 | Other Species | Banana slug. | |
31 | Trees | Red alder, bigleaf maple, black cottonwood, Pacific yew, Douglas-fir, grand fir, western hemlock. | |
32 | Shrubs | Red huckleberry, salal, salmonberry, Oregon grape, Nootka rose, snowberry. | |
33 | Flowering Plants | Pink fawn lily, white fawn lily, trillium. | |
34 | Ferns, Lichens, Mosses | Sword fern, bracken fern. Ragbag lichen (Platismatia sp.), beard lichen (Usnea sp.) | |
35 | Other Species | ||
36 | Invasive/ Non- native species | ||
38 | Mushrooms | ||
39 | Geology | ||
40 | Regulations | Share trail with bikes & horses; no motorized vehicles, no camping, no fires, no parking 11 p.m - 5 a.m. Dogs allowed off-leash. No fishing. | |
41 | Facilities | Parking area, bench, picnic tables, pit toilet, Interpretive sign. | |
42 | Other Features | Bridge over Spirit Creek which flows into the Tsolum. | |
43 | Other Connections | One Spot Trail continues north from the parking lot, for 4.5 km , as far as Spike Road. Potential for future bridge across Tsolum River to link with One Spot Trail to the south. | |
44 | History | The park was severed from an adjoining property and sold to the CVRD in 1991. The park includes a portion of the Comox Logging Railway grade. | |
45 | FMI | Comox Valley Regional District Parks | |
46 | Important Bird & Biodiversity Areas | ||
47 | Tsolum River Restoration Society | ||
48 | Tsolum River Tributaries Map | ||
49 | Island Nature:Tsolum Spirit Regional Park | ||
50 | Fish Species in the Courtenay River Estuary and Baynes Sound 2001 pdf | ||
51 | eBird Hotspot | ||
52 | © 2011-2023 Comox Valley Naturalists Society |