Outing #1 - Heart Lake Trail

October 30, 2022

Ladysmith, BC

8.58 km / 400 m elevation gain / 1 hour, 58 minutes

Cloudy day - approx 12 degrees.

Starting from near the Frank Jameson Community Centre, this trail takes you along city streets, onto the Holland Creek Trail, before veering onto the Heart Lake Trail.  The trail offers two viewpoints, 3/4 of the way to the top, you have an exposed rock

Viewpoint Looking East

slope that presents view of Ladysmith, the Harbour and looking out towards Thetis Island.  The second viewpoint is on a low cliff looking over Heart Lake.

There are two steep sections to this trail overall.  First (approx 20 metre elevation gain) is after crossing the bridge over Holland Creek, to get up to the forest service road.  Second (approx. 250 metre elevation gain over) is coming off of the forest service road and ascending to Heart Lake.  

Heart Lake

The first 1/2 of the trail (community centre to turn off onto Heart Lake trail) is either a wide urban trail or forest service road, overall an easy “blue” trail.  The remaining trail up to Heart Lake is single to double “black” diamond trail with varied terrain, over rocks, roots and up steep slopes.