Hike this undulating coastal trail built in typical West Coast style. Winding along the shoulder of Maple Mountain, an old logging road gives way to a footpath, following the land, bridging creeks with fallen logs and zigzagging between the trees. The forest slowly gives way to the bluffs of Sansum Narrows. Cowichan legend has it that a ferocious sea monster called “Shuh-shu-cum" used to lie in wait in the narrows and suck down canoes until a legendary warrior named “Sum-al-quatz” hurled a stone that hit the monster's snout. He could no longer suck down canoes, but he still lives in the deep waters and whenever you see swirls in the narrows you know that he is nearby.
All the Island Spirit Legacy Caches are within a 2 steps of the trail, unless otherwise noted. There is no need to bushwack or trample the vegetation.
Sculpin
Many species of Sculpin can be found in the tidepools around Vancouver Island. With a little patience and quiet observation a visitor to the tidepools can see many of them flitting in and out of the vegetation. A small fish, they are generally under 10 cm in length. They will feed off the bottom and can be quick to come out of hiding for the scraps of food that the shorebirds miss. Colouration varies quite a bit between the species and even amongst those of the same species. But no matter which species, the colouration is excellent for helping them to stay hidden among the rocks and weeds.