Rumour has it that
the Great Sea Serpent of Crescent Lake known as CRESSIE has a
secret location where she lays her eggs about every 100 years and
that there is a Secret Treasure hidden near that same location. An
abandoned mine shaft that flooded is said to be the home of the
mysterious monster, the shaft flooded when the miners broke through
underneath the lake. The copper mine operated from 1879-1881 and
again from 1924-1926, the shaft entrance was sealed with a concrete
slab at that time. Cressie can enter the mine shaft from the lake
bottom to reach her nest inside the sealed shaft. Find this
location and possibly you could find the hidden treasure and maybe
even spot Cressie. This 7-9 km wilderness trail (depending on your
route) meanders around scenic Crescent Lake. It includes hard pack
trails, numerous boardwalk systems, multiple picnic areas, rest
stops, restrooms, and a long steep stair system to the top of the
hill and the gazebo/lookouts. About 1 kilometre in you have two
choices on different routes to take, both will take you to the
George Baker bridge, going left will take you along the lakes water
front, by cressies castle and to the bridge. The straight through
trail will take you to a small lookout over sandy bottom and along
the sealed mineshaft from the 1880’s and 1920’s. As you
walk this trail, learn about the logging and mining history of the
area and observe the many species of birds. Atop Hazelnut Hill you
will get a magnificent view of Robert's Arm and its surroundings.
Keep a look out; you may even spot "Cressie" the monster of
Crescent Lake. There are 3 lookout areas on top of the hill looking
in 3 different directions. After viewing Roberts Arm from the
hilltop, head back down halfway and turn left to go down to Long
Pond Bridge and on to Tommy’s Arm river bridge crossing. You
will emerge onto and old gravel logging road that will take you
back to town and eventually back to your parking
spot.
