Hiking to Century Sam Lake

Wow.  Just wow.  Have you been here yet?



Check out my trip report on The Outbound Collective for all of the deets!

Added by Sarah Seads

Century Sam Lake

The next time you have the opportunity, I recommend you pay Century Sam Lake a visit. This short day hike complete with a spectacular emerald green lake, towering rock cliffs and summer snow caves make this a 'must do' for mid Island adventurers.

This day hike is a well kept secret – and often well kept behind a locked gate. Access to Century Sam is at the end of a private road owned and secured by Timberwest Forest Co. Access to the road is limited to a few weekends during hunting season (October) and Comox District Mountaineering Club trips who have permissions to access the road on set dates throughout the year. If you are lucky enough to time it right, you can gain access to three trails at the end of the Comox Logging Road: Alone Mountain Trail, Century Sam and the Comox Glacier route itself.

To access the trail head of both Century Sam and the Comox Glacier route, follow the Comox lake Main, then Cruickshank Main, about 17.5km to the junction with South Main. Head left on South Main for approximately 7kms, then keep right for approximately 2kms until you reach Datsio Creek. Park here unless you are driving a 4 by 4 vehicle with high clearance as there are cross ditches beyond this point and very few places to turn around (if any). From here, take the right fork for approximately 2kms to reach the trail head on your left.

A few metres into the hike, there is a fun log crossing and then the trail splits shortly after. Take the right fork to Century Sam (or left if you were heading up to the Glacier). The trail is beautiful in it's own right, taking hikers on a tour through massive moss covered boulder fields, big timber and multiple rock slides. The trail works it's way steadily upwards covering 400m of elevation over approximately 5kms and follows Comox Creek to the outflow of Century Sam Lake. Most hikers can expect the trip up to the lake to take between 1.5 and 2.5 hours.

Read the trip report over on The Outbound Collective...

Happy Trails,
SS