Time: 4-5 hours
Length: 6km approx.
Difficulty: Medium. High exertion for a short period of time. Easy scramble to summit with no exposure.
Rating: 7/10
Overview: A short, steep climb takes you quickly to one of highest points in the lower half of Vancouver Island. Stunning views, interesting trail (hands on!) and you can make it a round trip. Definitely worth doing (if you want a much easier alternative to Arrowsmith itself)
Having driven out twice to the West coast of Vancouver Island to go surfing on Long Beach, I was aware there was a nice looking massif of mountains lurking outside Port Alberni, seemingly standing on their own. Further investigation established this was Mt Arrowsmith and Cokely. So during a wonderful week long holiday on the island visiting my girlfriend’s parents, we decided Justine (awesome girlfriend), Katie ( awesome friend) and Justine’s father Malcolm would head up Cokely via the Cokely saddle route. Probably the easiest route on the pair of mountains.
The trail head is interestingly located down a network of logging roads, I won’t attempt to describe it here, but basically if you can find the start to the Judges route up Arrowsmith, you just want to continue straight up the same road past the start to Judges, for another 10/15 mins or so. As the summit of the road comes in to view, you are looking for a hairpin bend over a good sized stream, that has clear views up the stream-valley to the obvious saddle between Cokely and Arrowsmith. Watch for logging trucks, this is an active area.
The hike starts an a wide trail bordering the stream. And starts climbing straight away. On crossing the stream, leave the road immediately and follow the orange flagging tape along a small trail to your right. This trail climbs steeply through thickening trees, and at time you will be using hands to ascend the steeper sections, there is even an old rope to help on one rocky section that would be a little tricky when wet. Quickly, the trees start to break and alpine flowers abound (at the right time of year, beginning of July was good for us, but I believe that’s a little later than normal). From here you can see the final steep open slope to the saddle. There remains snow on this section to mid-July, so an ice-axe maybe handy in anything earlier than mid-june. We were able to skirt the edge. Once on the saddle, there are fantastic views towards in both directions. The ridge one way leads to Arrrowsmith, but the summit remains inaccessible to the normal hiker. A dangerous, exposed scramble over ‘the nose’ is necessary to reach it. But heading this direction is still worth while as there are long sections of superb ridge walking.
If you turn left on reaching the saddle, an easy non-exposed scramble takes you to the top of the Cokely ridge. Hands are necessary in a few sections, but it’s very manageable. Once on the ridge, the true summit of Cokely is visible over to your right…an enjoyable ridge walk away. With just 2 more very short, easy scrambling sections. Again, no exposure. Nice views out over the Georgia Strait await, as long as you’re looking away from the strange, rocket like weather station thingy that’s at the top.
From here, you can return the way you came (obviously) or back track to where you first attained the Cokely ridge, and then actually continue down this rocky ridge in the direction of your car. I think the descent this way may take longer, but it’s nice not to repeat your way in, and the ridge is pleasant, varied walking for a while, until you drop off to the left. Take care to follow the faint path and the obvious orange flagging tape, I’m not sure it’s possible to descend all the way down the ridge. The trail heads off into the trees down a steep gully. Take some care here as it is possible to kick rocks on the other members of your party. You are soon in the trees, where an obstacle course of steep ground and fallen trees makes for somewhat slow going. Eventually you join a 4WD track that soon brings you out on the logging road, 5mins walk above your car.
A better description to the trailhead, with details of the logging roads can be found here.
