Mount Benson, Vancouver Island
Mount Benson is Nanaimo's mountain. It is the pinnacle of hiking in Nanaimo, being about a kilometre high and offering a view of most of central Vancouver Island. Duncan is visible to the south on a clear day, Vancouver and Mt. Baker to the east, Texada Island and Hornby Island to the north, and a vast wilderness to the west.
- Great Mt Benson Trail Map by NALT.
- Hiking Mount Benson discussion
- A Mount Benson lookout
- Mt Benson plane wreck
Hiking Mount Benson, Nanaimo
Hiking Mount Benson is no small task, even if there is little rock climbing and almost no permanent snow (hiking Mt Benson on a sunny day in the winter is very rewarding, however). There are at least two major routes up the mountain. (You might benefit from my very crude MS Paint map of the north- and east-foothills approaching the mountain.
The North Climb - From Westwood Lake
Starting at the west end of Westwood Lake, cross the power lines and find a major trail leading into the forest. The path is usually well marked, but please take caution.
The first third is a steep forest trail, with sections so inclined as to have been installed with ropes for easy climbing when it's wet. There is a fantastic lookout with a view of Central to Northern Nanaimo and the Strait, followed by a fun and easy (also optional) climb up a small cliff with the aid of a stout rope. The second third of this Mount Benson hike is a gentler but monotonous logging road with loose rock, and the last third is more of the steep terrain. This last section is very beautiful - approaching the top of Mount Benson, the hiker passes beneath old growth forest with less undergrowth, and one final amazing view to the north-east before breaking out onto the alpine peak of Mount Benson, where the trees are of the stunted, horizontal variety.
The Eastern Climb - From Morrell Sanctuary
With all of the logging on the north side of Mt Benson, some hikers have sought the old, alternative routes up the mountain. If you approach from the east, you can avoid some of the clearcuts, though you'll still encounter big roads.
Beginning at the Morrell Sanctuary Trailhead, climb steadily into the forest for about forty minutes and you'll arrive at a fork, where the right path leads upward. Avoid this trickery unless you want to climb Westwood Ridge as a little warmup before ascending the kilometre-high Mt Benson. Take the left path, and you'll soon come to a meeting of four trails. The first to your right passes back under the south face of Westwood Ridge and continues west. But it's the second trail on the right that you want for this Mount Benson hike, though.
You'll cross a small stream before a steep climb up to a road, on which you should turn right. (You'll quickly pass the trail to Roberts Roost on your left.) Continue up the road and stay to the left on the logging roads until you find a small quarry flooded with colourful water. Directly west of this quarry is an old, barely visible stump-choked road that runs south above the main road, before quickly turning uphill. From here, you will climb for an hour or so, then come upon the big road that runs up the south face of Mt Benson. This road is not as pretty a way to the summit as the last leg of the northern approach, but there is a fabulous view of Wolf Mountain to the south, about twenty minutes from the summit.
Witchcraft Lake Trail
An alternative northern approach involves starting from Witchcraft Lake (turn up Kilpatrick Road on Jingle Pot). This is shorter but steeper, and meets the main trail halfway up. I would love to offer more information; please contact me if you can offer any!