Roberts Roost
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One of Nanaimo's best-kept secrets for hikes, Roberts Roost is a big lump rising out of Mt Benson's oceanside slope. The Roost is a southern appendage to the Westwood Ridge trail system, separated from them only by a small clearcut valley.
The Roost is 40 meters higher than any of the Westwood Ridges, and features beautiful views in all directions. The south/eastern views reveal everything from Newcastle Island to Ladysmith; the north/western viewpoint looks at Westwood Ridge and beyond to Texada Island, as well as west to the climbing slopes of Mt Benson and Wolf Mountain.
Roberts Roost seems to be within the territory of the Department of National Defense, and certainly there are signs surrounding it, warning against intrusion, probably because the firing range is (far) beneath the Roost.
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Some written directions
To get to the Roost, start at the Morrell Sanctuary trailhead. After you cross the initial streambed after the powerlines, be sure to take the middle (most prominent) trail. Follow this trail up through beautiful second-growth forest for 30-45 minutes. You will follow a stream for the last part of this first leg.
Eventually you'll come to a fork where the trail joins a small, gravel road. This road leads up to the right, and down to the left. Go down to the left (turning right leads to Westwood Ridge), and after about 25 meters you'll come to a meeting of four trails. Take the middle trail for Roberts Roost. You'll know it's the proper trail if you cross a creekbed (usually with a creek in it) after a few meters.
Then a short, steep hike climbs up to a road. Turn right onto this road. Almost immediately, you'll see the trail to Roberts Roost on your left, a small trail leading up the bank beside the road. You'll know you're on the right trail if you encounter a pair of ropes that help with climbing a small bluff, about 2 minutes up the trail.
After the ropes, the trail will take you to the left and down a bit, into a sort of depression with lots of ferns. Stay to the right and you'll be right under the imposing edifice of Roberts Roost's eastern cliff, and hiking steadily upward (and southward). After a strenuous trek of about 15 minutes, behold!
