Directions to the Walbran Valley

How to get to the Walbran Valley. be prepared this is a remote wilderness area, always drive with a usable spare tyre.

From Victoria. take Trans-Canada Highway past Duncan, past the Somenos Marsh Conservation Centre, past the BC Forest Museum. turning left going west to Cowichan Lake onto the Cowichan Valley Highway
*Drive 26 km to the town of Lake Cowichan, going left at the "Cowichan Lake" sign
* Set odometer to zero at Cowichan Lake. This is the last fuelling stop.
* Go straight through Cowichan Lake, past Mesachie Lake and Honeymoon Bay.
* At 13 km go left at the fork onto Walton Road and go past the Caycuse campsite
*At 31.9 km sign indicates Carmannah/Walbran Provincial Park to the right. BUT GO LEFT HERE, instead onto the Caycuse Mainline.
* At 40.2 km stay straight and stay off spur roads
*At 42 km go left at Blue spray-painted "W" at fork in road
* At 50 km stay left ( Do not cross bridge)
* At 55 km pass Mclure Lake
* At 58.9 km you reach the "Ballpark" and go left onto Walbran Main (Do not go up the hill to the right)
* At 62.4 km stay right ( Do not go up the hill)
* At 64.2 km reach Walbran 1100. Go STRAIGHT!
* At 71.1 km Turn right at pink ribbons down to Walbran Creek*
* At 74.4 km take another right at flagging
* At 76.1 km Arrive at the bridge over Walbran creek.

  It is suggested that you read; The British Columbia Governments guide for safe travel on logging roads.

Images from the reunion 24th july 2011

 Thanks to Jason Miller for passing on some photos he took of the forest during the reunion, they show how we had such great weather. first picture he titled 'Summer light in the Rainforest'. Click on the image to enlarge.

 Second photo is of the slow growing Pacific Yew. 

Third picture is of one of many giant Red Cedars outside the park boundry in the still unprotected area called 'Castle Grove'.

Fourth picture is taken at the waterfalls just above where the West Walbran meets the Walbran Creek. titled 'Falls spherical cavity'.

Fifth picture of a notice of new species research in the canopy of the rainforest.

Sixth picture is of 'fellar buncher' on the road out of the valley, clear-cut logging continues right up to the park boundry.

Cantilever blockade, August 1991. With the donated van with a log over a cliff with a platform and a protester hanging from the end. The story goes that when the loggers first saw this, they went back to their vehicles and came back holding three cards with 10-10-10 written on them, similar to how judges score in gymnastics events. Thanks to Brent for the photo.

Poster from 1993 trying to get people involved in the forest blockades. Thanks to max

Frog.
A tiny bright green frog
ringed by a collar of
golden light, sits peacefully
on the forest floor, ferns
move slightly in the soft
current of air, succulent
plumes shimmer, silver
droplets sprinkle down.
The frog lands on the ferns
delicate surface, stem bends
acting as a tense spring-board
for the frogs next mighty
leap.

Poem by Max Sloan, written in the Walbran Valley August 91. Photo of a Pacific Tree Frog.Thanks Max, wishing you could of made the Reunion.

Trail Building Crew in the Walbran, Spring 1992.
Can recognize a few faces and the faithful blue van. Thanks to Brett for the photo.

August 1991, lots of police with hefty video cameras, it would be great to get some of the footage. We made a 'Freedom of Information Request' about a year ago for all the RCMP evidence for the three summers in the valley, havent heard anything back yet. thanks to Brett for the picture