A fairly easy hike up the back side of Mount Erskine reveals a panoramic view of Sansum Narrows, Vancouver Island, Mount Arrowsmith, Chemainus and Nanaimo, and east across Trincomali Channel to Galiano Island and the Lower Mainland.
There are three main trails to the summit of the mountain. The first two are the most well known. Salt Spring’s version of the Grouse Grind starts at Collin’s Road. Alternately there’s a somewhat less interesting route from Toynbee Road (near Mount Maxwell). The third way starts at a higher elevation and is the ‘easy’ way to the top.
Access this route via Juniper Place. Turn right on Trustee Trail and continue to the large cul de sac. There’s lots of room to park here. The hike to the top of Mount Erskine takes about 35 to 40 minutes when done at a leisurely pace. There’s a trailhead post at the side of the road. A short way down the trail you leave private land and enter Mount Erskine Provincial Park. This is Dodds Trail.
About 8 minutes along Dodds Trail you’ll come to an unmarked intersection. Turn left and uphill here. You’re on Lassies Trail. (GPS +48° 51′ 11.12″, -123° 32′ 50.84″)
A pretty walk with some long gentle switchbacks.
About half an hour from the bottom you will come to another unmarked intersection. Both forks are the Mount Erskine Trail. The left fork goes to Toynbee Road (a very long way from your car). Take the right fork (north) about 5 minutes to the summit. (GPS +48° 50′ 49.81″, -123° 32′ 45.22″)
Mt. Erskine Summit looking North
You don’t really want to go back down the same trail, do you? OK. So, from the summit, continue north down the aggregate rock. Keep an eye out for a fork in the trail; take the right fork into the Douglas Fir forest. In a minute or two you’ll see this fairy door on the right side of the trail:
You’ve noticed this trail is much steeper. About 15 minutes from the top you’ve decended as far as you need to, and be sure to look for a ‘T” junction. Take the lesser travelled path to the right. (Cameron, the Westie, is pointing the way. OK, not literally. And don’t expect to see him there…). If you go left you’ll end up at Collins Road, again a long way from your car.
In a minute you’ll pass the Lassies Trail on the right, you took this trail up to the summit. Unless you want to go up again, continue straight, about 8 minutes to your car.
That’s the kind of trail I’d love to have a go at! Beautiful shots!
The Westie of course is adorable!
It’s a good exercise walk if you have an hour. Just on the edge of Ganges.
Thanks for the hike – I enjoyed it! Too bad you can’t include the lovely forest scents. Yet.
Ah yes, particularly this time of year. Fresh!
We live in Peachland in the Okanagan and are bringing our daughters ( 7 & 9 ) to Salt Spring on the May Long Weekend. Really want to take them on the FAIRY DOORS TRAIL(s).
I have been researching them so much and not finding many great details. Yours has the best details for PARKING AVAILABILITY and TRAIL INSTRUCTIONS to follow.
Most talk about the doors, but don’t offer great instructions nor detailed optional routes, parking etc. as yours does; however, is there an opportunity to see a few or many Fairy Doors going from the TRUSTEE CUL DE SAC as you only have the one pictured/mentioned here. Or, do we have to take a different route to see more of the Fairy Doors ?
From all that I have researched, I like the idea of following your instructions from TRUSTEE TRAIL CUL-DE-SAC. We are fitting the hike in in the morning before we catch the ferry in the afternoon, so time-wise to see some doors and have a chance at making it to the top for the views, this seems like the best option. Not to mention, I’m thinking it’s possibly an easier trail than the others.
Looking forward to any reply you may have. Thanking You in advance for all your time and effort
Sincerely,
Lance B
I can think of three doors on the down part of the loop as described above—two close to the top: the one on the right pictured above and one nearby on the left. And there’s one close to the bottom; it’s on the right on the edge of the trail.
The thing about the door is the fairy home builders come and go. They’re not part of an organized group. And some of the home owners seem to have fallen on hard times and have let the maintenance go…
The other thing about the fairy doors is that the fairies don’t want to be found. You’ll need to do some exploring.
I’ve heard they like small shiny things, so some of those in a pocket might be a good idea.
(If you have the time you might explore near the summit. I seem to recall at least one on the trail closest to the cliff edge. In the instructions above you take the right fork below the aggregate rock at the summit. Another route stays closer to the edge (***caution**) and I seem to remember one along there not too far from the summit. You might do an explore on that trail, then return back to up to the summit area and take the described route down.
One more thing, there are no signs along the trails…you may want to allow 2-3 hours for a good explore.
Hope you get some good weather!