Channel Ridge South Trail

The Channel Ridge Trails are a network of hiking and mountain biking trails on Salt Spring Island. The southern portion offers a beautiful forested walk with a slightly overgrown view of St. Mary Lake.

From the trailhead on Merganser Place, walk past the metal gate and follow the dirt road into the forest. When the route reaches a sign with trails to the left, this is where you will need to ensure you follow the correct trail. Going straight looks like a trail but it is NOT a trail. The next trail to the left is the one you need to take. The further left one is the one you will return on. So, take the trail in the middle.

Following the trail at the junction that's in the middle of the others, it continues uphill briefly to a water tower building, at which point the dirt road ends and becomes more of a trail. Follow the trail into the forest as it passes through lush west coast rainforest foliage, cedar trees, and Douglas fir trees.

The trail reaches a bench with a viewpoint of St. Mary Lake to the right but the viewpoint is significantly overgrown. Continue to follow the trail as it gradually climbs up a rocky path. A short distance further, a small trail goes off to the right where a slightly better viewpoint of St. Mary Lake can be seen from above.

Return to the trail and follow it uphill where it will reach another trail. Go left at this trail and the loop back to where you began. When the trail reaches a junction by a wooden bench, go left at the junction. Continue to follow the trail downhill and go straight through a 4-way junction. The route will eventually return to the first junction where with the dirt road where you began your loop earlier. Go right and follow the dirt road back to the metal gate along Merganser Place.