The Horne Lake Trail on Vancouver Island is a little known and moderately challenging hike. It offers breathtaking views from the top of the Beaufort Mountains of Horne Lake to the northeast, and the City of Port Alberni to the southwest. Our family recently took on this hike, as part of our planned preparation for the West Coast Trail this summer and had an incredible experience.
The hike started in the Cherry Creek area of Port Alberni, which is a small community surrounded by forests and mountains. We started early in the morning, fully prepared with plenty of water (or so we thought) and lunch packed with the plan of a picknick on the shores of Horne Lake. The first section of the hike was a steady climb over the Beaufort Mountains along the power lines, which offered stunning views of the valley below.
At the top we reached our first milestone – Lacy Lake. Lacy Lake is a 13.4 hectare lake, which acts as the water supply for the Cherry Creek Waterworks District. It was a great place to stop for a short rest. We ran into a group of ATVers at the lake, who were very impressed that the kids had hiked all the way up from the valley below. Little did they know, the kids we only about a quarter of the way through their days hiking.
From here we continued along the powerlines through the plateau. Then began the descent. Partway down we got our first stunning glimpsed of the crystal-clear water of Horne Lake, surrounded by towering cliffs and forests.
The trail, which is actually a series of interconnecting logging roads and power lines, brought us to the campsites at Horne Lake Regional Park. It was a beautifully sunny day, and we enjoyed a picnic lakeside. After taking in the beauty of Horne Lake, we began the return journey back to Cherry Creek.
This hike can be described as uphill both ways! The return journey was just as challenging as the first leg, with steep inclines and rugged terrain. However, we were all determined to complete the hike and made our way back safely and on time. Despite bringing 6 liters of water, the first hot day of spring and relentless uphill sections, saw us drink the last bottle dry about 45 minutes before we arrived back at the trailhead. After over five hours of “moving time”, we arrived back in Cherry Creek, exhausted but exhilarated.
It was an incredible and rewarding experience hiking the Horne Lake Trail as a family. In total we traveled 16.74 km and gained 805m of elevation. We highly recommend this hike to anyone who is looking for a challenge and wants to experience the natural beauty of Vancouver Island. It’s a challenging hike, but the rewards are worth it.
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