Tow Hill Hiking Trail, Naikoon Provincial Park,
Haida Gwaii, (Queen Charlotte Islands), British Columbia, Canada

Tow Hill Hiking Trail, Naikoon Provincial Park:

The hike starts with a short walk through rainforest on a well maintained earth and boardwalk path following alongside the shores of the Hiellen River.

The Tow Hill Hiking Trail is a short 15-30 minute trek (approx. 1 km - .6 mi. one way) through coastal forests comprised of ferns, deadfall and salal all the way to the summit of Tow Hill. The trail starts out from the parking lot where there is some pit toilets and a small picnic area.

The hard packed earth trail changes quickly to boardwalk a few hundred metres into the hike. Soon, about half way, the trail splits. There is a sign pointing left to the top of Tow Hill and right to the coast and the Blow Hole. Yes, this is the same trail as the Blow Hole Trail.

The Tow Hill Hiking Trail leads to the top of Tow Hill where the views go for miles. The coastline cliffs, open ocean, rocky shoreline below and the sound of the waves crashing the coast... all great. And on a clear day one can see Alaska.

Tow Hill is a result of molten lava erupting out from small cracks in the earth about 2 million years ago. Once the lava reached the surface it cooled quickly and formed rock columns referred to as basalt. Then, 15 thousand years ago the ice age came covering the area.

After being frozen for many years the ice began retreating north, 'sand papering' the north face of Tow Hill in the process leaving behind a vertical north face. Since then the west coast storms have been battering away at Tow Hill causing further erosion.

How to Get to the Tow Hill Hiking Trail:

Drive north on Hwy 16 from Skidegate BC Ferry towards Masset Village. Continue driving north-east of Masset Village on the main hwy over the Sangan River into the Tow Hill Ecological Reserve area of the Naikoon Provincial Park. The paved road turns to gravel (Tow Hill Road). Continue straight ahead (30 min.) past Agate Beach Campground sign to the Tow Hill Parking Lot, right before the Hiellen River bridge, on the left hand side . Park here and start walking.