Cathedral Grove - MacMillan Provincial Park

Route: Cathedral Grove, MacMillan Provincial Park

Area: Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada

Date of walk: 18th August 2025

Walkers: Andrew and Gilly

Distance: 1.0 mile

Ascent: nil

Weather: mixed sun and clould

After 3 nights in Ucluelet on the west coast of the island it was time to move on to our next base, Powell River which is on the mainland of Canada. This involved a car journey to the ferry at Comox, and along the highway to Comex we’d have chance to visit Cathedral Grove in MacMillan Provincial Park

Cathedral Grove is one of the most accessible stands of giant Douglas fir trees on Vancouver Island. Some of the trees are over 800 years old and they provided indigenous people including the K’ómoks, Tseshaht, and Te’mexw with raw materials to support their shelter, transportation, clothing, and tools

There are two short walks in Cathedral Grove on either side of the road which runs through it. Parking here can be a problem as this is a very popular place and the only spaces are along the roadside. The oldest and largest trees in the park are on the south side of the highway. We managed to find a space and set off along the obvious path, where a one way system ensures that visitors don’t bump into each other as they gaze up into the towering tree canopies above. We completed both circuits in about 45 minutes as we were nervous about missing our ferry. Ideally, the walk needs 1.5 hours or so to do it justice and I wish we’d had more time as this is an awesome place, despite the crowds

I’ve not included the usual route map as the walk is very short and is well waymarked. Click on the icon below icon for a map showing the location of Cathedral Grove

Scroll down – or click on any photo to enlarge it and you can then view as a slideshow

Cathedral Grove, a short and simple walk where signs point the obvious way around and no guidance is needed. The ancient trees speak for themselves...