Easy hikes and walks around Area B (Discovery Islands/Mainland Inlets)

The Mud Lake Trailhead starts right off the roadside pull-off, with a simple, unmarked entrance leading straight into the forest. There’s no formal signage or built-up trailhead, so it can feel easy to miss at first. Once you step onto the path, you’re immediately on a narrow forest trail that heads toward the lake without much buildup.

Mud Lake is a small, quiet lake tucked into the forest at the end of a short walk. When you reach it, the shoreline feels still and slightly enclosed, with trees right up to the water and limited open views. You have a better and closer view of the lake from Walkan Road. Here, it's more of a peaceful spot to pause and take in the sourroundings. You’ll often have it to yourself.

The Mud Lake Trail is a short, easy route that leads through quiet forest to a small, secluded lake. The path is straightforward and mostly follows a single route, taking you through trees and along wet, low-lying ground before reaching the lake after about ten minutes. If you'd like to extend your hike, the trail connects with several other trails such as the Tripod Trail and Ridge Trail.

There’s a small roadside pull-off marking the start of the Mud Lake Trail, with limited space for a few vehicles. It’s easy to miss if you’re not looking for it, as there’s no large car park or formal entrance. Once parked, the trail begins right off the road and quickly heads into the forest toward the lake, so you’re on the path almost immediately.

Big Bay is a sheltered inlet on the west side of Stuart Island, and is a calm pocket of water in an area surrounded by powerful tidal currents and nearby rapids. Its protected waters make it a reliable anchorage and landing spot for boaters navigating the Discovery Islands. The bay is beautiful, and the surrounding forested shoreline and a handful of small community buildings, create a peaceful, secluded coastal atmosphere.

This beautiful forest-lined trail runs from the public dock at Big Bay north to Eagle Lake (and onward toward Basset Cove), and is a peaceful, relatively easy hike through coastal woodland. Along the way, you’ll likely see plenty of bald eagles and other wildlife, and Eagle Lake itself includes a small swimming float, a nice bonus if you want to cool off on a warm day. Because the island is mostly privately owned and access is limited, this public-access trail is one of the few ways for visitors to explore the island’s natural shoreline and forested interior.

Stuart Island, in the Discovery Islands at the mouth of Bute Inlet, is mostly privately owned and has no public ferry service. Access is typically by float plane, helicopter, or boat (some guests use water taxi services from places like Campbell River on Vancouver Island). Once here, the recreation area offers a rustic, natural setting for kayaking, boating, wildlife watching, and hiking through forest and coastal terrain. Because infrastructure is minimal and much of the island is private, visiting the recreation site requires some planning: bring your own supplies, check access methods, and respect private property signage while visiting this mostly untouched, beautiful area.

The Surge Narrows Trail accesses Surge Narrows Provincial Park. Surge Narrows gets its name from the small channel between islands off Quadra Island. The park is 488 hectares, and most of the area is accessible by boat only.