I spent a couple nights in Campbell River after Brooks Peninsula to reset and prepare for the Tachu Trail. I am really lucky to be able to do these two hikes back to back. After seeing the Tachu Trail from above on the flight to Brooks, I was really looking forward to exploring this strip of coastline.
Day One: Rugged Point to Second Beach
We left Fair Harbor at midday, pick up with Voyager water taxi. We had a beautiful boat ride out to Rugged Point on calm waters. There was lots of activity at rugged point with kayakers and fish camps.
We crossed the 2km headland to the first beautiful expansive beach. Not long after we decided to make camp at the North end of the beach after another 2km. Views included a nice headland and a sheltered area behind camp in a little lagoon. First night we arranged potluck and many goodies were brought. Chicken smokies from Nesvog’s Butcher were filled with cheese that was deliciously oozing once warmed on the fire. We also enjoyed homemade condiments, spinach, buns and vegetable sticks. Even had guacamole as an appetizer, excellent. Views to the sunset weren’t great on our end of the beach. It was an easy walk to catch the rays of the last setting sun and we all enjoyed the twilight. A mediocre sunset, no dramatic clouds, but a clear drop over the sea. Slept excellent.
Day Two: Second Beach to Tachu Creek
We had an early start for our second day of the trip. We travelled nearly 12km south along the coast over many headlands, rocky points, and overall interesting terrain. Last part of the hike was on small gravel, not fun to walk on. WE had a couple river crossings along the way, but we finally reached Tachu Creek and made camp. We setup on a little outcropping full of very large stumps, presumably at one time this would have been a forested headland that had now eroded away over time. Had a nice swim in the river and a relaxing night.
Day Three: Tachu Creek to Yellow Bluff
Early start again to head for Yellow Bluff for an out and back from our base camp. Woke to fog but it was quickly burnt off. Crossing Tatchu Creek we head south along the coast. Easy going except for the expansive gravel beaches. Sandstone Point was quite exceptional and marks a break in the expected coastline with a massive sandstone shelf. Wind erosion similar to that seen in the Gulf Islands, an osteoporosis of the rock. We rounded sandstone point and were out on its massive shelf above the crashing waves below. Finding the surge channel a bit slippery, we pushed up into the headland to follow a bear trail along the cliff line. Some dicey spots along this route as the trail seems to want to fall off the cliffside. More rock flats, tidal pools, petrified wood, fossils, and gravel beaches to cross before Yellow Bluff.
At Yellow Bluff we could not find a way onto the point. Cliffs rise up from the beach and a small lagoon blocks passage too the lowlands. We tried to fjord but the water was deeper than we were willing to commit to. Lunch on the beach and then the whole thing in reverse for a total of just under 14km.
Day four
Walked from Tatchu Creek back to Sandpiper Creek, just over 12km at a leisurely pace. We contacted the water taxi to see if an early pick up might be possible, giving up one additional day on the trail. Fortunately, the water taxi was flexible and we arranged pickup the following day from Rugged Point. Lovely walks on the beach and sunset before tucking in for the night.
Trip Video
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