Level of Difficulty: intermediate to advanced
Estimated Time: 2.5 hours/21 km
Access: Follow Highway 101, 13 km west of Sechelt and turn right at Trout Lake road. Trout Lake Road becomes the Halfmoon Bay Forest Service Rd. Proceed up the main branch for 6 to 12 km. You may begin at either location since the route follows the HBFSR main branch for this 7 km stretch. For safety reasons please ensure that your vehicle is completely off the road. The HBFSR has been deactivated to “easy” four-wheel drive: it should not be attempted in a conventional vehicle.
Route: The route is marked clockwise. Most of the route is on old logging roads which are in poor condition and may be overgrown with Willow and Alder. As stated earlier you may begin at the 6 km (elevation 490m) or 12 km (elevation 880 m) point of the main branch of the HBFSR. You will begin or finish with a long (6 km) granny-gear climb. This description begins at the lower elevation. Proceed up the main branch for 6 km to an intersection. Turn right and continue for 2 km through an area overgrown with brush, and turn right again. At this point you should be under the power lines. Proceed for 600 m and turn right just after a steep 100 m decent and before a stream/ditch crossing (if you keep straight for 1 km you are rewarded with a spectacular view). Follow a skid trail for 200m and turn left at the logging road. Proceed along the road and through the overgrown area. Follow what appears to be the main road over washed-out areas. Intersections that could cause confusion are marked. At a point 7 km from the power lines you will pass a lake on the left hand side. Continue along the road over a bridge in poor condition. Continue downhill for 2.5 km where you will be returned to your vehicle.
Trails are marked with a small white Mountain Biking symbol with a brown background or, if the symbols are absent, a double band of florescent-orange paint.
Points of Interest: Along the loop there are panoramic views of Carlson Lake and Sechelt Inlet.
