Located 8 km from Prince Rupert, the Oliver Lake Dwarf Forest offers nature trails where one can view the bonsai-like, stunted pine trees found here. These are trees stunted by climate, bent and twisted by the seasons and poor soil, and may be over 100 years old.
The trail system is gravel trails, boardwalk and unimproved trails. The loop trail system follows the lake shoreline leading into forests filled with Pine, Cedar, Spruce, Juniper and Hemlock trees plus sphagnum moss, salal and bog blueberry and cranberry bushes.
A muskeg eco-system surrounds the Oliver Lake trail system. Muskeg regions are high in acidic soil and black nutrients therefore stunting the growth of the areas vegetation, hence Bonsai Trees.
Directions:
Travel towards Prince Rupert, B.C. on Highway 16. Before reaching Prince Rupert, you will see a road veering off to the left pointing to Port Edwards. Do not take it, stay on course to Prince Rupert, over the bridge driving past Ridley Island Rd. The Oliver Lake parking Lot is seen from Hwy 16 on your left in-between Port Edward turn-off and Prince Rupert. From the parking lot a gravel trail leads to the picnic tables, the lakefront and to the trailhead of the Oliver Lake Dwarf Forest Trail.
