Drove by the Hill 60 FRS entrance on Hwy 18 today, and it’s gated. They’re actively logging it. I wonder if you can still get down to the river if you go in from Hillcrest or Chemainus Main, anyone know?
Late reply but if you go in on Hillcrest they have gated the powerlines entrance and dug up the Y intersection at Forestry Pools also. But yes there is still access to the river, and powerlines to Hill 60, in a couple spots off Hillcrest
Been about 10 years since I've tried coming from the Chemainus main side so I can't speak on that lol. I've had it on my list of routes to update myself on for a while now
I went that way a couple times last year, both by mistake. The bypasses are pretty tight and gnarly for my rig. You'd cruise through it without an issue though. I can DM you the spot if you want.
The last time I went through it was on dig out #3 or 4 lol and it was almost too gnarly for my (then) mostly stock tracker. Looked like people just kept moving over a few feet and making a new trail. I'd love to see how many there are now! Thanks for the coords, last time I did it with just a BRMB and pinpointing the location was tough
Powerlines is dug up yes but there is a small workaround trail around the dugout. I have done it a couple times it's not too bad but it's narrow. There is also a gnarly trail on the left just past the Y intersection at Forestry pools if you know where I mean. It's longer and more challenging but it drops you on the trail to get to the powerlines.
Update, last weekend we did the Hillcrest to copper canyon main route discussed above.
The workaround trails to get onto copper canyon main have changed since my last time out 8 or so years ago (I actually made a thread in here about it way back when. Nostalgic)
Tight but easily done by a small rig.
We found some awesome spots along the Chemainus river with some potential camping. And I broke a rear leaf lol.
Figured I’d update the thread to say it is still a doable route.
Doable for your tracker, how about a JKU 😂😂?? Thanks for the update.
Was hoping to take the wife out that way next weekend. Looks like I need to do some more digging around first. If someone wouldn't mind PMing some details that would be awesome.
Spent some time this weekend up past cowichan lake exploring around.
Yes Kyle I agree with Alex, you should have no problem.
A fullsize like a squarebody or ram truck might have issues but anything smaller will be fine. There's lots of different lines to choose if one way is too tight. I'll have to start recording my routes and using Gaia like the other fancy folk here lol
Is Hillcrest Main generally gated and inaccessible in a vehicle without clearance? I'd like to go to the Chemainus River when Copper Canyon Main isn't open.
Nope, Hillcrest is almost always open. Chemainus River Park is a provincial park, so it's only closed during wildfire season. Totally accessible with any stock vehicle.
All access from Hillcrest into the Hill 60 area is gated and locked, but with a capable rig you can get around it at a few different spots.
The gate that this original thread was about was on the Hill 60 FSR off of 18. It has since been re-opened, so that is the most direct route into Hill 60 now. Still need at least a lifted rig to get very far though. And the route down Porters Canyon to the river is washed out pretty bad and only passable with a big lift and probably lockers.
This last year has been a bad one for gates and backcountry destruction. So many nice spots are turning to wasteland.
Late reply but if you go in on Hillcrest they have gated the powerlines entrance and dug up the Y intersection at Forestry Pools also. But yes there is still access to the river, and powerlines to Hill 60, in a couple spots off Hillcrest
Cool, good to know. I'm guessing you can get in from Chemainus Main still too, but not with a stock rig. Maybe worth going to explore this weekend!
Been about 10 years since I've tried coming from the Chemainus main side so I can't speak on that lol. I've had it on my list of routes to update myself on for a while now
I went that way a couple times last year, both by mistake. The bypasses are pretty tight and gnarly for my rig. You'd cruise through it without an issue though. I can DM you the spot if you want.
The last time I went through it was on dig out #3 or 4 lol and it was almost too gnarly for my (then) mostly stock tracker. Looked like people just kept moving over a few feet and making a new trail. I'd love to see how many there are now! Thanks for the coords, last time I did it with just a BRMB and pinpointing the location was tough
I'm guessing you could get through with the tight trail just before the usual entrance.
the one at the powerlines? it was dug up over the winter too. could probably do it, but it's pretty steep.
Powerlines is dug up yes but there is a small workaround trail around the dugout. I have done it a couple times it's not too bad but it's narrow. There is also a gnarly trail on the left just past the Y intersection at Forestry pools if you know where I mean. It's longer and more challenging but it drops you on the trail to get to the powerlines.
Hi everyone, we went by Hill 60 yesterday. Here are a couple of photos.
There is an entrance off Hillcrest I think, but it looked gated yesterday as well. Too bad.
We also did Skutz Falls. It seems more challenging than Hill 60. We actually got stuck once but the the winch pulled us out easily (last photo).
Cheers,
Llew
Nice, thanks for sharing! I also in by Skutz a couple weeks ago. It has some really difficult sections for sure.
Maybe I’ll try to plan a day on hill 60 in the next couple weeks. Anyone up for that?
Update, last weekend we did the Hillcrest to copper canyon main route discussed above.
The workaround trails to get onto copper canyon main have changed since my last time out 8 or so years ago (I actually made a thread in here about it way back when. Nostalgic)
Tight but easily done by a small rig.
We found some awesome spots along the Chemainus river with some potential camping. And I broke a rear leaf lol.
Figured I’d update the thread to say it is still a doable route.
Doable for your tracker, how about a JKU 😂😂?? Thanks for the update.
Was hoping to take the wife out that way next weekend. Looks like I need to do some more digging around first. If someone wouldn't mind PMing some details that would be awesome.
Spent some time this weekend up past cowichan lake exploring around.
I've done that bypass in my 4runner and with other guys in Wranglers. I think you'll be fine. I can PM you the route I used.
Yes Kyle I agree with Alex, you should have no problem.
A fullsize like a squarebody or ram truck might have issues but anything smaller will be fine. There's lots of different lines to choose if one way is too tight. I'll have to start recording my routes and using Gaia like the other fancy folk here lol
Is Hillcrest Main generally gated and inaccessible in a vehicle without clearance? I'd like to go to the Chemainus River when Copper Canyon Main isn't open.
Nope, Hillcrest is almost always open. Chemainus River Park is a provincial park, so it's only closed during wildfire season. Totally accessible with any stock vehicle.
So a gate has been added on Duncan Access Road near the transmission lines west of the provincial park? And it's usually locked?
All access from Hillcrest into the Hill 60 area is gated and locked, but with a capable rig you can get around it at a few different spots.
The gate that this original thread was about was on the Hill 60 FSR off of 18. It has since been re-opened, so that is the most direct route into Hill 60 now. Still need at least a lifted rig to get very far though. And the route down Porters Canyon to the river is washed out pretty bad and only passable with a big lift and probably lockers.