Easy hikes and walks in Upper Trent River Woodlands

Mom’s Trail is a short forested loop in the Chinook Forest Woodlands that winds through second-growth forest on a quiet singletrack. Part of the loop follows the Trent River, with occasional views of the flowing water and the steep, wooded valley that shapes this landscape. With gentle terrain and connections to nearby paths, it’s an easy, peaceful trail ideal for a short outing, and is a popular route for hiking, walking, and trail running.

This is a great spot along the Mom’s Trail where you'll find a break in the trees with beautiful views across the forested ridges of the Hunter’s Range, and it is a quiet place to pause and take in the layered hills and valleys of inland Vancouver Island. Surrounded by dense woodland, the viewpoint adds a more expansive landscape perspective to the trail, which is otherwise defined by its forest scenery.

This trail is a short forest walk that follows a well-trodden path through second-growth forest as it approaches the river canyon. Most of the route is relatively easy to follow, though it can be slippery as you get close to the falls, with rope-assisted sections leading down to the river at the base. Despite its short length, the combination of forest, river sounds, and rugged terrain makes it feel like a more adventurous trek than you'd expect.

This trailhead is right next to the Inland Island Highway near the Trent River Bridge, with informal roadside parking available on either side of the highway. However, the northbound shoulder offers the easiest access if you’re looking for quick access to the falls. From here, a wide gravel track leads into second-growth forest toward the falls, but there is no formal trailhead signage, so the entrance is easy to miss. Since parking is close to the highway, be sure to park carefully and avoid blocking access or traffic.

Trent River Falls is a beautiful, wide, fan-shaped cascade where the Trent River drops roughly 9 metres into a deep pool surrounded by cliffs and boulders. These falls mark the upstream limit for spawning salmon, and in the fall, you can see fish in the river below you. Although relatively hidden from the highway above, this setting feels surprisingly wild, with rushing water, rock walls, and the forest creating a peaceful riverside atmosphere.

Davis Lake Main is an old, wide gravel logging road, now used for recreation. It is usually smooth but after heavy rain it can become rutted, and muddy. It takes hikers and bikers through forests of Douglas fir and western hemlock, and past Perseverance Creek and China Pools.

Cumberland Community Forest stretches more than 500 acres, and is mostly second-growth coastal forest with a web of well-maintained trails. These trails are open to hiking, mountain biking, trail running.

The China Bowls are created by Perseverance Creek, which flows with cold and clear water, smoothing stone ledges into deep basins that glow turquoise when the sun hits them. The pools are named after the nearby historic Chinatown site, and are surrounded by ferns, cedars, and Douglas fir.