Coastal Walking Trails in the Comox Valley- Royston Seaside Trail – Part 2

By Keith and Heather Nicol

Our destination was the lookout platform in Royston

    When we posted information on the Royston Seaside Trail – Part 1 (http://keithnicol.blogspot.ca/2017/08/coastal-walking-trails-in-comox-valley_23.html) we noted that an extension of the trail traversed south toward Marine Drive in Royston. So on August 29 we decided to check that out. You can access this trail from a parking lot at the end of Hilton Road (49 39.143 N, 124 57.180 W).  This trail starts off with a broad easy walking surface for the first couple of hundred meters before branching off toward the beach. The main trail does carry on to Lince Road for another 200 meters or so but if you don`t mind walking along high tide line you can follow it along the shore to Marine Drive in Royston.

Keith walking along the beach with the Royston wrecks in the background

     The beach portion is about 0.8 km and leads to a lookout platform. This section is across a mix of surfaces like sandy beach with small gravel sections and even some flattish bedrock. You have to cross over 2 trees that lie across the trail and there are a couple of short sections which involve traversing around basketball size boulders. You can see the Royston wrecks, Goose Spit and across the Salish Sea to the Sunshine Coast and Texada Island.  As you get closer to Marine Drive you can scramble up on short trails to a picnic site in Royston (49 38.948 N, 124.56.791 W or 49 38.941 N, 124.56.774 W are easier access points).  Once on Marine Drive continue a short distance to the lookout platform at 49 38.914 N, 124 56.656 W).  The total distance 1 way is about 1 km and you can then traverse back along the same trail to your car. Be aware that under some conditions like strong SE winds and high tides that the beach portion might be difficult or impossible to negotiate.If readers know of other coastal walking trails in the Comox Valley let us know at k2nicol@gmail.com. 

Heather at one of the access points to Marine Drive from the beach trail