The Forest Page

DirectionsFrom the Trans Canada Highway turn east onto HerdRoad. Follow Herd for 6 kilometres, then turn left ontoOsborne Bay Road. Three kilometres along Osborne youwill see the gates to Maple Mountain on the right and Mt.Richards opposite. Park on the east side of the road. Thegates into Mt. Richards are locked to protect the CroftonLake watershed. Alternatively, turn off Herd Road ontoRichards Trail. About 3 kilometres along you will see ayellow gate on a gravel road on the east side. There is noparking here.

Welcome to Mount RichardsMOUNT Richards is located in the Municipality of NorthCowichan Municipal Forest. It lies west of Croftonproviding a backdrop to the town.

HistoryTHE Municipal Forest was established in 1946 by an act ofMunicipal Council. At 5,000 hectares it is one of the largestMunicipal Forests in North America.

For More InformationIF you have any questions or need more information,please contact the Municipality of North Cowichan.

250-746-3100 www.northcowichan.bc.ca

Herd Rd.

Trans Canada Hw

y

Richards Trail

Crofton Rd.

Mt.Rich

ards

Key FeaturesHIKERS, mountain bikers and equestrians all use MountRichards. The municipality has not built any trails, but thereare over 12 kilometres of roads, many of which are notcurrently used for logging. These roads are shown on themap in this brochure.THE summit of Mt. Richards is low, just over 340 metreshigh. There are rock bluffs at the summit; the higher bluffhas more wildflowers while the lower bluff provides anexpansive view to the west towards Mt. Prevost and Mt.Sicker.WHEN hiking on Mt. Richards in the spring and summeryou may hear the quiet drumming call of the male sprucegrouse. Pay attention, he may explode from underneathyour feet at any moment.

Safety FirstENJOY your visit, but remember forestry activities areongoing and heavy equipment can be on the roads at anytime. Do not enter the forest when the fire hazard rating isextreme. Check with the municipality for woods closures.Open fires are not allowed in the Municipal Forest. Parkingis limited. Avoid leaving valuables in your vehicle.USE of roads, trails, parking lots, structures and otherfacilities in the Municipal Forest and surroundingareas may result in personal injury, loss or damage toproperty. By using them you assume all risks ofpersonal injury, loss or damage to property. Thesetrails are recommended for experienced hikers only.USE common sense, go with a friend and let someoneresponsible know where you are going.

CROFTON

Code of EthicsSHARE the roads and trails. Municipal Forest trails areshared by walkers, hikers, mountain bikers and horsebackriders.RESPECT the rights of other users and the adjoining landowners.USE designated public access points. Never leave vehiclesblocking adjacent properties, driveways, roads or trails.FLOWERS, trees, plants and even rocks are part of thenatural environment. Please leave natural resources whereyou found them so that the next person can enjoy them.

ManagementMost of the trails on Mt. Richards are logging roads ofvarious ages. The newest roads are easy to identify, butolder logging roads can look like footpaths or tracks. Alllogging in North Cowichan is truck-based, so well-builtroads are important. A total of 161 kilometres of road hasbeen built in the Municipal Forest since 1982. Afterharvesting, major roads are kept open and passable tovehicles while smaller roads are deactivated and replanted.

A newer forest road on Mt. Richards.The width of the road is kept narrow to

reduce the area disturbed. The bank iscut back to a natural angle on the uphill

side and the ditch on both sides trapsrunoff. Both sides have been seeded to

reduce erosion.

Left, mining claim tag on a rotting postalong one of roads to the top of themountain. Mt. Richards contains smallamounts of copper, gold and silver, butno one has found enough for a mine.Below, metamorphosed rocks on Mt.Richards, indicators of precious metals.

N

An older forestroad on Mt.

Richards that lookslike a track.

Vehicles no longertravel along this

road, but it providesa good surface forhikers, mountain

bikers andequestrians.

Wes

thol

me

Rd.

Osb

orne

Bay

Rd.

to report a forest fire 1-800-663-5555 or 911

MtRichards.p65 11/14/2005, 3:11 PM1

Guide to:

MountRichards

LegendPublic RoadMainlineSecondary Forest Road

Visitor InformationMOUNT Richards is open to non-motorized traffic all yearexcept during periods of high fire hazard. Because CroftonLake is the backup water supply for the Town of Croftonthe gates on the access roads are all locked. There are notrails on the mountain that were built by North Cowichan,but there may be trails built by users. Use these trails atyour own risk.

Richards Trail

Richa

rds

CROFTON

Municipality of North Cowichan

Osb

orne

Bay

Rd.

500 metres

1 kilometrecontour interval = 20 metres

340m

400m

300m200m

N

P

Mainline

R-700MT.RICHARDS

Road Map

Municipal Forest

to report a forest fire 1-800-663-5555 or 911

SollysLake

BreenLake

CroftonLake

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