Our Discover Gabriola blog features what we think is the best of Gabriola Island, sights, experiences, what’s happening, and a bit about our daily lives in the community!

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Brickyard Beach

False Narrows walks

GaLLT Walk —False Narrows shoreline walk Brickyard beach to cemetery(4 km)

Easy beach walk accessible at mid to low tides. Access at Brickyard Beach off South Road at the foot of Ferne Road. Brickyard Beach is covered with broken discarded bricks from the brick factory which used to stand on the hill above until the 1950s. The factory imported coal from Nanaimo to fire its kilns, unloading it at the beach and loading bricks onto the same scows for export to Vancouver and Victoria. Nowadays, there are oysters and clams in the inter-tidal zone of the beach and much birdlife in the winter and spring, with views across Percy Anchorage toward Harmac pulp mill, Jack Point, Nanaimo, and Mt. Benson. Walk along the grass bank between the beach and South Road and head down to the beach before you reach the first house. Turn left and continue around to walk southeast along the shoreline of False Narrows. The tidal flow in the narrows can be very strong, and looks like a river. Across the channel is Mudge Island and soon you pass the El Verano boat launch area, a transfer point for Mudge residents. Continue along the shoreline, following False Narrows as it gradually opens to Pylades Channel with a beautiful view southeast toward Valdes Island and other Gulf Islands. At low tide herons are often abundant on the mudflats, which are rich clam beds still harvested by the Snunéymux^w First Nations. Almost 2.5 km from the start you will see a wide track going up the slope from the beach. This is the Beach Access next to Gabriola Cemetery at the corner of South Road and Stokes. At this point you can return to Brickyard Beach along the beach or follow the trail up past the Cemetery and turn left to walk along South Road. Or you could extend your southeasterly walk along the shoreline toward Spring Beach (Walk #25)

GaLLT Walk —False Narrows sand bar near the cemetery to Spring Beach (5 km return)

This beach walk is accessible at mid to low tides. For the first few hundred metres, you may have to scramble over rocky breakwaters unless the tide is very low. Access from South Road across from Stokes Road between mailboxes and Gabriola Cemetery, on a wide trail leading to shoreline. At the beach, turn left to walk east. Before you start, make a note of where you are so you can find this access point on your return. The walk follows the continually eroding shale slopes, and picturesque waterfalls are a feature in the wet months. Across Pylades Channel to your right, you can see the low profile of Link and DeCourcy Islands, and ahead, the high cliffs of Valdes Island. Soon you round a headland with a farm pasture that slopes down to the beach. About 500 metres further on you reach Spring Beach and beyond it are spectacular high sandstone cliffs. Take a close look at the erosion patterns in these sandstone formations. Turn around and retrace your route. You will be rewarded with different vistas on your return journey.