Despite being just a short hike from Ladytsmith, while sitting at the peaceful and tranquil Heart Lake it’s impossible not to feel transported somewhere far more remote and removed from civilization. Perhaps somewhere where there’s a much looser concept of what shape a heart is?
The Heart lake hike is the best that can be found in Ladysmith. There are a number of different ways up to the lake, though all largely use the same trail, just starting at different points along it. This version of the Heart Lake hike is neither the easiest nor the hardest, but in my opinion is the most enjoyable. It starts on the edge of town by following alongside Holland Creek, before climbing up the steep hill to Heart Lake. Along the way is the beautiful Crystal Falls as well as an excellent viewpoint down towards Ladysmith.
Continue reading this blog post for everything you need to know to experience the Heart Lake hike in Ladysmith on Vancouver Island for yourself, including distance, elevation gain, how to get there, the best time to visit, and lots of photos of my experience.
When hiking it’s important to avoid harmful practices such as disturbing plants or rock-stacking, or removing any natural object from flowers to rocks, as it’s important to leave the environment as natural as possible for the animals and for fellow hikers to enjoy in perpetuity. As many flowers as there are, there are few enough that if we all took one, then there wouldn’t be any left. Take only photos, leave only footprints.
If you haven’t heard of Leave No Trace principles, they’re also really essential to read up on before heading anywhere into the outdoors in general. Following these important principles basically means doing your best to leave beautiful places like Heart Lake as good (if not better) than you found them, both for their preservation and for the enjoyment of other visitors.
Heart Lake Round Trip Details
Distance: 7.2 KM / 4.5 MI
Elevation Gain: 289 M / 948 FT
Hiking Time: 2.5 Hrs
Hiking & Safety Tips
- Prepare for the possibility of wildlife encounters. There are almost no grizzly bears on Vancouver Island, but black bears are still common. Bear bells are proven to be an ineffective bear deterrent, and are even actively discouraged by Parks Canada. The best way to let bears know you’re around is simply to use your voice. Make sure to keep a respectful distance from wildlife and never feed the animals. It may seem kind but it doesn’t just kill wildlife and put people in danger, it’s also in many cases illegal.
- Research current trail conditions and make sure you are well-informed about the route before you leave, and assess if it is within your capability. Be aware of what time it gets dark and check the weather forecast. Make sure to tell someone where you’re going and when you expect to return. Every year as more and more people try hiking for the first time, the number of rescues goes up. Being prepared is the best defense.
- Pack everything you need for a successful hike, including enough water and energy-rich snacks. Remember to pack out everything you pack in though – don’t expect to find a convenient garbage can halfway up the trail. Bring appropriate layers (remember you’ll warm up once you start hiking) and sun protection. Hiking poles may be helpful but are not required. In addition to not leaving any garbage on the trail yourself, I highly recommend bringing a garbage bag and collecting any trash that you do see on the trail. You’re guaranteed to make the Heart Lake hike a more enjoyable experience for the next person.
How to Get to Heart Lake Trailhead
As mentioned above, there is more than one place to start the hike up to Heart Lake, so if my directions contradict someone elses, neither they nor I are necessarily wrong. It just depends what kind of hike you want to do.
Ladysmith is about 25 minutes north of Duncan, or the same amount of time south of Nanaimo. From Highway 1 as it passes through town, turn west into Ladysmith via Roberts St at the intersection with the lights. Continue along Roberts for five blocks until you reach a t-junction with the Ladysmith Fire Dept right ahead of you. Turn left onto 6 Ave. After three blocks, turn into the small parking lot at the corner of 6 Ave and Meachen Street.
Click here to open the exact trailhead location in Google Maps.
Hiking to Heart Lake
The start of the trail to Heart Lake, at the small Holland Creek parking lot. Turn right here to head up the creek.
Though beautiful forest is on the left, the trail starts off fairly residential on the right, passing behind several backyards and the local RCMP.
Soon though, the path is forested on both sides, and the deep gully containing Holland Creek Falls can be glimpsed on the left.
A glimpse of Crystal Falls. The waterfall is much easier to see from the other side of the gully, but you can still certainly hear it.
Passing underneath this newly created bridge.
Holland Creek is now a lot closer to the path, which continues to follow closely alongside it.
Turn left.
A bridge crosses Holland Creek and the trail to Heart Lake soon leaves the pretty creek behind.
Following the first sign for Heart Lake.
And a right. As you can see, these couple of turns are well-signed for Heart Lake.
Some people head to the right, past this red gate, in order to take a longer, more gentle route up to Heart Lake via logging road. I prefer the route to the left, which is a steep hiking trail up to the lake. using both options in order to make a loop is also a popular choice.
Not soon past my left turn, the start of the hiking trail.
The trail going up gets increasingly steep as it heads uphill towards Heart Lake, though as long as you stick to the switchbacks its never dangerously steep. This section of trail went by super fast – which makes sense considering you gain the necessary elevation fairly quickly.
There’s a large obvious viewpoint on the right. Watch out – as you approach the viewpoint there are a number of social trails from hikers trying to make their way to it – there’s no need to do this, as once you’re level with the viewpoint there’s this very obvious intersection. The trail to the right is a short one minute detour to the viewpoint, whereas the trail to the left continues on to Heart Lake.
In the distance it’s possible to see Thetis and Valdes Islands, with the distant mainland peaks just visible behind.
This big guy was happy to stop for a photoshoot.
Past the viewpoint, and nearly all the elevation gain up to Heart Lake is done. From here are some minor ups and downs for about five ten minutes, but you’re basically there at this point.
Approaching the large rocky outcrop on the end of Heart Lake
Funny story: as I sat by the lake’s edge I saw a snake swimming past me, so I raced back to get my camera from where I had put it down. By then the snake was gone, and I sat down defeated, only to realize that as a consolation prize this snake skin had been right beside me the whole time! Naturally I left it there for the next person to appreciate as well.
Recommended Hiking Gear
Water is a must whenever I’m hiking, especially if the sun is going to be out. My favourite water filter I’ve used is the Katadyn BeFree 0.6L, which unlike other water filters I’ve used packs up really small and lightweight. For hikes where I know there won’t be any readily available water sources along the way, I make sure to bring my own. The Hydrapak Stow 1L bottle is my go-to, for the same reason that it’s made of a soft plastic that folds up and doesn’t take up any more extra space than necessary in my pack. Finally, Aquatabs are another great option for purifying water, with one tablet being suitable for one litre of water. I previously used the Grayl water filter while travelling internationally, and though I found its hard body more convenient for day to day use and easier to drink from, it has a little too much bulk for my fast-and-light style of hiking.
The secret to all my photos of gorgeous sunset and sunrise mountaintop views? A lot of hiking in the dark. And let me speak from personal experience when I say that the last thing that you want to happen when hiking is to be caught in the dark without a headlamp. I used the Black Diamond Spot 400 for years and it worked great – until I lost it on top of a mountain somewhere. The only downside to it was having to worry about the batteries dying, though there’s also a slightly more expensive version that has a rechargeable battery. Nowadays I’m using the Petzl Actik Core, which is a bit pricier than the more budget-friendly Black Diamond, but is also brighter, more comfortable (in my opinion), and has a hybrid power system that is rechargeable but can also take AAA batteries if needed.
You won’t see me using trekking poles on shorter hikes often – but on long hikes and backpacking trips, as well as certain scrambles, they are an absolute lifesaver. I’ve invested in a high quality ultra-lightweight pair of MSR DynaLock Ascent carbon poles which, while pricey, I don’t regret one bit. If you’re not entirely sure how much use you’re going to get out of a pair of trekking poles, the best budget-friendly option would be the Trekology Trek Z 2.0. Amazon does sell a lot of cheaper Made in China-style trekking poles for cheaper, but these usually are much much heavier and not worth buying.
All the best and most long-lasting cables and power banks I’ve ever owned have been Anker. I once had a phone cable from them that lasted me over three years of daily use! That’s why I keep an Anker PowerCore Essential 20K power bank on me. Like many people I use my phone for a lot of stuff when hiking (checking in with family, using online maps, taking photos, flying my drone) so I like to be prepared for that low battery warning by having a backup power source on me just in case.
The only socks I ever buy for myself are from Darn Tough, and I almost always make sure to wear them when hiking. After years of having no problems only wearing these comfortable and rugged socks for hikes, I accidentally wore a pair of no-name socks on a hike last year and ended up with blisters on both feet. Safe to say I’m back to sticking with the Darn Tough. And the best part? They have a lifetime guarantee, meaning that if they ever wear out you can send them back for a brand new pair. For hiking footwear I go between a pair of lightweight approach shoes for quick and dirty mountain ascents or anything involving scrambling and more heavy-duty boots for longer treks. I’ve worn a couple different versions of the lightweight but super durable Arc’teryx Konseal FL 2 approach shoes for a few years now and am very impressed with the durability. I also really like the thick toecap that keeps me protected every time I stumble into a root or large rock. For longer, tougher, or muddier treks I rely on my LOWA Camino EVO GTX, which I find insanely comfortable and made of very high quality.
I wear my Ar’teryx Gamma Lightweight Pants on every single hike I go on, and on many days when I’m not hiking. After several years of abuse they are still holding together extraordinarily well, with only a few small holes from where I’ve fallen down and some slight stains from being repeatedly coated with mud. They’re lightweight, breathable, and super comfortable. For lightweight and breathable hiking tops I’m a big fan of both the Patagonia Capilene Shirt and the MEC Core Shirt. My Arc’teryx Squamish Hoody shows up in a lot of my photos. It’s super lightweight and packable, and does a great job of cutting the wind while also being pretty breathable. I also have an Arc’teryx Atom Hoody and Arc’teryx Beta LT that I pull out for cooler or wetter conditions.
I hope you enjoyed this guide to hiking to Heart Lake near Ladysmith! Feel free to leave any questions in the comment section below or to contact me directly via social media.