Stoney Hill, at an hour’s drive from Victoria, isn’t close enough to the city to really be considered a Victoria hike, but I’m still surprised that this Vancouver Island hike isn’t more popular. The Stoney Hill hike is a loop trail that leads along the top of rocky bluffs overlooking Sansum Narrows, with Saltspring Island across the water and the Saanich Peninsula visible in the very distance. It offers some of the most magnificent views that can be had on Southern Vancouver Island, and is one of my absolute favourite hikes in the region.
Most people choose to hike the Stoney Hill loop counter-clockwise, but having hiked the trail multiple times in each direction, I can say that hiking it clockwise is far superior, and that’s what I recommend here. Hiking Stoney Hill counter-clockwise means that the views only get more stunning and panoramic as the hike progresses, whereas hiking the more popular counterclockwise route starts off with stunning views that progressively less interesting as it goes on, with the last section of trail eneding up feeling boring.
Continue reading this blog post for everything you need to know to experience the Stoney Hill hike near Duncan 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 Stoney Hill as good (if not better) than you found them, both for their preservation and for the enjoyment of other visitors.
Incredible views of Stoney Hill’s rocky bluffs from above. The peak rising up in the background is Baynes Peak, possibly the most rewarding hike on Salt Spring Island.
Stoney Hill Round Trip Details
Distance: 3.4 KM / 2.1 MI
Elevation Gain: 108 M / 354 FT
Hiking Time: 45 Mins – 1 HR
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 hike up Stoney Hill a more enjoyable experience for the next person.
How to Get to Stoney Hill Trailhead
The Stoney Hill trailhead is located close to Duncan and about an hour’s drive from either Victoria or Nanaimo. Drive east from Duncan, following sigs for Maple Bay. From Maple Bay drive south on Genoa Bay Road as it winds up alongside the harbour and into the woods near Stoney Hill. After about five minutes turn left onto the narrow Stoney Hill Road, and drive until you see the parking on either side of the road.
Click here to open the exact trailhead location in Google Maps.
Hiking Stoney Hill
The Stoney Hill trailhead is equipped with a port-a-potty and garbage.
After a couple minutes signs direct hikers to the right onto the “easy trail” part of the loop, whereas the trail to the left is marked “more difficult.” the second half of the loop isn’t challenging at all unless you have mobility issues and as I highlighted above – i highly recommend taking the loop clockwise as opposed to the standard clockwise.
The trail is a little rocky and involves some small hills. perhaps this is the justification for the “more difficult” rating. Judge for yourself.
The trail meanders through an older section of second-growth forest. Large tree stumps still crowd the landscape from the much older forest that used to be here.
Approaching the steep-ish uphill section to the first viewpoint. From here the trail mostly follows along the edge of the cliffs.
Continuing on from the viewpoint as the trail rounds the hill above the cliffs. That’s Baynes Peak on Salt Spring Island in the distance.
Some selfish and inconsiderate hikers have chosen to churn up the mud instead of staying on the bare rock, destroying the sensitive vegetation.
Between lookouts there are still plenty of lovely views through the trees.
The second lookout on Stoney Hill. As the trail rounds the hill views to the south are starting to open up more and more, though not as much as at the final lookout.
The trail heads back into the woods to continue to the third and final lookout.
The final and best lookout is located beyond the park’s boundary on land that is technically held by the home-owners below the cliffs. While they certainly don’t have a problem with the “trespassing” I do urge you to step with care and caution. Take great care to step only on existing paths and bare rocks to help preserve the place for future visitors.
Walking over to the large rock sticking out at left, which offers the best vantage point of the whole hike. Note that much of the grass around here has already been trampled, so try to avoid doing more damage.
The best and most unobstructed views of the entire Stoney Hill hike.
Continuing along the path for another few minutes to the trailhead. There’s another couple fences with braided social trails leading to viewpoints that are mostly blocked by trees, so I recommend allowing these areas to regenerate as it’s just not worth it to explore further. The best views have already been had.
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 Stoney Hill near Duncan! Feel free to leave any questions in the comment section below or to contact me directly via social media.
Very useful info, thanks!