September 3rd, Cape Scott Road / Trail Report
CAPE SCOTT TIRE TAX …(our summer count is 37 tires!)
*** COUGAR SPOTTED*** 9/2/26 -
Between the trail head and Eric Lake
HWY 19 to NE 60 (HOLBERG ROAD)
(LOGGING TRAFFIC(HWY TRUCKS) HAS BEEN HEAVY ON THE HOLBERG RD)
The Holberg Road WAS in decent shape before the recent rains. This provincial highway/ dirt road; is maintained by Main Road, the company responsible for North Island highways. Pavement ends at KM 3. This is also where rental cars are NOT ALLOWED TO PROCEED. The section from KM 3 to KM 30 is typically where maintenance transitions.
With the heavy rains we have had, the road is messy, the rivers are full and some parts are good and some are horrible! Slower is better!
All roads in this area feature very steep and loose shoulders, so it is advised to drive closer to the middle unless encountering oncoming traffic. Notable landmarks include the Shoe Tree at KM 13, Cains Lake at KM 14, and Nawhitti Lake between KM 20 and 28. The Nawhitti Rec Site is temporarily closed. The radio channel for this section is RR 5.
NE 60 to Holberg- (Friday there will be logging traffic)
NE 60 is always the section that produces the most flat tires! This stretch, extending from the wind farm turnoff toward Holberg, often features extremely sharp shot rock that is notoriously hard on tires, especially for vehicles without 8-ply or higher ratings. The rocks are sharp, the road is narrow, and help is a long way in either direction! We have seen multiple small vehicles with flats in this section recently, so it is vital to drive slowly and avoid the larger exposed rocks.
Western Forest Products (WFP) maintains this section, and it has been graded, the road is still quite rough with sharp rock exposed. If you encounter a logging truck, be prepared to back up to the last pullout; the shoulders are very steep and soft, and attempting to move to the side of the road will likely result in getting stuck. Calling out your position and monitoring other traffic on the radio is critical for safety. Carry a GOOD full-sized spare tire, as even 10-ply tires have been known to meet their match against the shot rock here. (We got a flat last week!)
Holberg to Cape Scott Parking Lot
The Scarlet Ibis does not open until 12pm, but it’s always worth a quick stop to stretch the legs and take pictures of the inlet! Check their website for current hours, and consider participating in the #livethewildpledge by grabbing a debris bag to help clean local beaches in exchange for a discount at the pub.
When leaving Holberg on the way to Cape Scott, be sure to drive slowly through the Western Forest Products shop / yard. Once you go over the Goodspeed river, the road narrows. This section, often referred to as San Jo Main, has been graded recently. EVEN THOUGH IT HAS BEEN GRADED, PLEASE WATCH YOUR SPEED! If you encounter loaded highway or FAT trucks, be prepared to back up to a pullout as the road is narrow and the shoulders are dangerously soft.
Take it slow—we usually plan on 45 minutes from Holberg to the trailhead. Watch for unexpected potholes. They are full of water and you can’t tell how big they are until you are in them!! While most cars can manage the trip, vehicles with low clearance should be extra cautious.
The road after Ronning’s Garden is ROUGH!! With the rains and the fact that it hasn't been graded, the pot holes are BIG and DEEP! Be sure to take this section extra slow.
The radio channel for this section is RR 21 from the WFP shop through to San Josef and Ronning Main.
TRAIL REPORT 9/2/26
WET, MUDDY, AND SLOW!!!
The trail is wet. There are about 20 puddles. Some we were able to get around, but there are a few you have to just go through. I had gaiters on with Gore Tex boots and I still ended up wet at the end of the day! If you are bringing carts or wheel barrows, the bigger the tires, the better.
As of 9/2, there were very few camp sites taken.
DO NOT PARK HERE! PARK IN THE LOWER LOT OR ALONG THE ROAD!
Important Reminders
Logging: There is logging off of San Jo Main. WFP is logging on the southern parts out of Holberg, so expect truck traffic from Holberg to Hwy 19.
- PARKING- REMEMBER THAT THE PARKING LOT IS SMALL. IF YOU ARE IN A TRUCK, PARK IN THE LOWER LOT AND BACK IN. DO NOT PARK ALONG THE WALL IN THE UPPER LOT.
- Tides: Most of the tides are not high enough to block the Sea Stacks. However, with the recent rains, the tides have been really funky! With the current sand levels, a higher tide may make some parts of the sea stacks hard to access
- Second Beach - The easiest way to access 2nd beach is when the tide is low (Below 4-5 feet). If the tide is high, there is an overland trail, but it is not recommended and can be difficult depending on the weather.
- Contact us with any questions