Distance : 2 km
Elevation gain : 500m
Difficulty : Moderate
This trail leads to the site of an old forest fire lookout so you can bet the view is panaramic. The trail starts along the main logging road for about 300m then veers left onto a branch road. Follow this for another 300m to the top of the hill and across the flats. Then follow ribbons to the right as a smaller road eventually turns into a trail near a small creek. The trail climbs steadily from here through second growth forest, some of which has been juvenile spaced. Eventually the trail enters an old growth forest with some large Douglas-fir. The trail veers left and then switches back and forth up to a cliff, along its base and then out on to the old forest fire lookout site. Only the cement footings remain as the building burnt down many years ago. Evidence of the telephone line can still be seen along the trail though.
There is much to see from this spot named after a local painter, Carl Medby, who painted from here in the 1930’s. There are excellent views of the lower Bella Coola Valley looking west towards Hagnesborg and Bella Coola, north into the Saloompt River Valley and south into the Nusatsum River Valley.
How to get there
Cross the bridge over the Nusatsum River about 3.3km east of Saloompt Road on Highway 20 (22.8km from Bella Coola). Drive 100m past the hairpin corner to a large parking area on the west side of the highway. The trailhead is the East Nusatsum Forest Service Road on the other side of the highway. A sign marks the start.
