The Land’escapes Loop is the pinnacle of our trails! A 73km loop that brings you to the highest point in the park, to thirteen lakes and countless wetlands. An epic adventure for hikers who want to unplug and soak up the solitude of the forest. After three years of work, its finally completely open and we are so excited for guests to see it!
The full loop is composed of five interconnecting trails. You will follow different colour trail marks as you make your way around the park. To help with transitions, there are signs at every intersection and an itinerary to refer back to. We can also provide a custom map, in paper and a digital copy.
Every night on this trail, you’ll camp on a lake. Canoes life jackets and paddles will be waiting for you on your campsite. We’ve designed this route so that every day can include paddling or fishing on the lake. All these campsites were chosen with swimming in mind. There is nothing better than jumping in the lake after a long hike.
When we were building this trail, we always kept an eye out for where the animals travelled in the forest, as they know the woods better than we ever could. This trail often traces the footsteps of Deer up a ridge or across a beaver dam. All kinds of creatures continue to use the trail when we are not around. Keep an eye out for tracks, and keep your ears open for calls.
There are hundreds of possible ways to plan a trip on this trail. These three options are just suggestions. If you are inspired to plan your own trip, we’d love to hear your ideas!
The Classic Route
6 Days, 5 nights Hiking Trip With a Rest Day. Averaging 14kms a day
Arrive at Land’escapes in the morning. At the gatehouse, check in with a ranger and get up to date on the trail conditions. Collect your rental gear, your maps and any last-minute items from our mini camp store.. Your trip begins now. Happy Trails!
Day 1 – Wetlands Run
From the Gate house to Mountain Lake, Between 13.5 and 18 km
Begin your journey with a short walk down Mackenzie Lane to the Wetlands Run (pink) trailhead.
Follow the Wetlands Run southwest to Jocko Lake canoe cache. Here, choose to go east for a more direct route or south for a more challenging but scenic route.
For the eastern option, follow the Wetlands Run past Lac Randonne, an excellent place to look for turtles, to the Ridge Run (purple). Continue southeast on the Ridge Run to the side trail heading northeast for Mountain Lake.
For the western option, trek through a rich wetland complex with an incredible diversity of life. An Excellent choice for bird watchers. Adds some time and distance to the day, totaling 18 km, but its well worth it for the views and the stop at Fish Lake.
Mountain Lake is your first campsite! Canoes will be waiting on the lake for you when you arrive. Enjoy this secluded lake completely to yourself for your first night at Land’escapes.
Day 2 – The Big Woods
Mountain Lake to Blue Seas Lakes – 16.4 km
Head out early and make the most of the morning, you’ve got a ways to go today!
Starting from your campsite, hike back the way you came yesterday to the Ridge Run.
Head east on this trail through a secluded forest with many treetop ridges and mossy gullies.
Follow the trail as it turns northward to Dixon Lake, where you’ll make a water crossing and continue north for your last 5 km to Blue Seas Lakes canoe cache. Grab your canoes here and paddle to your campsite. Take in the views! You’ve earned it.
Day 3 – Rest Day on Blue Seas Lakes
Today, relax! Enjoy a leisurely morning by the water. For a fun day activity, Hike to the viewpoints atop the hills overlooking the lake and explore all three lakes by canoe. On the northernmost lake, there is a hidden paddleboard, which is great for swimming and sunbathing in the middle of the lake.
Day 4- Back on the Trail
Blue Seas Lakes to Chain Lake – 11.58km
Set out by canoe this morning and cross to the north lake, where you can hike up the hill to join the Four Lakes Loop again. Carry on north and westward, passing Long Lake, Tait’s Lake and many wetlands.
At the intersection of the Four Lakes Loop and the Egan Creek Loop, take the Egan Creek Loop south to Chain Lake. When you arrive at your campsite, canoes will be waiting for you! Explore the lake in the afternoon and take in the stunning sunset from this beautiful campsite.
Day 5 – Waterfalls and Osprey
Chain Lake to Bear Shanty Lake – 16.25km
Set off North again, but this time when you come to the Four Lakes Loop (turquoise) and Egan Creek Loop (yellow) intersection take the trail to the west.
When passing Egan Creek, take a minute to see the waterfall to the North of the footbridge. Then it’s onward to the Western Woods Trail (green). Cross the highway and continue west to Bear Shanty Lake where you will find your campsite on a rocky peninsula with towering, wind-swept white pines. While making camp, keep an eye out for osprey, they have been known to fish in this lake. 20.4km
Day 6 – Savior your Last Hike
Bear Shanty to Main Parking – 12km
Follow the Western Woods Trail all day today, with no intersections. You’ll have one challenging descent down a steep hill and a long wetland crossing to contend with, but otherwise, the trail is all forest path and gentle hills. Keep an eye out for moose tracks! They use this trail as well.
After crossing the highway again, you are back at the Gatehouse. Drop off your gear and enjoy some refreshments!
The Speedy Option
4 Days, 3 nights Hiking up to 20km a day for a total of 60 km
Skip the rest day on Blue Seas Lakes and the night on Chain Lake for a more direct trip, with slightly more KMs a day. Day one and day two can remain the same, but day three would look like this:
Blue Seas to Bear Shanty Lake – 20.4km
Set out by canoe this morning and cross to the north lake, where you can hike up the hill to join the Four Lakes Loop again.
Carry on north and westward, passing Long Lake, Tait’s Lake and many wetlands. At the Intersection of the Four Lakes Loop and the Egan Creek Loop, take the Egan Creek Loop west towards Egan Creek.
When passing Egan Creek, take a minute to see the waterfall to the North of the footbridge. Then it’s onward to the Western Woods Trail (green). Cross the highway and continue west to Bear Shanty Lake where you will find your campsite on a rocky peninsula with towering, wind-swept white pines. While making camp, keep an eye out for osprey, they have been known to fish in this lake.
Your final day remains the same!
This is a great option for non-nonsense hikers looking to see and do as much as possible in a limited time.
Paddling Dixon Creek
6 Day, 5 Night. Averaging 14 km a Day
On Day Two, after a long secluded hike along the Ridge Run, Take a short detour to Dark Lake where you will find Canoes lifejackets and paddle waiting for you.
Paddle north along the creek, taking in the carried landscapes and listening for birds like the Belted Kingfisher or Great Blue Heron, who make their homes here.
When you arrive at Dixon Lake, you can leave your canoes at the canoe cache and re-join the hiking trail for the final 5 km to your campsite.
A Late Start
6 Day, 5 Night. Averaging 14 km a Day
If you have a longer drive to get to us, this is an easy modification to the Land’escapes Loop to start your trip off on the right foot.
On day one, after your arrival, hike only 5 km to Jocko Lake for your first night in the park. Jocko Lake has excellent fishing and swimming, so you won’t be missing out on anything.
On day two you’ll certainly have time for the western option of the Wetlands Run, so you might as well! From day three onward, follow the same itinerary with or without the rest day on Blue Seas Lakes.
Stay tuned for more stories this summer as guests and rangers hike the Land’escapes Loop for the first time!
Morgan
Plant enthusiast and your trip planner at Land'escapes