Pender Hill is another quick
trek filled with hard hiking work with great scenic benefits.
The trail is steep and can be slippery, so keep alert. The hill
itself is only 231 m (758 feet) high but the trail starts climbing
quickly straight up. The Pender Hill Trail covers
3 km (2 mi.) return trip. Up being harder than down, I hope you
have figured that out. Depending on fitness levels the hike up
Pender Hill takes 1/2 -1hr to complete.
The summit of the Pender Hill shows off views
of the Sechelt Peninsula and Pender Harbour. The views come with
entertainment too as sailboats, fishing boats, yachts and motor
boats travel back and forth out of Pender Harbour.
History tells us the Sechelt Fist Nation people used Pender
Hill as a look out for scouting out any threats that
could be coming around the corner into the harbour. The area was
said to be the preferred look out point because it gave a better
perspective of the "comings and goings" of Pender Harbour.
The other look out point overlooking Pender Harbour and lakes
is on Daniel Mountain.
High above, on the peak of Pender Hill, the
natural rock gardens are still evident. Explore some more and
find the Arbutus Tree cluster shedding their bark . Good opportunity
to maybe see a Bald Eagle swoop down from the sky.
Access to Pender Hill Trail: Follow Hwy 101
north from Pender Harbour approximately 5km (3.4 mi.) north of
Madeira Park and turn west off Highway 101 onto Garden Bay Road.
At a junction 4.5km Approx. 8 km from the Garden Bay Rd turn look
to turn right onto Lee Road. Park and hike people!
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Pender
Hill
Pender Harbour