A rich history and the finest stand of Arbutus in the islands
- Richard Philpot
- Mar 29
- 6 min read
St. John Point, known as ŦÁ,WEN by Coast Salish First Nations, was once a base for Coho salmon fishing. Before World War II, Japanese settlers farmed near the park entrance. Three American brothers most recently owned the 64-acre slice of the larger peninsula that is now parkland. Thanks to the brothers’ generosity, a community-led fundraising initiative, and the CRD’s involvement, we can now all enjoy the beautiful 4 km loop trail and access to two beaches.
Table of Contents
Photographs, videos, audio, and text Copyright © 2026 Richard Philpot/SGIOUTSIDE.ca.
An Arbutus stretched over Plumper Sound on the St. John Point Regional Park’s south side (042125).
ST. JOHN POINT REGIONAL PARK ŦÁ,WEN TRAIL
Horton Bay Road Trailhead
Capital Regional District Park (CRD)
RP’s most recent visit: March 23, 2026
Overview
Locals have explored the peninsula that pares down to St. John Point for years, hence the established trail. Since 2017, Mayne Island visitors have had access to this special wedge of Southern Gulf Islands real estate. The energizing hike includes two beaches, spectacular panoramas from shoreline bluffs, the finest stand of Arbutus in the Southern Gulf Islands, inviting intertidal zones, an assortment of wildflowers along the trail’s edge, and marine life swimming below and birdlife soaring overhead. It’s a dynamic yet tranquil SGI environment worthy of exploration (051125).
St. John Point Regional Park: ŦÁ,WEN Trail FACTS
Distances and elevations vary depending on the GPS tracker device and the digital mapping software used.
Park Size: 64 acres
Best time of year: Anytime.
Difficulty Rating: MODERATE
Trail Type: Loop
Distance: 4 km (2.5 mi)
Time Allowance: 2 hours
Highest Elevation (Garmin): 63 metres (207 feet)
Lowest Elevation (Garmin): Sea level
Dogs Permitted: Yes, on leash at all times
Amenities: None
Freshwater Availability: No
Parking: Seven spots at trailhead; roadside parking is not allowed along Horton Bay Road
Travelling to the Trailhead: By vehicle—5.5 km (15 minutes) from Miners Bay via Fernhill Road, then right onto Horton Bay Rd; On foot—Seven (7) Car Stops between Miners Bay and the trailhead; Paddling from North Pender Island—Launch at Hope Bay, cross Navy Channel to Kadonaga Bay (Mayne Island)
Birders: 58 species since 2023 (eBird)
Trailhead Coordinates: 48.82319, -123.24264
Mayne Island Parks Hiking & Walking Trail Map (2022 Edition)
St. John Point Regional Park TRAIL MAP (Courtesy of the CRD).
Route Description
It was a journey establishing a park
Locals have explored the St. John Point peninsula and shoreline trail for decades. And while part of the land’s journey from private ownership to CRD park status took much less time, those years were filled with as many twists and turns as the well-trodden trail (read the Mayne Island Conservancy’s Serendipity and St. John Point).
Since the best two-thirds of the loop route is along the shoreline, I attack the ŦÁ,WEN Trail clockwise, getting the least interesting section out of the way early. Make your way from the parking area up a gradual incline (likely an old skid road) through mostly new-growth fir and an understory of Salal. Fifteen minutes in, you’ll arrive at a sign offering the opportunity to veer south on the Cross Trail (the Cross Trail cuts out the finest segments of the hike). Proceed straight. The trail, from the start to sea level, is roots-and-rock-free.
The ŦÁ,WEN Trail narrows for a while, and the young trees change from fir to mostly Western redcedar with a rugged rock wall rising above on your left and thick Salal on your right. The path narrows and gently descends into a mature forest of full-size redcedar, fir, and some maple. Sword fern, Stinging nettle, Vanilla leaf, and Salal flourish among the deadfall.
The trail forks when you first see the sea; veer left to reach a grassy perch above the beach. Before it became a park, touring kayakers wild-camped in this spot (i.e., stealth-camped). Campers had, and now hikers have, a nice look at Lizard, Samuel, and Saturna Islands. Lizard Island is minuscule compared to the others and sits smack in the middle of Georgeson Passage. Paddling through the pass is tricky if not timed correctly.
The beach and trail to St. John Point
A path leads down to the beach from the previous tent site (St. John Point Beach?). Paddlers love the central location of this beach. It’s ideally located for daytrippers to land and leave their boats and have lunch and a walk in the park, as well as those venturing to the Belle Chain, Cabbage and Tumbo Islands, or around Saturna. There are drift logs to sit on or rest against and pockets of soft sand to dig your bare toes. If the tides are below five feet, you can explore the southeast foreshore tidepools. But watch your step on the wet rocks.
A few steps after leaving the beach, a branch trail turns hard left toward St. John Point. The narrow single-track closely follows the shoreline overhang through youngish fir and a smattering of Arbutus. Embedded roots and loose rocks challenge your foot placement. Switching your attention from eye to ground level may help you avoid trampling vulnerable wildflower species like the delicate Calypso orchid (i.e., Fairslipper) or a tumble and a 15-foot fall to the water’s edge.
The mature forest before reaching the east-facing gravel, sand, and driftwood beach (042125).
The trail turns northwest into the finest stand of Arbutus
in the Southern Gulf Islands.
Isolated St. John Point is marked by twisted and stunted Seaside juniper trees clinging to the tapered, rocky point. Field chickweed grows on the ledges and stonecrop in the cracks. Take a moment to absorb this gorgeous location; look up, down, and around. And this is just the start of the best half of the ŦÁ,WEN Trail
The trail heads northwest into the finest stand of Arbutus in the Southern Gulf Islands. These distinctive trees’ distorted and knotted trunks and branches dominate the surroundings. Its smooth, orangish-brown bark, which peels into paper-thin strips, is impossible to overlook. Arbutus, also known as Pacific madrone, is the only broad-leaved evergreen tree species of British Columbia.
The park’s south side offers numerous opportunities to detour into the oftentimes slippery intertidal zone rocks to explore the many tidepools. Back on track, be wise that the elegant-looking, cone-shaped, creamy wildflower among the dry grasses is potentially deadly. The entire plant is poisonous.
The now dusty trail’s constitution is scree or rock-studded; in places, it’s technical. A hiking pole is beneficial for stepping up or down here and beyond the Cross Trail junction. Two weather-beaten, armless, backless wood chairs once watched over Plumper Sound with a view to the Penders. I wonder how many hikers availed themselves of these chairs over the years?
During the next stretch, the trail splits a few times—to the cliff’s edge and a less risky option. Those with a fear of heights should stick to the latter. For the gutsy group, the risk yields rewards: dramatic drops to the ocean, often with Pacific harbour seals hanging out in the Bull kelp forests, and showy paintbrush growing from the sheer rock face, its scarlet-coloured hairy bracts being hard to miss. A bit further along, at a lower elevation, and depending on the spring-summer timing of your visit, you may see one or all of these yellow wildflowers: monkey-flower, dandelion, and Woolly Sunflower.
Inland with a short jaunt to the Kadonaga Bay beach
Saying goodbye to the sea, for now, the ŦÁ,WEN Trail turns inland. A primarily second-growth Douglas fir and Western redcedar canopy covers Salal and oregon grape (identified by its spiny-teeth leaves and, in summer, ripened berries—blue, tart, and with a pit).
The forest soon gives way to a clearing and a meadow of tree stumps and logs. These are coarse woody debris (CWD), there to enhance habitat restoration. Rather than dodging the stumps to the heritage apple trees and the parking lot, turn left on the short-and-sweet Sasaki Trail to visit the second St. John Point Regional Park beach at Kadonaga Bay. You’ve never seen so much driftwood in one place.
Whether you arrive at this jewel of a park by motor vehicle, bicycle, or via human-powered watercraft, you’re in for a treat. Have fun!
The gravel-and-driftwood-laden beach at Kadonaga Bay is one of two beaches accessible from St. John Regional Park. (042125).
