Date: Sep 26, 2025 to Sep 28, 2025
Time: All Day
Category: Backpacking
Mt. Myra is a lovely peak in Strathcona Park with superb views and excellent camping. A gem not to be missed! If you have solid backpacking experience and have never backpacked much in the mountains, this is a classic first Vancouver Island mountain objective. Participants must be able to backpack and hike at a steady moderate pace on steep and varied terrain. Hazards include crossing an old metal bridge in disrepair and a rock dam at Tennant Lake. We also will encounter some loose rock/soil/gravel, scrambling and some minor exposure.
We will approach via the Mt. Myra trail from the parking area at the Myra Falls Mine (bottom of Buttle Lake on Western Mine Road). We will take the Friday morning to drive up to the trailhead and then backpack up the trail, past Tennant Lake and on to Sandbag Lake (8.5 km and 1047 m of ascent, approximately 4 hrs at an easy to moderate pace) where we will set up camp. On Saturday, Sept. 27th we can ascend Mt. Myra (an off trail route rising 568 m to the summit, 3rd class hiking approximately 2 hrs) with day packs and if there is time, energy and desire in the group, after descending to camp, perhaps explore some of the ridge beyond Sandbag Lake. On Sunday, Sept. 28th we can pack up and head back down the Mt. Myra trail to the parking area, perhaps do a debrief at a pub somewhere and then drive to our respective homes.
I would like to encourage the sharing of tents and stoves (2 per person) to reduce weight and as there are limited tent spots at Sandbag Lake.
This trip is weather dependent and could be postponed.
Required equipment: Hiking boots with good tread, backpack, camping gear (tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, stove, water filtration system) headlamp, rain and warm layers including touques and gloves, hiking poles (highly recommended) and other essentials.
Leaders: Peggy Taylor and Tracy Sobotkiewicz
Please RSVP to Tracy: and cc Peggy at
When you RSVP please: Include your ACCVI membership number and let us know if you can offer a ride to 2-3 others and where you are travelling from.
Maximum: 8 people, including the leaders (we may reduce the number of participants to 6, if the majority plan to use single person tents)