THE TRAIL e Comox Valley owes much of its history and development to the logging industry that operated in the area in the early 20th century. e One Spot Trail is built upon the old Comox logging grade that ran from Headquar- ters to Royston. Stroll or ride along this historic trail and take a step back in e “One Spot” locomotive loaded with logs circa 1919. time to learn about the history of logging in the ( Public Library, 6044 - e Frank Leonard Collection) SAFETY & TRAIL ETIQUETTE Comox Valley. Observe the present day ecology of • Dogs must be leashed at all times. the second growth forests and the area’s productive HISTORY • Do not let your pet harass wildlife or livestock. agricultural lands. e One-Spot Trail is located on the former main • Expect bears in the area and horses on the trail. e One Spot Trail was built primarily for horseback line railway grade of the Comox Logging and riding. ere are a few sections with packed gravel, Railway Company. eir rst locomotive, the • Please respect agricultural operations and “One-Spot”, was a wood burning Baldwin engine, private property along the trail. but much of the trail has a dirt surface. Walking, One Spot Trail cycling and horseback riding are all permitted. Please built in 1909. • is is a multi use trail; please respect other users. exercise proper trail etiquette. Bikers should call out e steam engine was used to transport timber from to hikers and equestrians to warn them of their the various logging camps located upstream from approach. Courtenay to the log dump at Royston. From here the logs were boomed to Fraser Mills on the Lower WHERE TO START Mainland. YIELD TO To nd the beginning of the trail: From Courtenay e One Spot engine operated in this area for 34 take Condensory Road out of town. e trail begins years before it was scrapped in 1943. e track was on the le just past Cessford Road, and ends eight removed in 1954 aer the main logging operations at kilometres later near the Tsolum River. THANKS TO: Headquarters were shut down. Volunteers from the Comox Valley Land Trust, the e Comox Logging and Railway Company Back Country Horsemen of BC, the Dove Creek provided jobs for Community Association and the Comox Valley many and helped Naturalists Society for building sections of the trail. develop and sustain Krista Kaptein for her assistance with the interpre- the Comox Valley tive signs and this brochure. community through war, depression and Comox Valley re during the early 600 Comox Road Courtenay, BC V9N 3P6 twentieth century. 250-334-6000 or 1-800-331-6007 [email protected] Group on the Comox Logging www.comoxvalleyrd.ca track circa 1919. (Vancouver Public Library, 6051 July, 2009 • Photography by Chuck Russell Leonard Frank Collection) The One Spot Trail TAKE A STROLL THROUGH HISTORY

Comox Valley Sports Centre HEADQUARTERS ROAD TSOLUM RIVER ROAD Tsolum River

DOVE CREEK ROAD Comox Valley Exhibition Grounds Tsolum Spirit One Lane Bridge Park Lewis ANDERTON AVENUEPark Simms DOVE CREEK ROAD Puntledge RV Park

DOVE CREEK ROAD Campground FAIR ROAD Dirt surface, muddy when wet CONDENSORY ROAD

PIERCY ROAD 2.8 km 2.3 km CONDENSORY ROAD

ROAD Dove TODD ORR ROAD Creek Hall DOVE CREEK ROAD Dirt surface, muddy when wet

2.7 km Puntledge River Downtown Puntledge Courtenay

PIERCY ROAD River BURNS ROAD CESSFORD ROAD Park Wildwood 0 500 1000 Interpretive METRES Forest

NATURAL FEATURES HIGHLIGHTS e second growth forest that is here today began • Look up at the tops of old snags to see a bald eagle aer most of the original forest was logged 60 to searching for its next snack of rabbit or mouse. 80 years ago. A variety of trees including Douglas • Check the many creek crossing for signs of aquatic r, Sitka spruce, alder and cottonwood create the life, including salmon fry and tadpoles. green canopy that is home to many birds, plants • Stop and smell the owers that line the trail! and animals. • Some of ’s most productive Blackbery, elderberry and salmonberry provide agriculture land is found in this area. e Comox food for birds such as winter wrens, varied thrush, Valley contains 30 per cent of active farmland found chickadees and pileated woodpeckers. Black on Vancouver Island. • Dairy farms, market gardens and hay elds can be tailed deer seek shelter in the hardhack thickets • Trumpeter swans and geese feed in the seen from the trail. Fertile elds give rise to hay and munch on grain in the nearby elds. adjacent farm elds during the winter months. and corn while horses and cattle graze in pastures.