With the wet, cold, L-O-N-G Winters we’ve had the last couple of years, we can only hope that Summer lingers a bit longer than usual.

Personally, I hope the sunshine puts in some overtime this year so we can spend some long days wandering the forest of Strathcona Provincial Park taking in the absolute magic that lives in the mountains above us.

Strathcona gem Paradise Meadows – a leisurely family-friendly walk along wood-slat paths that lead you through marshes, meadows and woods – is one of the first major walks we ever did here and wins hands-down in terms of must-see locales for folks who spend their vacations at our house.

The trail starts and the brand new trail head adjacent to Mt. Washington’s Raven Lodge. (the nordic ski location, which means you take the road to the left instead of going right up to the main lodge once you reach the top of the mountain). Improved parking and wheelchair accessibility means that this trail is now a breeze for young families looking to hit alpine trails without the major concerns about the back country.

The Winter was so brutal up on the mountain last year that Paradise Meadows is actually one of the few Strathcona trails that is currently fully open as there are major bridge and trail replacements going on deeper into the back country that are keeping even the Helen Mackenzie Lake trail limited in terms of access right now.

This 2.2K loop makes for a relatively flat easy-going nature walk packed full of interestingness including the resident birds (please don’t feed them), wildflowers such as the shooting stars (see above), seasonal creeks and fish jumping in the alpine lakes.

I totally recommend bringing a pocket guide to alpine flowers and birds. Try the Compact Guide to British Columbia Birds and Wildflowers of the Pacific Northwest as they are great guides that will work in just about any space on the island.

The walk takes about 45 minutes if you keep a steady pace. But, there are so many chances to check things out, it’s good to plan for a few hours out there.

That said, we found that the afternoon sun is brutal on the tiny person. So, we generally head up the mountain early in the day (10 a.m.) and are down by early afternoon (2 p.m.). Plus, if we do that we can stop in for a meal at Mt. Washington or Sunday Brunch at Raven Lodge. Both Mt. Washington and Raven Lodge are open daily with concessions, bathrooms and shopping, which make this a very convenient hike as well.

There are most definitely safety concerns to consider here that are unique to alpine hiking including:

1. Take a backpack survival kit packed with: extra water (one additional bottle per hiker), rain gear (weather conditions change on a dime), bug repellent (the mosquitoes have been vicious on occasion), a first-aid kit, an emergency blanket, sealed food (don’t want to attract bears).

2. Strathcona is currently under a full fire ban. That means no smoking, no flares.

3. Bears and cougars are plentiful. It’s rare to see them. But, check with the ranger before heading out and keep your children in between the adults at all times. Always keep food tightly sealed as not to attract animals.

4. Never leave the designated trails as this can be very, very dangerous (swamps, large creatures, pits and other hazards).

5. Know your route. The ranger hut has trail maps. Make sure you have one.

6. Hats and long pants are a good choice. Sun at high altitudes will drain you very fast. Ticks are busy this time of year.

7. Have a plan if the group gets separated. Good communication at all times is important.

8. Each hiker should carry a garbage bag and a whistle (a bit of basic survival gear)

This set of tips (courtesy of BC Parks) is not meant to scare you into not taking your tiny people out on these trails, it’s meant to keep you safe. I really encourage you to get out and explore these areas of the island, and in the process plug your kiddos in to how to prepare for anything when you are out there.

We have, thankfully, not had to use that gear much here. But, having done a fair bit of back country adventuring in my life, I have most definitely had times when these safety precautions have made the difference.

Back to the fun stuff.

Really, Paradise Meadows is only accessible for a few months a year. We hiked it nearly every weekend last Summer starting in August and did our last walk with my parents at Thanksgiving and it changed EVERY week we were there. The colours and speed of nature is astounding, really wowing us by just walking through.

It’s an even more exciting adventure with a guide, which is why the Strathcona Wilderness Institute hosts a series of guided walks every Summer including this year.

So, if you are looking for some true nature-minded amazingness right about now, head up the mountain and check out Paradise Meadows.

It will take your breath away.