Sturdies Bay to Bluff Park Lookout and return
This
is one of my favourite hikes. I suspect it is because we live at this
end of the Island and I can do it without having to drive anywhere.
Typically I hike up to the Bluff Park Lookout through the Bluff Park
trail system and then return using a combination of trails and roads
to make a nice circular trip out of it. My typical travel time will
be 2.5 hours. 
The trail starts near the head of Whaler's Bay. There is a lack of parking near this trailhead so those of you from other parts of the island should plan to park in the vicinity of the Sturdies Bay Ferry terminal. Hike along Sturdies Bay road past the end of Whaler Bay. You will shortly notice a prominent Trailhead sign on the left side (South) of the road announcing the “Sturdies Bay Trail”.
Shortly after you enter the Sturdies Bay Trail you will notice a trail to the left that is signposted “Bluffs Park”. Take this branch and enjoy the scenery for about 10 minutes, but watch carefully for the Warbler Road/Bluffs Park junction. It is easy to miss the turn to the right to Bluff Park and end up on Warbler Road.
After that it is harder to go astray.
After 10 minutes or so the trail takes you down across a creek bed
and then splits. The main trail goes to the left and you are unlikely
to miss it. From here the trail proceeds up throug
h
Bluffs Park on what I call the “Bluffs Park East Trail”
through some magnificent forest, mostly along an ancient logging
road. It eventually merges with what I call the “Bluffs Park
West Trail” and turns left towards the Bluff Park road and the
lookout. Take care to examine the intersection with the east trail as
it is very easy to miss this junction if you decide to return the
same way. As you gaze to the right you will see a gnarly old
deciduous tree which my son-in-law coined the “Dr. Seuss”
tree. It is a good landmark to watch for on the return trip.
Shortly thereafter the trail exits onto Bluff Park Road. Follow the road uphill a short distance to the car turnaround. In the turnaround the trail to the left leads up to the Bluffs Park lookout.
Return the same way
or consider returning on a different route making use of the road
system (these roads are nowhere near as busy as the main Sturdies Bay
Road). I enjoy a variety of routes using combinations of Bluff Road,
Warbler Road and Winstanley/Shopland Drive to Burrill Road. The return
trip marked on the map uses Warbler Road South, a short trail to
Winstanley Road, then down to Burril Road and back. Sometimes
I go to Matthews Beach but adding that side trip requires quite a bit
of extra time.