The ‘Namgis section of the Vancouver Island Trail is named in recognition of the ‘Namgis First Nation whose traditional territory is traversed by this section of the route. It links the Englewood Rail Trail to the community of Port McNeill, and relies heavily on old logging roads as requested/directed by the ‘Namgis First Nation (i.e. rather than clearing new trails within their traditional territory).
The route diverges from the Englewood rail grade where it crosses Nimpkish Main at ‘Hanuse crossing’ (this name/locale may well be dropped now that the rails have been removed). From this crossing, the route picks up Branch NO-2100 just to the north and follows it for 1.1 km through a recent cutblock and then through a partly-revegetated section (note that the road is surveyed [flagged] for re-building). After the road goes downhill for awhile, the hiker then leaves the road and cuts across a short section (150 m) of second-growth forest (light trail) up to the end of an old grade situated atop a bedrock ridge, and then follows this old, grown-in (conifers) grade for an additional 500 m mostly through second-growth forest, apart from a younger plantation towards the end (very lush; trail prone to growing in!). The old grade links to KP-2210 and the variably overgrown Branch KP-2000 road system all the way (3.2 km) to Hwy 19.
The route continues directly across Hwy 19 along old, somewhat overgrown logging roads to Kilpala Main and the logging road bridge over the Nimpkish River as it flows out of Nimpkish (‘Namgis) Lake.
Caution! – the Nimpkish River bridge is long and narrow – do not linger on the bridge. Off-highway logging trucks that use Kilpala Main have 14-16-foot wide loads (twice those of highway-legal logging trucks!). You do not want to get caught on this bridge!
From the Nimpkish River bridge to Port McNeill, the route again follows a combination of logging roads (mostly old and grown-in) and mountain bike trail known as the “Bear Hill Trail”, and ultimately along East Main into Port McNeill. Camping is available at the Broughton Straight Campsite not far from the commercial centre of Port McNeill.
For this entire section of trail: Download