The ascent up the front side of Mt. Finlayson is a local favourite and can be very busy. That’s why we prefer to do it first thing in the morning or at night. Headlamps are so awesome!

The ascent starts on wide, easy trail, but quickly steepens before turning to more technical and exposed rocky sections with some scrambling required. While you don’t have to use your hands to make it to the summit, a few points of contact is often advisable. The views really open up on the rocky section, looking down on Bear Mountain, across the Sooke Hills and out over the Salish Sea to the Olympic Mountains.

From the top, a flowy and sometimes very technical trail drops us down to the backside trails and back around the mountain to the bottom section of the climb we started on. To really set in the climbing, a hard charge up the stairs at the bottom leaves you hands on knees, with only a short descent and jog along a road lined by old growth trees to the parking lot.

This is approximately a 90 minute run, but can be faster or slower depending on fitness levels and comfort on climbs and fast descents. It can also be done from our Swallows Nest property, with the option for a bonfire and BBQ to finish it off!