Although the road to the trailhead for the cheewhat cedar tree is long and gravelly, for most of the year, it is 2-wheel drive and cars can reach the trailhead with little problems. However, in the wet season, l would say you should only come if you are in a 4×4 truck as the road can get quite muddy. Remember, these are active logging roads, and you must use caution and give way to all logging trucks.
Take the Bamfield Road from Port Alberni and follow directions after passing the native village of Nitinat. You will follow the road along the lake for some time. Then, after the road leaves the lake, you will go through a logged area. At the first widening of the roadway past the logging area is where you park, look on the right side of the road, and you should spot the trail.
The trail first travels through a slash and then heads down into the forest after reaching the park boundary. The trail is not marked very well, but you can find it if you keep your eyes open.
A short walk will take you into a grove of very big cedars, and you might think you have reached the Cheewhat cedar tree, but don’t be fooled. The trail continues down but is not marked very well beyond here. The trail goes to the right, then switches back to the left. It’s thick with salal and tough going, but if you follow along a bench where cedar and hemlock are growing until you head downhill again, you should see two very large cedars growing side by side.
A little further down from these trees is the Cheewhat Cedar tree, a giant of trees, the biggest in the world. Hope you find it and don’t forget to bring your camera in and your trash out.
This was a post from 10 years ago, the trail must be in better shape now, if some knows, please let me and others know by posting a comment.