How to Hike to the Dakota 576 Port Hardy Plane Crash Site

All my life I’ve enjoyed exploring this wonderful island we call home.  Since we’ve been forced to stick closer to home this year, we’ve managed to find even more amazing new places!  This past weekend we found a new favorite hidden gem: the Port Hardy Plane Crash.  Its location is a bit more remote so it is less-visited and seemingly not very well-known.  If you are up for a new adventure, read on to find out all about the Port Hardy Plane Crash hike to the Dakota 576!

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The Dakota 576 Port Hardy Plane Crash Hike:

A Vancouver Island Hidden Gem

History of The Dakota 576

The Dakota 576 was a Royal Canadian Air Force plane that crashed on April 19th, 1944.  The plane was on a navigation exercise from Pat Bay and was to approach Port Hardy and then return.  However, they didn’t have enough fuel and decided to try to land in Port Hardy.  The pilot wasn’t able to land on his first attempt due to the bad weather, and during his second attempt, he ran out of fuel and crashed a few miles away from the airport.  Tragically, the two pilots, P.O. J.M. Talbot and P.O. T.S. Wordlow, were killed, while the wireless air gunner, Sgt. T.R. Moss, survived.

The memorial plaque erected in 2002 at the Port Hardy plane crash site gives the details.  For all the details of the Story of Dak 576, check out the 101 Squadron (North Island) website.

How to get to the Port Hardy Plane Crash Location

The Dakota 576 is located in the town of Port Hardy, which is located at the northern tip of Vancouver Island.  It is around 500km north of Victoria, which works out to approximately a 5.5 hour drive.

The plane crash site is located close to the Port Hardy (Bear Cove) BC Ferries terminal.  To reach the crash site, you will need to hike in for 2km from the road.

Where to park

Since the Dakota 576 plane crash site is not located inside a park, there is no official parking lot for it.  You can park alongside Bear Cove Highway or at the Bear Cove Park parking lot, by the boat launch.

We parked at Bear Cove Park which had numerous free stalls available and looked like a safe place to leave our car as there were numerous people around.

How to find the trail head

From the Bear Cove Park parking lot, head towards the BC Ferries terminal (the water will be to your left and forest to your right) and you will reach the trailhead in less than 2 minutes.

You will see a BC Ferries sign on the right that says Ferry Traffic only and then a no parking sign.

Immediately after the no parking sign you will see a small, overgrown road leading up the hill.  This is the start of the trail.

Hiking to the Port Hardy Plane Crash Site

The hike to the Dakota 576 crash is 4.2km round trip.  It is an out and back trail of moderate difficulty.  What makes it moderately difficult is the rough trail with lots of roots to trip on, narrow overgrown sections (especially during summer) and some very muddy parts.

In addition, there are two rope-assisted climbing sections.  As someone who does not like climbing and is mildly afraid of heights, I found these sections very doable and not scary.  Ryan even did it with our daughter on his back in the carrier.

The first section of the trail is up an old logging road.  Follow this for about 10 minutes and then you will reach a fork in the road. 

You will want to head to the left which is clearly marked by pink flagging tape, as shown in the photo above and below.

From here, the trail gets narrower and more dense.

The trees will surround you on all sides and you won’t be able to see far ahead.  It is quite pretty in summer, though.

This section of the trail is pretty easy and only a slight incline.  The only worry for us was encountering bears and spooking them since you can’t see far ahead.  Make sure to make noise as you walk to prevent this.

About 20 minutes in, you will come out of the trees and find yourself in a clearing full of wild berries (in summer). They looked like blueberries to us but someone else mentioned they are probably salal.

Look to your left and you will see nice views over Port Hardy and the water.

After this section, you will start descending down a bit and go through some very muddy sections.  Whenever you are unsure which way to go, you can usually spot flagging tape to point you in the right direction, as shown below.

During August when we went, it was easy enough to maneuver around the mud by strategically placing our feet on the edges or on roots and logs laid over the mud.  Some of the mud is deceivingly deeper than it appears!  I learned the hard way, so be careful.  I imagine outside of the summer months the mud is much worse, considering how much rain Port Hardy gets.

In the middle of these muddy sections, you will come to two rope climbing sections.

On the way to the plane, you will be descending down steep, slippery sections, but the ropes are in good condition and very helpful.  And in some parts you may not even need the rope.  Once you’ve completed the second rope section, you know you are almost at the plane!

Finally, after about 45 minutes, the plane will suddenly appear before you.  You will see the yellow notices on the trees warning you that this is a Protected Provincial Heritage Site and to respect those who perished here.  You will be fined if you damage, alter, or remove anything from the site.

Exploring the Port Hardy Plane Crash

We spent about half an hour exploring the site of the crash.  It is just so surreal seeing this old war plane up close and personal, knowing that it crashed more than 70 years ago and is still pretty intact.  Standing in front of the plane is also very sobering, knowing that two officers lost their lives here.

The area around the plane is pretty muddy but you can get up pretty close to most of the plane.

At the front of the plane stands the obelisk and plaque dedicated to the crew.  You can peek inside the empty plane from here, or view it from the opening on the right side.

Unfortunately there is some graffiti on the plane, inside and out, despite the warnings to respect the site and heavy fines.  Quite disappointing to see.

Behind the plane is a makeshift landing pad used by the helicopters to fly people in for the 60th anniversary service held in 2004.

Up above behind it, you can see the tops of the trees that the plane likely hit and knocked over.

What to bring on your hike to the Port Hardy Plane Crash Site

Bear Spray – This is a must as there are many bears, including grizzlies, in the area!  They don’t call it Bear Cove for nothing and there is a reason people go on bear watching tours specifically in Port Hardy.  Bear spray is pricey, but definitely worth it.  If you don’t use it, good!  Save it for your next hike 🙂 Make sure you know how to use it properly BEFORE heading out on this hike.

Bear Spray Holster – If you ever need to use your bear spray, you will want to have quick and easy access to it – not tucked away deep in your backpack.  We bought this holster which can be attached to your belt or outside of your backpack.

Bear Bells – If you want to be extra careful, you could also attach bear bells to your backpack or belt to help let bears know of your presence.

Lightweight Backpack – I love using this backpack for day hikes.  It is super lightweight, waterproof, comfortable, and folds up compact into a little bundle when not in use.  Better yet, it has the perfect compartment on the outside to hold my bear spray!  It’s very inexpensive and comes in a lot of great colors.

Baby Carrier – If you’re hiking with a little one like us, a comfortable carrier is a must!  We love our Ergobaby Omni 360.  Now that our daughter is over a year old, she’s enjoying being on Ryan’s back and he finds this carrier very comfortable to wear on even our longer hikes.  And it’s lighter than wearing a hiking backpack-style carrier.

Good Trail Shoes – Since this can be a slippery hike, make sure to wear shoes with good traction.  I wouldn’t say hiking boots are necessary, but wear a good trail shoe at least.  I love my Nike Air Zoom Terra Kiger 6‘s, which are a trail running shoe with great grip.  They are very comfy, I didn’t even need to break them in, and they look great, too!  Ryan loves his Nike Air Zoom Wildhorse 5‘s, which is another great trail running shoe.  Both styles come in male and female options.

Where to stay in Port Hardy

High-end: Kwa’lilas Hotel

This is a beautiful First Nations hotel full of authentic local indigenous arts and culture, located right in the center of town.

Mid-Range: Bear Cove Cottages

These lovely cottages are located just a minute down the road from the trailhead for the hike!  They are a great choice and in the perfect location.

Budget: Dalewood Inn

We quickly realized that hotels in Port Hardy are not cheap in the summer time so we decided to stay in nearby Port McNeill, 30 minutes south.  This inn may not look like much on the outside, but the rooms have been recently renovated and are clean and comfortable.  If you are on a budget and don’t mind the extra drive, this is a great choice.

And of course, you always have the option to save more by camping in Port Hardy instead!

Map of the Port Hardy Plane Crash Hike

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