One of our stops was to see the Fairy Lake Bonsai Tree. It was a quick one, as you can see it from the road.
Where is Fairy Lake Bonsai Tree located?
It is on Pacific Marine Road in Port Renfrew on Vancouver Island. You can just put that into your GPS, and you will get there. (don’t count too much of your phone internet connexion)
Don’t stop at the campground as you can’t see it from there (the campground was so full-on Victoria weekend), but drive a little bit, and you are going to be able to park on the side of the road and to take a picture. There is even a small path you can walk, but it can be very muddy!
What about this Tree?
A unique feature of Fairy Lake that sets it apart from some of the other gorgeous little lakes in the area is the little solo tree sticking up all by its lonesome in a small bay in the corner of the lake. Its weirdly twisted form resembles a Japanese bonsai tree and, on a calm day, you can enjoy both the oddity of the tree itself and a perfect reflection of it in the water. But, of course, it isn’t a bonsai tree, but a hollow Douglas fir with another tiny dwarfed fir courageously growing up out of it. Everyone loves a spunky underdog story, which is why this crooked little straggler might be the most photographed tree on Vancouver Island (honorable mention to nearby Big Lonely Doug and Victoria’s Lone Tree).
Another reason it is such a popular stop because it requires no hiking to see it, as the tree is located just off-shore and is fully visible from the edge of Pacific Marine Road. But if you are more adventurous, you could undoubtedly swim, float or paddle in for a much closer look).
